What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounting Specialist position at NWESI?
Northwest Engineering Service, Inc. is the leading provider of Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Services of mechanical systems and Whole Building Commissioning in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1958, NWESI continues to have a reputation for providing quality work and for our professional assessments.
At NWESI, we are proud to be employee owned. As part of joining our team, this role is eligible for participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
We are looking for an Accounting Specialist responsible for the financial processing and reporting of transactions for the organization. This role combines accounts payable duties with broader accounting responsibilities, providing support to the finance team in journal entries, month-end close activities, and financial reporting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Processes and verifies expense reports; reconciles expense and other financial reports with account balances and office records.
- Manages the accounts payable function, including verifying vendor information, resolving discrepancies, and facilitating timely payments.
- Ensures outstanding obligations are credited upon payment, identifies discount opportunities, and processes stop-payment orders as needed.
- Assists with maintaining and reconciling accounting records and ledgers, including preparing journal entries and reconciling monthly statements and transactions.
- Implements and monitors Positive Pay to prevent check fraud and ensure payment accuracy.
- Supports month-end and year-end close processes by compiling data, running reports, and assisting in financial analysis.
- Tracks and maintains corporate documents, business licenses, annual reports, contractor licenses, and professional certifications to ensure compliance.
- Assists with financial audits by preparing necessary documentation and reports.
- Produces financial reports as needed for management and stakeholders.
- Other duties as assigned.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Reliable, trustworthy, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and accounting software (experience with Deltek Ajera a plus).
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and ensure accuracy in record-keeping.
- Comfortable with math and financial calculations.
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
REQUIREMENTS
- High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.
- At least 2 years of experience in accounts payable or accounting.
- Experience with general ledger functions and month-end/year-end close processes is preferred.
POST-OFFER, PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to pass pre-employment and ongoing background checks and drug screens
BENEFITS PACKAGE
- Medical, dental, vision coverage, with a $450 Café Contribution provided by the company.
- Company paid life and disability insurance.
- Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.
- Reimbursement for educational and credentialing expenses related to professional development.
- 31 paid days off (includes holidays and PTO).
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Employee Stock Ownership Program with a minimum 3% annual company contribution for employees.
- 100% company-paid contributions for Paid Leave Oregon, covering both employee and employer portions.