CPA Senior Accountant

Below is a ready‑to‑customize cover letter and résumé that highlight the experience, skills, and achievements most relevant to the CPA Senior Accountant position at Close Up Foundation.
Simply replace the bracketed placeholders (e.g., [Your Name]) with your personal information and, if desired, tweak any bullet points to reflect your exact duties and results.

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📄 Cover Letter

[Your Name]
[Your Street Address] • [City, State ZIP] • (###) ###‑#### • [your.email@example.com] • LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/your‑profile]

[Date]

Hiring Committee
Close Up Foundation
[Street Address]
Arlington, VA 22204

Dear Hiring Committee,

I am excited to submit my application for the CPA Senior Accountant role at Close Up Foundation. With a CPA license, 8 + years of progressive accounting experience—including 5 years leading finance functions for national nonprofit organizations—and a proven track record of strengthening internal controls, optimizing fund accounting, and delivering clear financial insight to boards and executive teams, I am confident I can help Close Up continue its mission of empowering young citizens.

Why I’m a strong fit

Requirement	My Experience
Active CPA license	CPA, State of Virginia, license # XXXXX (active since 2016)
Nonprofit fund accounting & grant compliance	Managed multi‑year, restricted grant portfolios totaling $45 M at [Nonprofit Org], ensuring 100 % compliance with donor and IRS requirements; designed automated reporting dashboards that cut month‑end close time by 30 %.
GAAP‑compliant financial statements & Form 990	Produced quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP and FASB ASC 958; led the preparation and filing of Form 990‑EZ/990‑PF for three consecutive years with zero deficiencies.
Audit leadership	Served as primary liaison for external auditors (PwC, KPMG) on two full‑cycle audits; negotiated audit fees that saved the organization $12 K annually while expanding scope to include new program‑level controls.
Internal controls & policy development	Designed and rolled out a comprehensive internal‑control framework (COSO‑based) that earned a clean audit opinion and was adopted as a best‑practice model across the organization’s regional affiliates.
System expertise	Advanced user of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (implementation lead for migration from QuickBooks); proficient in NetSuite, Blackbaud Financial Edge, and Excel (Power Query, VBA, PivotTables).
Leadership & mentorship	Supervised a team of 4 accountants; instituted a quarterly “Finance‑Forward” workshop that increased staff proficiency in grant‑tracking software and reduced errors by 22 %.

Alignment with Close Up’s mission

Close Up’s commitment to civic education and inclusive youth engagement resonates deeply with my personal values. In my most recent role at [Nonprofit Org], I partnered with program staff to develop a financial‑literacy curriculum for high‑school interns, directly exposing the next generation to nonprofit finance and stewardship. I am eager to bring that same passion for education and empowerment to Close Up, ensuring that the organization’s financial foundation is as robust and forward‑thinking as its programming.

What I will bring to Close Up

• Strategic financial leadership – translating complex financial data into actionable insights for the Board and senior leadership.
• Scalable processes – continuous improvement of accounting workflows to support program growth and new funding models.
• Risk mitigation – rigorous internal‑control design that safeguards restricted funds and maintains IRS compliance.
• Team development – mentorship that cultivates a high‑performing accounting function aligned with the organization’s values.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasm can contribute to Close Up Foundation’s continued success.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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📑 Résumé

[Your Name], CPA
[Your Street Address] • [City, State ZIP] • (###) ###‑#### • [your.email@example.com] • LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/your‑profile]

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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Seasoned Certified Public Accountant with 8 + years of experience in nonprofit financial management, fund accounting, and audit oversight. Expert in GAAP‑compliant reporting, Form 990 preparation, and internal‑control design. Proven leader who drives efficiency through system optimization (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, NetSuite) and mentors high‑performing accounting teams. Passionate about leveraging finance to advance mission‑driven organizations.

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CORE COMPETENCIES

• Nonprofit GAAP & ASC 958
• Fund & Grant Accounting (restricted, multi‑year)
• Form 990 & IRS Compliance
• Audit Coordination & Liaison
• Internal Controls (COSO framework)
• Financial Statement Preparation
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Advanced Excel (Power Query, VBA, PivotTables)
• Team Leadership & Staff Development
• Process Improvement & Automation

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Accountant – Finance & Grants
[Nonprofit Organization], Washington, DC (Remote/Hybrid) — June 2019 – Present

• Lead the month‑end and year‑end close for a $45 M portfolio, delivering GAAP‑compliant financial statements within 5 business days of period end.
• Oversee fund accounting for 30+ restricted grant programs, ensuring proper allocation, compliance, and reporting to donors and the Board.
• Direct the annual audit process; act as primary contact for external auditors (PwC), resulting in a clean opinion and a 15 % reduction in audit fees.
• Prepare and file Form 990‑EZ/990‑PF for three consecutive years with zero deficiencies; implement a quarterly compliance checklist adopted organization‑wide.
• Designed and launched a Dynamics 365 Business Central implementation, migrating from QuickBooks; automated journal entries and reporting, cutting month‑end close time by 30 %.
• Developed and instituted a COSO‑based internal‑control framework; performed risk assessments and remediation, eliminating material weaknesses.
• Supervise a team of 4 accountants; instituted quarterly “Finance‑Forward” training, improving staff proficiency and reducing posting errors by 22 %.

Senior Accountant
[Another Nonprofit / Education NGO], Arlington, VA — July 2015 – May 2019

• Managed general ledger, cash management, and bank reconciliations for a $20 M annual budget.
• Coordinated the preparation of audited financial statements and Form 990, achieving a clean audit each year.
• Implemented a grant‑tracking system (Blackbaud Financial Edge) that streamlined reporting to 12 major funders, reducing manual effort by 40 hours per month.
• Conducted internal control reviews and recommended policy updates that improved compliance with donor restrictions.
• Mentored junior staff, leading to two promotions within the department.

Staff Accountant
[Public Accounting Firm], Richmond, VA — August 2012 – June 2015

• Performed audit and tax services for nonprofit clients, including Form 990 preparation and ASC 958 compliance reviews.
• Assisted in the migration of client accounting systems to cloud‑based platforms (NetSuite, Dynamics).

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EDUCATION

Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) – May 2018
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting – May 2012
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

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CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), State of Virginia – License # XXXXX (Active)
• Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) – Institute of Management Accountants (2020)

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TECHNICAL SKILLS

Category	Tools / Platforms
ERP / Accounting Systems	Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (implementation lead), NetSuite, Blackbaud Financial Edge, QuickBooks Enterprise
Financial Reporting	Excel (Power Query, VBA, PivotTables), Power BI, Tableau
Audit & Compliance	AuditBoard, Workiva, IRS e‑file for Form 990
Grant Management	Fluxx, GrantTracker, Foundation Center
Other	Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Concur, ADP Workforce Now

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Member, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA)
• Volunteer Treasurer, [Local Youth Civic Education Program] – overseeing a $250K budget and preparing quarterly reports for the board.

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SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS

• Audit Savings: Negotiated audit scope and fees, saving $12 K annually while expanding audit coverage to include new program‑level controls.
• Process Automation: Developed Excel‑based cash‑flow forecasting model adopted by senior leadership, improving forecast accuracy from 78 % to 94 %.
• Grant Compliance: Achieved 100 % on‑time, error‑free grant reporting for 12 major funders over a 3‑year period, resulting in renewed funding worth $8 M.

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References available upon request.