Senior Accounting Manager

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. 

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Pay Details

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $110,000 - $120,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate’s skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

The Finance Department is built on the principles of transparency, integrity, and collaboration. Serving as a strategic partner to every department across the Center, the team operates in a fast-paced environment where accuracy and accountability are paramount. Each team member is expected to contribute meaningfully, demonstrating professionalism, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. While the work is rigorous, the department fosters a collegial atmosphere where humor and flexibility are valued. The dynamic nature of the Center’s programming and creative initiatives ensures that no two days are alike, making the Finance Department a uniquely engaging and essential part of the organization.

The Senior Accounting Manager, reporting to the Director of Accounting, Operations, is responsible for overseeing daily accounting operations, ensuring the accuracy and relevance of journal entries, and leading a timely and efficient month-end close process. This role also contributes to the preparation of annual financial statements and supports various departmental projects.

The Senior Accounting Manager will directly supervise the Accounts Payable office and collaborate closely with general ledger staff and senior accountants to ensure accurate and timely processing of invoices, payments, and financial entries. This includes ensuring compliance with organizational financial policies, travel and reimbursement procedures, and contractual obligations.

Additionally, the position will provide training and support to operating departments during the transition to a new procure-to-pay (P2P) system and continue to serve as a subject matter expert post-implementation. The role also manages the daily upload of Concur transactions into the accounting system.

As the Finance Department undergoes significant system upgrades over the next 1–2 years—including the implementation of a new ERP system (Sage) and HRIS system (UKG)—the Senior Accounting Manager will play a key role in these transitions. This is a pivotal time for the Center, and the ideal candidate will embrace the opportunity to lead and support change.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the Accounts Payable function, ensuring timely completion of key projects such as quarterly 1099 and 1042 reviews, year-end reporting, vendor management, and the transition to 100% ACH payments by FY26. Support the AP team through the ERP system implementation and manage the Concur reimbursement system.
• Lead and monitor major accounting initiatives, including month-end and year-end close processes. Responsibilities include reviewing and posting journal entries, overseeing account reconciliations, and ensuring timely adjustments. Review and post Federal Batch settlements.
• Coordinate and delegate tasks related to the annual audit, including preparation of financial statement schedules and footnotes. Prepare regulatory and compliance documentation such as Form 990 schedules, BEA Analysis, and Cultural Data Project submissions.
• Collaborate with other departments to support financial strategy development and reporting needs. Provide training and guidance for the decentralized purchase order and invoice entry process, both during and after the P2P system transition.
• Perform critical support duties including: (a) training staff on financial policies and procedures; (b) serving as backup for the AP Supervisor and Director of Accounting, Operations; (c) recommending process improvements; (d) managing special projects; (e) maintaining process documentation; and (f) overseeing records retention for accounting files.

• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required; CPA or advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive accounting experience, including supervisory responsibilities and oversight of accounts payable functions.

• Experience in nonprofit or arts/cultural organizations is a plus.

• Strong proficiency in accounting systems and financial reporting tools; experience with ERP systems (Sage preferred) and Concur is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with procure-to-pay (P2P) systems and decentralized financial processes.

• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with large data sets and reconciliations.

• Proven ability to lead teams, manage projects, and implement process improvements.

• Demonstrated success in managing audits, compliance reporting, and regulatory documentation.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided. 
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.