WBEZ Chicago Logo

WBEZ Chicago

Accounting Manager

Posted 7 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
88K-115K Annually
Senior level
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
88K-115K Annually
Senior level
The Accounting Manager oversees daily accounting operations, ensuring compliance with GAAP and managing the team's general ledger and month-end close cycles, while training and supervising accounting staff.
The summary above was generated by AI

About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.


The Opportunity

The Accounting Manager is a hands-on, highly analytical individual with a strong foundation in not-for-profit and/or public accounting that leads our daily accounting operations while ensuring appropriate accounting compliance and control. The Accounting Manager bridges the gap between technical GAAP compliance and day-to-day operational excellence. The Accounting Manager oversees the general ledger, drives month-end close cycles, and ensures our organization is always "audit-ready.” This position is responsible for supervising the organization’s general accounting functions and manages three direct reports, an Accounting Supervisor and two Staff Accountants. The Accounting Manager interacts with individuals on all levels within the organization and provides accounting support to ensure compliance with agency and programmatic requirements.

The Accounting Manager must be a disciplined, analytical thinker who instinctively looks beyond the “what” of the numbers to investigate and understand the “why.” This individual must be able to identify underlying trends and anomalies and translate and communicate them into a cohesive, actionable narrative.


General Responsibilities

  • Maintain general ledger by monitoring and ensuring accuracy of accounting transactions, journal entries, and reconciliations performed by the Accounting Supervisor, Staff Accountants, Senior Accounts Payable Coordinator, and Senior Revenue Coordinator.
  • Lead the close operations of the accounting team, ensuring that the team adheres to a prescribed close calendar.
  • Oversee Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets subledger close.
  • Lead monthly departmental review meetings to analyze variances, establish accruals, and document corrections in preparation of monthly financial reporting.
  • Partner in preparation of monthly financial statements and variance analysis for CEO financial reporting package.
  • Lead accounting support and ensure readiness for CPM’s annual financial audit, tax filings, and regulatory and grantor reporting.
  • Assist with corporate sponsorship financial operations, as needed.
  • Participate in ACH approval and initiate wire transfers, as needed.

Skills and Knowledge

  • Strong understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting
  • Proficiency in Sage Intacct, Limelight, and MS Excel (advanced skills)
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization
  • Intellectual curiosity, initiative, and strong work ethic
  • Positive team player who embraces collaboration
  • Strong attention-to-detail and ability to assess accuracy and data integrity
  • Fast learner who likes to solve problems in a dynamic environment
  • Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
  • High level of discretion to maintain confidentiality

Minimum Qualification: 10+ years of not-for-profit and/or public accounting experience with increasing levels of responsibility, including the management of direct reports

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field  

Certificates and/or Licenses: CPA or CPA candidate preferred


Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $88,000 to $115,000 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position.  The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.


Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.  

Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged.  We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.
Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.


The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

WBEZ Chicago Chicago, Illinois, USA Office

848 E GRAND AVE, Chicago, Illinois , United States, 60611

Similar Jobs

8 Days Ago
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
Senior level
Senior level
Fintech • Machine Learning • Software • Financial Services
The Accounting Manager will oversee the monthly close process, prepare journal entries, analyze accounts, and collaborate with finance teams for accurate reporting and process improvements.
Top Skills: Ai ToolsExcelWorkday
11 Hours Ago
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
110K-125K Annually
Senior level
110K-125K Annually
Senior level
Cloud • Insurance • Payments • Software • Business Intelligence • App development • Big Data Analytics
The role involves managing technical accounting tasks, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, drafting policies, advising on transactions, and supporting audits.
Top Skills: NetSuiteSalesforceUkgUs Gaap
2 Days Ago
Remote or Hybrid
Naperville, IL, USA
113K-153K Annually
Senior level
113K-153K Annually
Senior level
Cloud • Fintech • Software • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Financial Services
The role involves reviewing financial packages, preparing budgets and forecasts, providing technical accounting support, and leading teams in a remote environment.
Top Skills: Microsoft Dynamics Business CentralNetSuiteQuickbooks OnlineSage Intacct

What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene

With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.

Key Facts About Chicago Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
  • Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
  • Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account