Investment Accounting Manager

About The Jewish Community Foundation Los Angeles

At The Foundation, we serve as a trusted partner to individuals and families who seek to align their charitable giving with their values, maximize their philanthropic impact, and contribute meaningfully to the Jewish community and beyond.

Our mission is to strengthen our community to better our world by empowering philanthropists with personalized counsel, strategic connections, and a full suite of giving solutions tailored to their goals.

 

Position Summary

The Investment Accounting Manager is a hands-on accounting professional responsible for accurate, timely, and well-controlled accounting and reporting for the organization’s investment activity. The position manages recurring investment accounting processes across pooled funds, separately managed accounts, alternative investments, cash accounts, donor and fund-level activity, and the related general ledger. The role partners with Finance, Investments, Development, custodians, investment managers, auditors, and tax advisors to support close, reporting, audits, compliance, and continuous process improvement.

 

Key Responsibilities

Investment Accounting and Close

  • Record and review investment activity, including interest, dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, capital calls, distributions, fees, investment income, and fair value adjustments.
  • Prepare and review reconciliations for pooled funds, separately managed accounts, alternatives, cash, securities, market value, and cost activity, as applicable.
  • Prepare investment-related journal entries, workpapers, supporting schedules, and variance explanations for month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close.
  • Maintain accurate records and audit trails for assigned funds, donor-advised funds, custodial accounts, and investment vehicles.
  • Investigate differences among custodian statements, investment manager reports, the general ledger, and internal records; resolve or escalate exceptions promptly.
  • Maintain investment accounting mappings, fund coding, dimensions, and related chart-of-accounts elements.

Cash Activity and Controls

  • Monitor investment-related cash activity and identify unusual transactions, liquidity needs, or variances requiring escalation.
  • Coordinate with Finance, Development, and other teams to ensure gifts, deposits, disbursements, and transfers are appropriately routed, approved, coded, documented, and recorded.
  • Maintain effective controls over supporting documentation, approvals, reconciliations, and segregation of duties within the role’s scope.

Fund-Level and Performance Reporting

  • Prepare accounting and reconciliations for separately managed accounts, pooled funds, private funds, and other investment vehicles.
  • Review custodian, investment manager, and third-party reports for completeness, reasonableness, and consistency with internal records.
  • Prepare recurring analyses of investment activity, cash flows, balances, market values, and significant variances.
  • Validate accounting data and prepare schedules supporting management, donor, fund, board, committee, and performance reporting.

Audit, Compliance, and Documentation

  • Prepare audit and tax support, including reconciliations, confirmations, workpapers, footnote support, and compliance schedules.
  • Respond to requests from auditors and tax advisors and coordinate required information with custodians, investment managers, and internal teams.
  • Maintain current procedures, checklists, reporting calendars, and organized electronic records for recurring processes.
  • Apply internal policies, accounting standards, investment guidelines, and established control procedures within the role’s scope.

Systems and Process Improvement

  • Use Excel, the general ledger, custodial platforms, investment reporting tools, and document management systems to reconcile, analyze, and report activity.
  • Improve recurring processes through clearer documentation, practical automation, reduced manual effort, stronger controls, and better data quality.
  • Support system testing, implementation, reporting-tool enhancements, and workflow improvements related to investment accounting.
  • Complete special projects and ad hoc analysis as assigned.

Collaboration and Functional Leadership

  • Serve as a knowledgeable resource on investment accounting, reconciliations, cash activity, and fund-level reporting.
  • Provide technical guidance to Finance colleagues and coordinate work across internal and external partners.
  • Handle confidential financial, donor, account, and investment information with sound judgment and discretion.
  • Own assigned deadlines and deliverables, communicate status clearly, and escalate issues with proposed solutions.

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
  • Approximately 6-8 years of progressive experience in accounting, investment accounting, fund accounting, public accounting, nonprofit finance, banking, or a related field.
  • Strong knowledge of GAAP, journal entries, account reconciliations, close, financial reporting, and internal controls.
  • Experience working with investment statements, custodian reports, cash activity, market values, and/or investment manager reporting.
  • Advanced Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, formulas, data validation, reconciliations, and review of large data sets.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage recurring deadlines, work independently, analyze discrepancies, document processes, and communicate clearly with stakeholders.
  • High level of accuracy, discretion, professionalism, and follow-through.

Preferred

  • CPA, CPA candidate, CMA, CFA, or relevant advanced degree or certification.
  • Experience in a nonprofit, foundation, endowment, donor-advised fund, investment management, custodial, or wealth management environment.
  • Exposure to alternative investments, private funds, separately managed accounts, or pooled investment structures.
  • Experience supporting audits, tax filings, compliance reporting, board or committee materials, system implementations, or workflow automation.

 

Work Environment

  • Professional office environment with regular use of computer systems, spreadsheets, financial systems, and electronic records.
  • Ability to manage deadlines during month-end, quarter-end, year-end, audit, and other peak reporting periods.
  • Hybrid or in-office expectations are determined by organizational policy.
  • Flexible work environment with hybrid work schedule.
  • Salary: starts at $140,000 depending on skill sets, years of experience, training, certifications, and degrees earned. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range unless they exceed most of the job qualifications.
  • Sample Benefits
    • Medical/Dental/Vision
    • 403(b) with 10% employer contribution
    • Staff Donor Advised Fund
    • Paid Parking
    • Generous vacation and sick leave
    • National and Jewish holidays
  • The Jewish Community Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Statistics show that women and members of marginalized groups tend to only apply for an opportunity if they meet 100% of the qualifications. The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles encourages you to break the trend and apply.
  • Application Process: Only those with Advancement experience in the Los Angeles area should apply. To apply for this position, please email your cover letter and resume as a single PDF document titled “Last Name, First Name” to jobs@jewishfoundationla.org. In the subject line of your email, include: “Application: Investment Accounting Manager”. We look forward to reviewing your application.