Senior Accountant / Fractional Controller - Project-Based

Position Summary

Working at East Bay Montessori means being part of a small, thoughtful, and mission\-driven school community where your work has a direct and meaningful impact.

We are a vibrant Montessori school in El Cerrito serving students from Kindergarten Bridge through Middle School, with classrooms rooted in independence, collaboration, and meaningful learning.

We are seeking a Senior Accountant / Fractional Controller for a focused, project\-based engagement to ensure fiscal year\-end readiness and strengthen our QuickBooks Online environment.

This is a hands\-on, senior\-level role with immediate impact. The ideal candidate brings experience with QuickBooks cleanups and year\-end close preparation, works independently, and adds clarity, structure, and sound accounting judgment to our financial operations.

We would love to work with someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity and supporting a small school community through thoughtful, high\-quality work.

If you enjoy bringing clarity to complexity, creating order where it is needed most, and value supporting a small, mission\-driven organization, we would very much welcome your application.

Core Responsibilities

Financial Review \& Cleanup

• Review QuickBooks Online records for accuracy, completeness, and consistency
• Identify inconsistencies, duplicate entries, coding issues, and reconciliation gaps
• Review bank, credit card, liability, revenue, and expense accounts
• Ensure the general ledger is reliable and ready for year\-end review

Reconciliations \& Year\-End Readiness

• Perform or review bank and credit card reconciliations
• Support month\-end and fiscal year\-end close preparation
• Prepare clean, organized financial records for CPA/tax review
• Identify items requiring adjustment and documentation

Accounting Structure \& Accuracy

• Review chart of accounts, class/project usage, and coding practices
• Ensure proper treatment of deferred revenue, prepaids, accruals, and fixed assets
• Recommend improvements to workflows and documentation
• Establish consistency in recurring accounting processes

Reporting \& Financial Planning Support

• Support development of FY25–26 year\-end projections
• Assist with baseline financial data for FY26–27 budgeting
• Identify key assumptions, one\-time items, and recurring expenses
• Support development of financial reporting for leadership and Board use

Optional Ongoing Support

• Monthly close support
• Periodic financial review
• Budgeting and forecasting support
• KPI and dashboard development

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring:

* 7–10\+ years of hands\-on accounting experience, with strong ownership of the general ledger

• Deep expertise in
QuickBooks Online, including cleanup and system improvement work
• Demonstrated experience preparing books for
month\-end and year\-end close, including tax and audit readiness
• Strong understanding of
accrual accounting, including deferred revenue, prepaids, and balance sheet integrity
• Proven ability to
identify issues, reconcile discrepancies, and bring clarity to incomplete or inconsistent records
• Ability to work
independently, prioritize effectively, and deliver defined outcomes
• Strong attention to detail paired with
sound professional judgment
• Clear and professional communication skills, including the ability to explain accounting matters to non\-accountants

Preferred

• Background in
nonprofit, independent school, or small\-organization environments
• Experience with
QuickBooks cleanup or catch\-up projects
• Familiarity with
Bill.com, ADP, and Clarity or similar systems
• Exposure to
CPA review, audit, or Form 990 preparation
• Ability to improve accounting workflows, documentation, and internal processes

Success in This Engagment Looks Like

• QuickBooks Online records are clean, consistent, and reliable
• Bank, credit card, and key balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and supported
• Year\-end close items are clearly identified, documented, and ready for CPA review
• Accounting practices and workflows are structured, consistent, and sustainable
• Leadership has clear visibility into financial position and year\-end outlook
• The school feels more at ease and confident in its financial foundation

Why This Role Matters

This role supports the school’s ability to make thoughtful financial decisions and ensures a strong, reliable foundation for year\-end close, tax preparation, and future planning.

To Apply

Must be eligible to work in the United States. Please send your resume and a brief cover letter by May 15, 2026 to: Peggy Wolff, Business and Operations Manager, jobs@eastbaymontessori.org

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

East Bay Montessori School admits students of any race, religion, color, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, sex, and gender to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. East Bay Montessori prohibits discrimination in the administration of its educational and employment policies, financial aid programs, and other school\-administered programs.

Pay: $75\.00 \- $110\.00 per hour

Work Location: Hybrid remote in El Cerrito, CA 94530