Senior Accountant or Controller

Founded in 1952, Norwood School is a coeducational, independent day school with approximately 450 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The School sits on 40 beautiful and expansive acres in Bethesda, Maryland, less than six miles from Washington, D.C. As one of the finest PK-8 schools in the country, Norwood sets the bar high and is committed to educating the whole child in a diverse, student-centered, challenging, and nurturing environment, which continually promotes equity, inclusion and cultural competence.

Norwood’s child-centered education emphasizes creating a happy place of learning where each child is loved, nurtured, and challenged. Ensuring each child is truly known, we recognize diversity as essential to supporting educational excellence and are dedicated to fostering a sense of dignity, belonging, and understanding across our community. As a result, children flourish at Norwood as we tend to both hearts and minds. They love learning; they are creative and critical thinkers. They are confident in who they are, and they feel safe taking risks. They are kind and caring people, who, fueled by our motto, How you lead your life matters, make helping others a priority in their lives. At the end of their eighth-grade year, our graduates leave Norwood exceptionally well-prepared for high school and empowered to make positive contributions to our world.

Norwood has an opening for a Senior Accountant or Controller. The position is responsible for all financial accounting functions of the School. In collaboration with the Director of Finance and Operations, the position implements and maintains the general accounting system, is proficient in all aspects of the accounting software, establishes and implements internal accounting controls, coordinates all financial reporting for administration, the Board of Trustees and other external organizations, and coordinates the annual audit.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with the maintenance of the accounting system
• Assist in preparing the annual budget
  • Identify all revenues and expenses anticipated for the budget year, giving particular attention to the major categories of revenues and expenses
  • Maintain documentation for all budget figures
• Establish policies and procedures for accounting systems
  • Accounts payable and cash disbursements
  • General ledger interface with payroll and employee benefits
  • Tuition billing
  • Accounts receivable
  • Cash receipts
  • Standard and general journal entries
  • Reconcile all bank accounts monthly
  • Maintain accurate accounting records for purchases of capital assets
• Assist with all required financial reporting
  • Produce appropriate monthly departmental financial reports
  • Produce summary and detail institutional financial reports
  • Coordinate the annual independent audit
  • Provide audited financial data for inclusion in the school’s Annual Report
  • Prepare required federal, state and local tax and information returns
  • Provide other financial information and analyses as may be requested by administration, the Board of Trustees, regulatory agencies and other entities
• Assist with accounting procedures for the School’s investments
  • Maintain accounting system for proper tracking of all endowment funds
  • Maintain historical record of all permanently restricted funds
  • Allocate investment earnings (dividends, interest, net capital gains/losses), management and custodial fees, and unrealized appreciation/depreciation to endowment funds in an equitable manner
  • Provide appropriate accounting procedures for temporarily restricted funds

Applicants for the position must be thorough, detail-oriented, and capable of prioritizing competing demands. They must be personable and a team player. College degree required; master’s and/or CPA preferred. Ideal applicants will have at least ten years of experience in accounting.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Bill Teachum, Director of Finance and Operations, at bteachum@norwoodschool.org. No phone calls, please.

The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $115,000, dependent upon experience. This is a full-time, 12-month position. Office hours are 7:45am to 4:15pm, Monday through Friday. Benefits include health, dental and vision insurance; life and disability insurance; 403(b) retirement savings with an employer match and non-elective contribution; employee assistance program; professional development opportunities; paid vacation, sick and personal days (PTO); paid parental leave and short-term disability after one year of employment; long-term disability insurance; tuition remission for eligible children; and lunch provided on school days.

Norwood School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.