Washington Post

Senior Financial Accountant

Washington Post$85K — $127K *
Finance & Insurance
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting.
  • At least 3 years of progressive experience in accounting or auditing.
  • Proven expertise in general ledger operations and financial reporting.
  • Proficient with data analytics platforms and visualization tools (e.g., Alteryx, Power BI).
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Pivot).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

  • Execute general ledger accounting functions including month-end and year-end close activities.
  • Conduct detailed variance analyses for income statement and balance sheet accounts.
  • Interpret and apply GAAP standards ensuring compliance and accuracy.
  • Develop and maintain clear documentation for accounting procedures.
  • Identify opportunities for automation and recommend process improvements.
  • Prepare documentation for annual financial statements and audits.
  • Support audit cycles by providing timely data to auditors.

Benefits

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage.
  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match.
  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave.
  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days.
  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent.
  • Robust mental health resources.
  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services.
  • Gender affirming services.
  • Pet insurance.
  • Free Post digital subscription.
Full Job Description
Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post's Finance Department is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join our Financial Accounting and Reporting team. This role is pivotal in ensuring the integrity of financial data that enables our leaders to make informed, strategic decisions. You will thrive here if you are adaptable to evolving business priorities, curious about the bigger picture, and eager to apply your accounting expertise to enhance processes and deliver high-quality results.

What Motivates You
  • You take pride in producing accurate, high-quality financial information that supports strategic decision-making.
  • You have a keen eye for detail and maintain efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
  • You adapt quickly to shifting priorities and balance speed with precision in your daily work.
  • You enjoy applying your technical accounting knowledge to complex scenarios, researching new guidance, and finding practical solutions.
  • You are energized by opportunities to improve processes, introduce automation, and drive innovation.
  • You appreciate working independently while providing timely updates, managing competing priorities, and collaborating with stakeholders across the organization.


How You'll Support the Mission
  • Execute general ledger accounting functions, including journal entries, month-end and year-end close activities, and preparation of accurate financial statements.
  • Conduct detailed variance analyses for income statement and balance sheet accounts, identifying trends and insights for leadership.
  • Interpret and apply GAAP accounting standards in collaboration with Financial Accounting management, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
  • Develop and maintain clear, up-to-date process documentation for accounting procedures, outlining both task execution and business purpose.
  • Identify opportunities for automation, recommend innovative process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy, and utilize tools to build automations for your areas of responsibility.
  • Prepare documentation for annual financial statements, tax and compliance filings, and audit requirements.
  • Support interim and year-end audit cycles by providing timely, accurate data to internal and external auditors.
  • Lead or contribute to special projects, analyses, and ad hoc reporting requests.
  • Deliver excellent service to internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaborative relationships across departments.


The Skills and Experience You Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting.
  • At least 3 years of progressive experience in accounting or auditing.
  • Proven expertise in general ledger operations and financial reporting.
  • Proficient with data analytics platforms and data visualization tools (e.g., Alteryx, Power BI)
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Pivot).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills to prepare, present, and collaborate effectively.
  • Ability to prepare and analyze complex financial statements.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
  • Strong time management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.


Preferred Qualifications
  • CPA or CA designation or CPA candidate.
  • Experience with Oracle, Hyperion Smartview, BlackLine, Salesforce, Bloomberg Tax and Accounting Fixed Assets, LeaseQuery, SAP, and Asana.

Collaboration makes us stronger. That's why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:
  • Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days
  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
  • Robust mental health resources
  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services
  • Gender affirming services
  • Pet insurance
  • Free Post digital subscription
  • Leadership and career development programs


Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:
$85,100 - $127,700 Annual

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.

About Washington Post

The Washington Post is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most-widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large international audience. Daily broadsheet editions are printed for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The newspaper has won the Pulitzer Prize 65 times for its work, the second-most of any publication. It is considered a newspaper of record in the U.S. Post journalists have also received 18 Nieman Fellowships and 368 White House News Photographers Association awards. The paper is well known for its political reporting and is one of the few remaining American newspapers to operate foreign bureaus. The Post was founded in 1877. In its early years, it went through several owners and struggled both financially and editorially. Financier Eugene Meyer purchased it out of bankruptcy in 1933 and revived its health and reputation, work continued by his successors Katharine and Phil Graham, who bought out several rival publications. The Post's 1971 printing of the Pentagon Papers helped spur opposition to the Vietnam War. Subsequently, in the best-known episode in the newspaper's history, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led the American press's investigation into what became known as the Watergate scandal, which resulted in the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon. The advent of the internet expanded the Post's national and international reach. In October 2013, the Graham family sold the newspaper to Nash Holdings, a holding company owned by Jeff Bezos, for $250 million.
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