[ref. b63528601] Payroll & Accounting Specialist
Overview:
Friendship Public Charter School operates a dynamic network of college-preparatory charter schools headquartered in Washington, DC. We proudly serve more than 4,800 preschool through 12th-grade students and support a growing network of alumni as they complete college.Our mission is to provide students with a world-class education that fosters ethical, literate, well-rounded, and self-sufficient individuals. We aim to inspire students to reach high academic standards, enjoy the learning process, succeed in their endeavors, and contribute actively to their communities.
For 25 years, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our outstanding faculty, our students have excelled—achieving high graduation rates, college acceptance, and success both academically and socially.
The Payroll & Accounting Specialist is responsible for managing accurate and timely payroll processing while supporting the organization’s financial operations. This role combines payroll expertise with accounting skills to ensure the financial health of the organization, compliance with regulatory requirements, and effective financial reporting.The Payroll & Accounting Specialist will work collaboratively with school-based and community office staff to streamline processes and maintain financial integrity.
We are seeking professionals who are responsible, confident, respectful, caring, committed, persistent, and patient to join our community for the 2025-2026 school year, starting in August 2025. At Friendship, we believe that every child has the potential to reach and succeed in college—and we invite those who share this belief to apply.
For more information about our Teacher Evaluation Method, see the Danielson Framework for Teaching.
For more information about our schools please visit the following Social Media pages: YouTube, Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!Please also see the available salary scales: FPCS Compensation
Responsibilities:
Payroll Management- Prepare and process biweekly, monthly, or semi-monthly payrolls for all employees, including hourly and salaried staff.
- Verify and reconcile timekeeping records to ensure accuracy and compliance with organizational policies.
- Maintain and update payroll systems with employee data, including benefits, deductions, and tax withholding.
- Ensure payroll compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including tax regulations and garnishment rules.
- Address and resolve payroll-related inquiries and issues from employees promptly and professionally.
- Assist with basic accounts, reconciliations, and other accounting processes.
- Prepare journal entries and reconcile payroll-related accounts in the general ledger.
- Support month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting.
- Collaborate with the CFO to prepare budgets, forecasts, and financial statements.
- Assist with audits by providing payroll and accounting documentation as needed.
- Generate payroll and accounting reports for internal and external stakeholders, including financial statements, tax filings, and board presentations.
- Ensure adherence to organizational financial policies, internal controls, and external compliance requirements.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation for payroll and accounting activities.
- Partner with HR to align payroll processes with employee onboarding, benefits administration, and offboarding.
- Identify and implement improvements in payroll and accounting workflows to enhance efficiency.
- Stay up-to-date with changes in payroll and accounting regulations to ensure compliance.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field (preferred).
- Minimum of 3-5 years of combined experience in payroll processing and accounting, preferably in an educational or nonprofit organization.
- Experience with payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Paycom, or similar) and accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite).
- Strong understanding of payroll laws, accounting principles, and financial reporting standards.
- Excellent attention to detail, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other accounting and payroll tools.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with diverse teams.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
This policy applies to recruitment and hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, layoff, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. Employment decisions at FPCS are based solely upon relevant criteria, including an individual’s capabilities, qualifications, training, experience and suitability.