Lead Technical Accountant

About This Role

The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Lead Technical Accountant to join our Accounting team within Finance and Administration. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Accounting and Financial Reporting, you will serve as a key subject matter expert on accounting policy, financial reporting, and internal controls. This fully remote position requires candidates to be located within UTC-5 to UTC-8 timezones to support effective team collaboration.

As Lead Technical Accountant, you will be responsible for providing strategic technical accounting guidance, ensuring accounting policies remain current and consistently applied across the organization. You will lead critical components of annual financial statement audits, Form 990 nonprofit tax reporting, and internal controls over financial reporting for both the Wikimedia Foundation and the Wikimedia Endowment standalone legal entities.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Accounting Guidance: Simplify complex financial accounting concepts into actionable strategies and clear guidance for cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring informed decision-making across the organization.
• Policy & Governance: Maintain and continuously improve the Foundation's accounting and financial governance policies and procedures to enhance financial reporting quality and ensure adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• Audit Leadership: Lead key components of annual financial audits for both entities, including preparing audit support schedules, coordinating auditor responses, and managing the audit process with external partners.
• Form 990 Preparation: Support the preparation of nonprofit Form 990 filings by gathering data, reviewing schedules, and ensuring accuracy and completeness of all financial information.
• Accounting Standards Implementation: Research, evaluate, and document conclusions on new or emerging accounting standards. Lead cross-functional implementation by designing adoption approaches, establishing timelines, and guiding teams through execution.
• Internal Controls Review: Review and enhance internal controls over financial reporting, including documenting control processes, identifying gaps, and recommending sustainable improvements.
• Process Improvement: Lead process improvement projects related to accounting and internal controls by independently assessing operational, regulatory, systems, and resource constraints. Design and implement sustainable enhancements to workflows and control environments in partnership with accounting and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Revenue & Expense Guidance: Advise departments on revenue and expense recognition matters by evaluating accounting implications and providing clear technical guidance.
• Treasury & Investment Support: Support treasury and investment operations, including monitoring cash and investment activity, performing cash forecasting, and supporting liquidity planning and organizational decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• CPA Certification: Active CPA license required (or equivalent international certification with strong US GAAP experience)
• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance plus 8+ years of relevant professional experience, including experience in public accounting
• Technical Expertise: Solid understanding of US GAAP, nonprofit accounting, and core financial reporting concepts
• Audit & Compliance: Experience supporting audited financial statements and/or Form 990 nonprofit tax preparation strongly preferred
• Analytical Skills: Proven ability to assess complex accounting issues, evaluate multiple solutions, and communicate technical conclusions clearly to diverse audiences
• Process Improvement: Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and managing process improvements in accounting or financial reporting environments

About Wikimedia

The Wikimedia Foundation operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects used by millions globally. Join our Finance and Administration team to support the financial integrity and operational excellence of this mission-driven nonprofit organization.