Accounting Manager

<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About Chicago Public Media</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media<a href="https://www.wbez.org/annual-report-2024"> Annual Report</a>.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>The Opportunity</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Accounting Manager is a hands-on, highly analytical individual with a strong foundation in not-for-profit and/or public accounting that leads our daily accounting operations while ensuring appropriate accounting compliance and control. The Accounting Manager bridges the gap between technical GAAP compliance and day-to-day operational excellence. The Accounting Manager oversees the general ledger, drives month-end close cycles, and ensures our organization is always "audit-ready.” This position is responsible for supervising the organization’s general accounting functions and manages three direct reports, an Accounting Supervisor and two Staff Accountants. The Accounting Manager interacts with individuals on all levels within the organization and provides accounting support to ensure compliance with agency and programmatic requirements.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Accounting Manager must be a disciplined, analytical thinker who instinctively looks beyond the “what” of the numbers to investigate and understand the “why.” This individual must be able to identify underlying trends and anomalies and translate and communicate them into a cohesive, actionable narrative.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">General Responsibilities</span></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maintain general ledger by monitoring and ensuring accuracy of accounting transactions, journal entries, and reconciliations performed by the Accounting Supervisor, Staff Accountants, Senior Accounts Payable Coordinator, and Senior Revenue Coordinator.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lead the close operations of the accounting team, ensuring that the team adheres to a prescribed close calendar.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oversee Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets subledger close.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lead monthly departmental review meetings to analyze variances, establish accruals, and document corrections in preparation of monthly financial reporting.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Partner in preparation of monthly financial statements and variance analysis for CEO financial reporting package.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lead accounting support and ensure readiness for CPM’s annual financial audit, tax filings, and regulatory and grantor reporting.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assist with corporate sponsorship financial operations, as needed.</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participate in ACH approval and initiate wire transfers, as needed.</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skills and Knowledge</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Proficiency in Sage Intacct, Limelight, and MS Excel (advanced skills)</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Intellectual curiosity, initiative, and strong work ethic</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Positive team player who embraces collaboration</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong attention-to-detail and ability to assess accuracy and data integrity</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fast learner who likes to solve problems in a dynamic environment</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously</span></li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">High level of discretion to maintain confidentiality</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Minimum Qualification:&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">10+ years of not-for-profit and/or public accounting experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including the management of direct reports</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Education:</strong> Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Certificates and/or Licenses:</strong> CPA or CPA candidate preferred</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Compensation</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The expected pay range for this position is <strong>$88,000 to $115,000 per ANNUM.</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position.&nbsp; The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Working at Chicago Public Media</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged.&nbsp; We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Our benefits include</strong> a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan. </span><br><br><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer</strong>&nbsp;and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><em>The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.</em></span></p></div>