Grants and Compliance Accountant

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST

Sustainable Northwest forges natural resource solutions that are good for nature, people, and local economies. We partner with rural communities and Tribal Nations throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches.

Our solutions are as unique as the problems we solve and include entrepreneurship, policy, market innovations, public or private investment, collaboration, and technical assistance - but the ultimate success of our work is based on relationships, trust, and inclusion.

Sustainable Northwest was founded in 1994 to forge collaborative solutions for conserving forest and community health. Today, our challenges have multiplied with climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and persistent drought plaguing our region. Yet we remain optimistic that nature, people, and local economies can thrive together.

Benefits

Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package supporting employee wellness with medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance; three to six weeks PTO (dependent on length of tenure), sick time, 11 federal holidays, and additional paid leave during year-end office closure December 26-31; 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions; cell phone stipend; transit stipend for Portland metro residents; office stipend for satellite employees; pre-tax spending plan for medical and/or dependent care; support for professional training; and flexible daily and weekly work schedules.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grant & Compliance Accountant - AMP Wood Markets is a term-limited role created to provide dedicated financial and compliance support to the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) program - a multi-year federal grant from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service deploying over $23 million (federal + non-federal match) to advance forest stewardship, market access, and economic benefit for Tribal nations and private family forest owners across Oregon, Washington, and California. This role combines grant accounting with producer payment administration and tribal/subaward fiscal monitoring, ensuring that all project expenditures comply with federal accounting principles and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).

Unlike other Finance team roles at Sustainable Northwest, which serve the organization as a whole with organization-wide accounting responsibilities, this position's scope is intentionally limited to the AMP-Wood Markets project. The position is a member of the Finance team, reports to the Senior Grant Accountant and works in close coordination with the Wood Markets team (Senior Director of Wood Markets and Grant and Contract Manager) on project coordination, the Jr. Staff Accountant on payment mechanics, the Accounting Manager on accounting processes, and the Finance Director on compliance escalations.

This is a term-limited position for the duration of the AMP Wood Markets award period (September 2026 - April 2029). This position will sunset at the conclusion of the AMP Wood Markets project period, or upon early project close-out. Continuation of this position beyond the initial term is contingent on continued project funding.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Project Coordination (40%)

• Serve as the finance point of contact for AMP-Wood Markets program staff to provide information regarding grant financial activity and resolve budget and payment questions.
• In coordination with the Senior Director of Wood Markets, directly engage with project producers and subrecipients of the AMP-Wood Markets regarding invoicing and compliance.
• Coordinate with the Senior Grant Accountant on financial reporting deadlines, audit preparation, and project close-out procedures.
• In collaboration with Grant and Contract Manager develop systems to track, monitor and report on status of payments to producers and compliance evaluation of subrecipients and tribal partners.
• In collaboration with the Grant and Contract Manager establish risk mitigation for producer payment resources.
• Other duties as assigned, within the scope of the AMP-Wood Markets project.

Producer Payments (20%)

• Process and administer payments to producers participating in the AMP-Wood Markets project, verifying supporting documentation and compliance with award terms.
• Ensure expenditures align with federal requirements in coordination with the Senior Grant Accountant, ensuring appropriate treatment under Uniform Guidance.
• Maintain producer payment records, vendor files (including W-9 compliance), and supporting documentation to ensure audit readiness.

Grant Accounting & Budget Reporting (20%)

• Prepare monthly and quarterly budget-to-actual reports for the project, identifying variances and flagging risks to program leadership and the Senior Grant Accountant.
• Provide financial information to support programmatic reporting on grants
• Perform various grant-related post-award functions throughout the grant cycle, such as expense monitoring and analysis, labor distribution changes, reconciliations, and budget revisions
• Track match and cost-share sources for the project.
• Assist in preparing required federal financial reports (e.g., SF-425) specific to the AMP-Wood Markets award.

Fiscal Monitoring & Compliance (20%)

• Conduct fiscal monitoring of subawards and tribal partners issued under the AMP-Wood Markets project, including risk assessments and periodic compliance reviews.
• Ensure subrecipient and tribal partner invoices and expenditures align with 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) requirements.
• Maintain documentation supporting cost allowability, procurement compliance, and subrecipient and tribal risk monitoring for the project.
• Escalate compliance concerns or funder inquiries to the Senior Grant Accountant and Finance Director as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, or equivalent of 5 years of experience in a related field in lieu of a degree.
• 3 years of nonprofit accounting experience, including exposure to grant or fund accounting.
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance).
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to independently manage multiple payment and reporting deadlines.
• Comfort working within a fixed-term, single-project scope of work.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with subrecipient/subaward monitoring or vendor payment administration.
• Experience with MIP Fund Accounting or similar nonprofit ERP accounting systems.
• Familiarity with agricultural, forestry, or producer-payment programs.
• Experience with federal financial reporting (e.g., SF-425).

PLEASE NOTE

The skills and experience listed above are what we believe is necessary to succeed in this position. However, we encourage all interested applicants to apply even if your skills are not a match with all requested qualifications. Please, underscore applicable skills unique to you in your cover letter.

Sustainable Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant or employee's race or ethnicity, national origin; gender, gender identity or sexual orientation; religion or creed; age, ability, or other legally protected status.

TO APPLY

Send an email with 'Grant and Compliance Accountant' in the subject line. Email cover letter and resume in one PDF to Dassi Owens at dowens@sustainablenorthwest.org. Incomplete submissions received after 5pm on August 7th will not be considered. Please make no phone calls or email inquiries. Interview questions will be provided in advance. References will be requested from finalist candidates.