Accounting & Payroll Specialist
Smithsonian Institution
$65,000 - $70,000 / year
Need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview? Contact us.
JobMinglr uses automated technology to recommend jobs based on profile information and job preferences. Match Score does not determine eligibility for a position, prevent a user from viewing or applying to a job, or make hiring decisions on behalf of an employer.
Description
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Key Responsibilities
This position is part of the Smithsonian Enterprises Accounting Department, reporting to the Senior Accounting Manager with a dotted line to the Payroll Manager. The role provides accounting and payroll support, including financial statement preparation and analysis, maintenance of accounting records, and improvement of accounting processes. Responsibilities include supporting day-to-day payroll operations, processing bi-weekly payroll, and maintaining time and attendance records for more than 400 employees. The incumbent ensures compliance with accounting procedures, internal controls, tax regulations, company policies, and payroll-related requirements while performing other accounting and payroll duties as assigned.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Prepares and processes journal entries in Dynamics 365 (D365) for assigned division(s), including supporting documentation, and submits to manager for review and approval.
- Reviews financial results for assigned division(s) and prepares correcting/adjusting journal entries as necessary.
- Ensures revenue and expense recognition is compliant with executed contracts, GAAP, and SE/SI Accounting Policies.
- Processes and records divisional system(s) reports; reconciles D365 with subsidiary system; reports and resolves any variances or unusual activities.
- Reviews ledger activities including Cash, Accounts Payable, and Activity codes; reports and resolves issues timely.
- Prepares monthly divisional financial statements, reviews with Division Financial Manager.
- Performs assigned balance sheet account reconciliations; identifies and resolves outstanding reconciling items.
- Identifies and reports Out-of-Period Adjustments.
- Prepares and provides analysis for Divisional Balance Sheets, P&Ls, and Accounts Receivable Aging Reports; works with Division Finance Managers to resolve any issues.
- Participates in Stores Annual Physical Inventory, as requested.
- Maintains documentation for procedures and processes for all areas of responsibilities; review, provide recommendations for improvements, and update existing procedures as necessary.
- Other duties, as assigned.
- Assists with accurate and prompt salary payment to all employees, in compliance with current government regulations and company policies.
- Participates in a quality assurance review of all new hire employee records in ADP.
- Assists with entry of employee information for electronic pay methods, tax withholdings, advances, garnishments, levies, and other payroll deductions in ADP.
- Assists with reviewing and approval of ADP Enhanced Time & Attendance submissions, assists with resolving issues, and uploads into ADP payroll module.
- Assists with managing workflow to ensure payroll batch transactions are processed accurately and timely.
- Assists with producing the payroll cost report for submission to the Corporate Accountant.
- Assists with downloading benefit information files from third-party vendors and imports into ADP.
- Assists with issuing stop payments, processes voids, and reissues replacement checks through ADP, as needed.
- Responds timely and accurately to payroll related questions.
- Participates in the preparation and reconciliation of annual W-2 statements.
- Supports internal and external audits by preparing and providing required analysis and/or supporting documentation for all areas of responsibilities.
- Maintain compliance with all current privacy guidelines surrounding employee information.
Benefits
- Knowledge of accounting systems and processes applicable to the accounting function.
- Meticulous attention to detail required, as well as reliability, accuracy, and timeliness in performance of responsibilities.
- Knowledge of general payroll, accounting and good internal control practices.
- Experience using payroll systems, ADP preferred.
- Knowledge and experience in applying payroll principles, techniques, and procedures.
- Experience gathering, assembling, consolidating, and analyzing data.
- Ability to independently perform assignments using conventional methods and techniques.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- High level of technological, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with and gain the cooperation of all levels of staff to resolve problems and provide advice and assistance.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact SICareers@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
Benefits
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline, and 4-5 years related experience. Knowledge of accounting systems and processes applicable to the accounting function. Meticulous attention to detail required, as well as reliability, accuracy, and timeliness in performance of responsibilities. Knowledge of general payroll, accounting and good internal control practices. Experience using payroll systems, ADP preferred. Knowledge and experience in applying payroll principles, techniques, and procedures. Experience gathering, assembling, consolidating, and analyzing data. Ability to independently perform assignments using conventional methods and techniques. Excellent written and oral communication skills. High level of technological, organizational, and analytical skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with and gain the cooperation of all levels of staff to resolve problems and provide advice and assistance. Proficient with Microsoft Office applications. Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package. Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week. What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. Relocation expenses are not paid. The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact SICareers@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo
About this role
Smithsonian Enterprises is seeking an Accounting & Payroll Specialist to support its diverse revenue-generating divisions—including retail, food service, IMAX theaters, e-commerce, and licensing—that collectively fund the Institution's mission. Based in Washington, DC, this full-time trust fund position reports to the Senior Accounting Manager and works closely with the Payroll Manager to keep financial and payroll operations running smoothly across the organization.
The role splits between two core functions. On the accounting side, you'll prepare and review journal entries in Dynamics 365, reconcile accounts, analyze financial results, and produce monthly divisional statements for divisions within Smithsonian Enterprises. On the payroll side, you'll process bi-weekly payroll for over 400 employees using ADP, manage time and attendance records, handle tax withholdings and deductions, and ensure compliance with regulations and internal controls. You'll also support audits, maintain documentation of procedures, and identify opportunities to improve processes.
This position calls for a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field plus 4 to 5 years of relevant experience. You should be comfortable working in accounting systems like Dynamics 365 and ideally have hands-on ADP experience. Strong attention to detail, reliability, and knowledge of payroll principles and internal control practices are essential. The salary range is $65,000 to $70,000, and trust fund employees receive health and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, transit benefits, and other perks including Smithsonian discounts and access to on-site child care.
This role's local market on JobMinglr
Pay for this role
$65,000 to $70,000 per year
That is the employer's posted range, and where you land in it is usually decided in one conversation. Before that conversation, run the numbers: analyze an offer for this role.
Before you apply, worth reading
How JobMinglr reads this job
Every listing here is scored against your profile before you apply: skills overlap, experience level, location and work arrangement, each weighted and explained. You see the score and the reasons, not just a list. How the matching works.