Job Summary 

The Senior Financial Accountant will lead the monthly U.S. GAAP close and multi-entity consolidation for a complex, global nonprofit operating across 20+ countries. Reporting directly to IPA’s Controller, the role is a hands-on, senior individual-contributor role focused on accurate reporting, compliant revenue recognition, audit support, and continuous process improvement across systems including NetSuite. The role requires strong technical accounting skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to working with global teams that span five continents. Dedication to improving the lives of people living in poverty is essential.

Work Schedule

This role requires availability primarily during Eastern Time business hours (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM ET).  You must also be able to attend a limited number of early and late meetings outside of these hours to accommodate our global team collaboration. 

Candidates located in the Americas or West Africa time zones are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those in regions where we operate in the Global South.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Lead monthly financial close and consolidation processes in compliance with US GAAP
• Ensure consistent accounting policies across headquarters and country offices while maintaining compliance with IPA policies and donor requirements
• Meet internal monthly financial closing timeline targets

Revenue Recognition & Grant Management

• Prepare monthly journal entries for indirect cost allocations to grants and projects per grant agreement specifications
• Calculate and record monthly revenue recognition in accordance with ASC 606 and IPA internal policies
• Determine proper treatment of donations, contributions, and grant/service contracts under US GAAP

Systems & Analysis

• Manage monthly consolidation of results within NetSuite, including journal entries for accurate consolidated reporting and intercompany eliminations
• Prepare and analyze financial reports for senior management and functional leaders
• Provide trend analysis and insights on financial risks and opportunities
• Maintain data accuracy across multiple systems (NetSuite, Salesforce, PowerBI)

Strategic Support

• Contribute to forecasting and budgeting processes to ensure alignment with actual results
• Collaborate with Grants and Programs teams to provide accurate financial data for donor reporting
• Support the annual audit process by generating required reports and documentation
• Contribute to the success of a highly diverse team across many countries and languages

Process Improvement

• Develop and maintain strong financial controls
• Participate in cross functional efforts to maintain and improve IPA’s systems (CRM, ERP, PowerBi)
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance productivity, accuracy, and timeliness within the Finance team
• Participate in initiatives to streamline financial workflows and reporting

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of nonprofit finance and/or accounting experience.
• Preference for applicants with a degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Basic knowledge of US GAAP principles, including revenue recognition for grants and contracts.
• Experience in multinational, multi-site organizations with foreign currency translation required.
• Experience preparing audit-ready schedules and working with external auditors.
• Advanced Excel proficiency (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex formulas)
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing financial processes and systems.  Experience with NetSuite and PowerBi preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to explain complex financial concepts to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong project management and interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Fluency in English required. Ability to speak Spanish is strongly preferred. French language would be a plus but not required.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of improving the lives of people in poverty.

Reports to

Controller

Application Deadline

December 5th, 2025

Application Link

Click Here to Apply

Locations

This position may be based in one of the following IPA country offices: Colombia, Peru, Ghana, or Nigeria.

We strongly prefer candidates who are based in Colombia, though qualified applicants in our other listed locations are welcome and encouraged to apply.

As noted in the Work Schedule section, this role operates primarily on Eastern Time (ET) business hours. Candidates based in West Africa should ensure they are able to meet the ET availability requirements, including a limited number of early or late meetings to support our global teams.

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of people living in poverty. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1,000 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.