Overview
Job Title: Accounting Specialist
Reports to: Grant Fund Accountant Lead
Salary Range: $26.00 – $28.00 hourly
Benefits: Health, Vision, & Dental Insurance, Retirement Contributions, PTO, and Paid Holidays
Classification: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Status: Full-Time (1.00 FTE), Regular w/ Benefits
Location: Portland, OR
JOB SUMMARY
About the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)
The Northwest Tribes have long recognized the need to exercise control over the design and development of health care delivery systems in their local communities. To this end, they formed the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (also referred to as NPAIHB or “the Board”) in 1972.
Guided by a vision of “Health and Wellness for the Seventh Generation,” NPAIHB is a 501(c)3 designated (non-profit) organization and Tribal organization, P.L. 93-638, under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) serving the 43 federally recognized Tribes in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Northwest Tribes). Tribes become voting members of the Board through resolutions passed by their governing body. Each member Tribe designates a delegate to serve on the NPAIHB Board of Directors.
Led by our Board of Directors, NPAIHB’s mission is to “eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life of American Indians and Alaska Natives by supporting Northwest Tribes in their delivery of culturally appropriate, high-quality health programs and services.” We have a staff of over 120 professionals dedicated to advancing Tribal health for the 7th generation in the Pacific Northwest.
The NPAIHB’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 can be found here.
Position Summary
The Accounting Specialist provides administrative and bookkeeping support to the Finance department, including the Accounts Receivable (A/R) and Accounts Payable (A/P) positions as needed. The Accounting Specialist also provides communications and reconciliations relating to invoices, and works directly with NPAIHB project directors for billings. This position helps update and maintain all the A/R spreadsheets for the Grant Fund Accountant Lead.
The Accounting Specialist maintains knowledge of organizational bookkeeping policies, auditing business ledgers, organizing invoices, and begins the collections process for client accounts for the Grant Fund Accountant Lead. This position is also responsible for learning and maintaining the Purchase Order (PO) process, and functions as additional support/back-up for the Purchasing Agent Coordinator as needed.
The Accounting Specialist reports to the Grant Fund Accountant Lead. This scope of work is housed within the Finance Department, which is part of the Administrative Division.
This position is based at NPAIHB’s offices in Portland, Oregon. Local travel and/or overnight travel outside of the area is not required.
Essential Functions
Accounting Support and Success
Provides Accounting support for the Finance department in alignment with NPAIHB Strategic Plan
Carries out updated Accounting priorities throughout the year, as directed by Finance department leadership, Northwest Tribes, and through the NPAIHB Strategic Planning process and/or annual federal and state policy priorities
Prepares and tracks monthly invoices for all state and private grants
Ensures all payments are accounted for and properly posted
Enters and processes Purchase Orders (POs) as needed
Provides continuous evaluation of current policies and recommendations for process improvements
Provides support for internal and external audits
Handles sensitive information in a confidential manner
Properly applies funds received for payment
Other Duties
Performs other duties as assigned by the Grant Fund Accountant Lead and/or Executive Director or designee
Standards of Conduct
Act in service to the Tribes and Tribal communities we serve
Uphold the Mission, Values, and Vision of the NPAIHB
Maintain the highest level of confidentiality with all NPAIHB information and documentation
Consistently exhibit professional behavior and a high degree of personal and professional integrity and impartiality appropriate to the responsible and confidential nature of the position
Exercise good judgment and initiative in performance of duties and responsibilities
Demonstrate high emotional intelligence in the performance of all duties and responsibilities
Orientation toward learning, innovation, service, and the building of second-line leadership
Commitment to building an organizational culture which centers NPAIHB’s service to Tribes, promotes professional excellence, and builds an environment where employees grow and thrive
Commitment to build an inclusive workplace across a range of identities and experiences, including (but not limited to) geography, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, class, language, disability, religion, spiritual practices, and immigration status
Sees diversity as a strength, and equity as a baseline
Work in a cooperative manner with all levels of management and with all NPAIHB staff
Effectively plan, organize workload, and schedule time to meet workload demands
Use reasonable judgment to consistently display professional work attire during normal business hours, and/or dress appropriately for the workday, space, or event in lieu of a formal dress code
Be present, available, and responsive for meetings and calls during regular working hours
Commit to sharing knowledge and building expertise by participating in all virtual spaces in our workplace with cameras on
Show consideration by communicating effectively and building collective understanding
Recognize that relationships are the cornerstone of NPAIHB’s work by treating all NPAIHB delegates/alternates, partners, staff, and American Indian/Alaska Native people with dignity and respect
Participate willingly in NPAIHB activities
Qualifications
Education
Minimum education required:
High School Diploma (or equivalent)
Additional education preferred:
Associates Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field
Experience
Minimum experience required:
At least two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial management, business administration or related field
Additional experience preferred:
Direct experience working with Northwest Tribes
Preparing General Ledger (G/L) reconciliations
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge, discretion, tact, judgment, and overall ability in working effectively with federal, Tribal, and other professionals, and facilitating participation and partnership in the activities of the Finance Department
Proficiency with computer applications (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office Suite programs)
Strong technical writing skills, including good spelling and grammatical skills, and the ability to produce polished writing under a deadline
Strong research and analysis skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Must be sensitive to cross-cultural differences, and able to work effectively within their context
Ability to work with minimal supervision, exercise initiative, and make independent decisions and recommendations
Ability to complete tasks in a timely and accurate manner
Probationary Period
External applicants must agree to serve a minimum six-month probationary period during which time their employment can be terminated at will. For the purpose of evaluating job performance, internal applicants must agree to serve a minimum six-month probationary period when job duties change significantly.
Work Conditions
Physical Demands
This position:
Frequently involves sedentary work (exerting up to 10 pounds of force and/or a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body)
Occasionally involves light work (exerting up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force and/or a negligible amount of force to move objects)
Physical Requirements
This position:
Consistently requires the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and expressing or exchanging ideas or important instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly
Constantly requires working with fingers, rather than the whole hand or arm
Constantly requires repetitive movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
Often requires walking or moving about to accomplish tasks
Occasionally requires standing and/or sitting for sustained periods of time
Occasionally requires ascending or descending stairs or ramps using feet and legs and/or hands and arms
Occasionally requires raising objects from a lower to a higher position, or moving objects horizontally
Occasionally requires stooping, which entails the use of the lower extremities and back muscles
Infrequently requires crouching
Typical Environmental Conditions
The worker is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions, which provide protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions.
Travel Requirements
Local or overnight travel is not required. Attendance at quarterly NPAIHB Board Meetings is encouraged. These meetings are held both locally and hosted by our member tribes on a rotating basis, and take place during the third or fourth weeks of January, April, July, and October, and may involve a minimum stay of two overnights per meeting.
Disclaimer
The individual must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing a significant safety threat to self or others describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.
Except as provided by Title 25, U.S.C. § 450e(b), which allows for Indian preference in hiring, the NPAIHB does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, politics, membership or non-membership in an employee organization, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, veteran or military status, genetic information, ancestry or any other characteristic protected by law.
For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.