Staff Accountant (Full-Time)

If you enjoy working closely with clients, take pride in producing accurate and meaningful financials, and want to be part of a supportive and growing team, this could be a great fit.

At Universal Bookkeeper, we’ve built a collaborative and upbeat environment where relationships matter—both within our team and with the clients we serve. We believe it’s about more than numbers – it’s about trust, communication, and helping businesses run smoothly.

We’re looking for a Full-Time Staff Accountant who is detail-oriented, client-focused, and excited to play an important role in delivering high-quality accounting support across multiple clients. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety in their work, values teamwork, and wants to grow with a firm that is evolving and expanding.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Manage daily, weekly, monthly, and annual accounting functions for a variety of clients
• Perform month-end close activities, including account reconciliations and variance analysis
• Prepare and review monthly financial reports tailored to each client’s needs
• Support sales tax filings and 1099 compliance processes
• Assist with the preparation and review of personal and business tax returns
• Build strong relationships with clients and serve as a trusted point of contact for accounting support
• Communicate financial insights and help clients understand their numbers
• Collaborate with team members to ensure high-quality, timely client service
• Participate in team activities and occasional community engagement events
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and support continuous improvement within client accounts

What We Are Looking For:

• 1–3 years of private or public accounting experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field is required
• Solid understanding of accounting principles
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in financial work
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a multi-client environment
• Comfortable working with financial systems and technology
• Experience with QuickBooks Online preferred 

Just as important…

• Positive and team-oriented—you enjoy working collaboratively and supporting others
• Strong communicator who is comfortable interacting with clients, vendors, and teammates
• Relationship-driven and personable, with a friendly and professional approach
• Interested in being part of a connected team, including occasional team events and client interactions

Schedule

• 40 hour work week with flexible and hybrid options, Monday – Friday within core hours 7:30-4:00pm
• Hybrid options available upon successful completion of training period

Compensation & Perks

• Competitive salary range of $50,000–$65,000 (based on experience) with additional performance-based bonus opportunities
• Generous Paid Time Off and leave policies including 8 paid holidays
• 75% coverage of single health insurance premiums
• 401(k) retirement plan eligibility after one year with company match
• Support professional development through tuition reimbursement and support for CPA/EA test and review material costs
• Employee Referral Bonus – incentives for referring new talent to our team
• Supportive, team-oriented environment
• Client interaction and variety in your work
• Opportunity for growth

Why This Role is a Great Opportunity

This role is more than just staff accounting—you’ll be part of a team that truly supports one another, values your expertise, and gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact with clients.

What makes this opportunity stand out:

• Competitive full-time role with opportunities for growth and professional development
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• Opportunity to work closely with a variety of small business and nonprofit clients
• Meaningful work helping businesses understand and manage their financials
• Positive, relationship-driven environment where your work is valued
• A role where your accounting knowledge and client support truly make a difference

You’ll play an important role in supporting client financial operations, delivering accurate and timely reporting, and building strong relationships with both clients and team members as the firm continues to grow.

Controller 

New Hartford, NY · In office, with occasional remote flexibility · Full-time · $110,000 to $140,000 per year

Universal Bookkeeper is looking for a CPA to lead our Controllership clients and help develop our growing team. You’ll work closely with owners, executive directors, and boards, at a firm built on real relationships and a balanced pace, even in tax season.

The opportunity

This role sits at the center of how we serve clients. When a nonprofit is deciding whether it can afford a new program, or a growing business is weighing its next hire, you’ll be the one helping them find a clear answer and understand what the numbers really mean.

You’ll also help shape where the firm goes next. As we grow, our Controllers guide how we develop our Senior and Staff Accountants, strengthen our tax review, and build relationships in the community. It’s a role with real influence, at a firm small enough that your ideas are heard.

What you’ll do

• Lead weekly or monthly meetings with Controllership clients, and present financial results to nonprofit finance committees and boards of directors.
• Turn the numbers into clear takeaways: what we’re seeing, why it matters, the risks, and the options.
• Perform final review and sign-off on individual, business, PTET, and multi-state returns, plus Form 990s for nonprofit clients.
• Share advisement with the Senior Accountants who lead selected clients, and coach them as they grow.
• Help shape how we develop out team, from training plans for new accountants to leading team trainings.
• Oversee audit preparation and serve as our lead contact with auditors.
• Represent the firm at community and networking events, and help recruit future team members, including at local colleges.

What you bring

Required

• Active CPA license and a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field.
• Six or more years of accounting experience, including month-end close, financial reporting, and client advisory work.
• Experience reviewing individual, business, PTET, and multi-state tax returns.
• Three or more years of experience leading or mentoring other accountants, including giving direct feedback.
• Comfort presenting financial results to owners, boards, and leadership.

Nice to have

• Nonprofit accounting experience, such as fund accounting, grant reporting, and Form 990s.
• Experience in outsourced accounting, fractional CFO, or client advisory services.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks Online, Karbon, Gusto, Bill.com, or ProConnect, and curiosity about using AI and new tools well.

What it’s like here

Small team. Real relationships. A balanced pace. We’re an owner-led firm of eight in New Hartford, built on shared core values and what we call unreasonable hospitality: noticing the little things and going beyond what clients expect.

What we offer

• Salary: $110,000 to $140,000, based on experience
• Paid time off: generous leave, 8 paid holidays, and bereavement leave
• Health benefits: 75% employer-paid premium for individual coverage
• 401(k): available after one year
• Professional development: CPE support, tuition reimbursement, and relevant conferences and training events
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, typically starting at 7:30 a.m., with core client hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and flexibility when life comes up

How to apply

Click the green button below to apply.  You’ll be asked to share:

1. Your resume
2. A cover letter that tells us what draws you to this role and how leading clients and a team has prepared you for it
3. A short video, two minutes or less, recorded on Loom, introducing yourself and why you’d like to join our team.  Please send the link for the video to info@universalbookkeeper.com

The form also asks a few questions to help us get to know you.