Bookkeeper (Part-Time)

Role Overview Organization: Cosmic Writers Location: Remote (U.S.-based) Hours: 3 hours/week Compensation: $40.00 per hour To apply, send a brief cover note and your resumé to the Cosmic Writers Chief of Staff, Maria Gabriela Arguello, at [email protected]. Do not apply through LinkedIn. Storytelling education nonprofit Cosmic Writers role is hiring a part-time bookkeeper, a role centered around accounting infrastructure. You will work closely with the Chief of Staff to design, implement, and maintain a clean, auditable, and scalable accounting system in Xero. The ideal candidate is someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity — building systems, refining processes, and ensuring financial data is both accurate and meaningful.

Key Responsibilities

Bookkeeping & Reconciliation

• Maintain accurate books in Xero, including:
• Transaction coding and categorization
• Monthly bank and credit card reconciliations
• Ensure timely and clean close of monthly financials
• Identify and resolve discrepancies proactively

Chart of Accounts & Financial Structure

• Design and refine a comprehensive chart of accounts aligned with:
• Organizational functions (e.g., Programs, Operations, Development)
• Key growth levers and revenue streams
• Ensure consistency in how transactions are categorized over time
• Build systems that enable meaningful financial reporting and analysis

Fund Accounting & Revenue Tracking

• Implement and maintain fund accounting practices, including:
• Tracking restricted vs. unrestricted funds
• Separating program-specific funding (e.g., scholarships, grants)
• Ensure revenue is properly classified (grants, individual donations, etc.)
• Support donor-level tracking in coordination with external systems when needed

Process & Infrastructure Development

• Build and document repeatable accounting workflows
• Improve internal controls and data hygiene
• Create simple documentation so systems are maintainable long-term
• Collaborate on improving reporting outputs (e.g., donor reports, grant tracking)

Qualifications

Requirements

• 2-3+ year of bookkeeping or accounting experience (nonprofit experience strongly preferred)
• Experience with Xero (preferred) or QuickBooks
• Familiarity with fund accounting principles
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to design systems — not just execute tasks
• Comfortable working independently in a remote environment

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience working with donor data or CRM systems
• Familiarity with nonprofit reporting (e.g., Form 990, Schedule B-style reporting)
• Experience setting up or restructuring a chart of accounts

What Success Looks Like

• Clean, consistently reconciled books
• A well-structured chart of accounts that reflects how Cosmic Writers operates
• Clear separation and tracking of funds (restricted vs. unrestricted, program-specific)
• Systems that make future reporting, audits, and growth significantly easier