Staff Accountant

About Us

Skift is the leading business intelligence and media company in travel, delivering news, research, and global events that power smarter decisions across the industry. We convene senior leaders and innovators who rely on Skift for clarity, insight, and meaningful connection in a fast-moving global market.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the CFO, we're looking for a sharp, fast-moving Staff Accountant who brings seasoned judgment and absolute ownership to every corner of our finance function. This isn't a maintain-the-status-quo role. We want an experienced operator who spots inefficiencies before they become problems and redesigns the process, who uses AI tools to raise the bar for how a lean finance team runs, and who treats the month-end close as a standard of excellence they set and defend, not just a deadline. If you've built the Excel tools and workflows that others now rely on, and you take pride in a close that's both fast and flawless, this is your moment. We are looking for candidates based in the greater New York tri-state area who are available to commute into Manhattan at least twice per month.

Why This Role Matters

Skift operates a fully remote team across 17+ countries, producing intelligence, media, and events that shape the future of global travel. Our finance function is the backbone of that operation. As the CFO's right hand on day-to-day accounting, you keep a lean, fast-moving company compliant, solvent, and highly strategic. Our finance team touches everything, from media and global payroll to payment platforms and live events. You will be the person who holds it all together, modernizes manual processes, and brings the rigor and perspective that make complex global accounting look easy.

Some of What You'll Do

Daily Operations & Cash Management

• Own daily cash monitoring and bank balance oversight, investigating unusual movements and escalating to the CFO with context and a recommended course of action.
• Build and maintain weekly cash flow forecasts that drive the treasury report, refining assumptions as the business evolves.
• Manage payment runs end to end, preparing supporting documentation for CFO approval and executing wire transfers once approved when payment limits are reached.
• Prepare and post journal entries, including accruals and corrections, applying sound accounting judgment ahead of CFO review.
• Own the finance inbox as the first line of resolution for vendor queries, exercising judgment on what to resolve directly and what to escalate.
• Oversee AR/AP aging and drive collections and payables follow-up to maintain a healthy DSO.
• Review and compile above-threshold vendor invoices with complete backup for CFO approval.
• Manage payroll exceptions, own the sync of US payroll reports to QuickBooks, and lead intercompany reconciliations.
• Handle physical mail and check deposits from the New York post office box.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for bank representatives and external tax accountants.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Own the month-end close checklist end to end, guiding the Finance Clerk and holding the timeline accountable.
• Deliver the P&L and balance sheet with rigorous variance analysis against budget, and lead budget vs. actual conversations with department heads.
• Handle bank and payment-processor reconciliations (Stripe, Braintree), investigating root causes of exceptions and resolving them.
• Code global payroll (Multiplier EOR) into QuickBooks and reconcile against source reports, identifying opportunities to streamline the process.
• Partner with the Events team to reconcile event COGS, and own the fixed asset register and depreciation schedules.
• Review recognized revenue with Sales and ticket sales activity with Marketing, flagging discrepancies and trends.
• Maintain the monthly "hill to climb" tracking file.
• Manage expense report submissions for CFO approval, and own recurring indirect tax filings (GST/VAT/BAS) through review and submission.

Annual Compliance & Strategic Finance

• Lead coordination of the annual budget cycle: gathering and pressure-testing departmental inputs, consolidating submissions, and delivering a review-ready package to the CFO.
• Own commission calculations through CFO sign-off.
• Serve as a key point of contact for the annual external audit, preparing schedules and workpapers and managing auditor requests.
• Partner with our external accountants in the U.S. and U.K. on annual financial statement preparation.
• Own annual payroll reconciliations, 1099 processing, and year-end tax filings in coordination with external advisors.
• Own finance policies and SOPs, proactively updating documentation as processes change.
• Manage finance software contract renewals and evaluate alternate vendors and platforms, delivering a comparison matrix with recommendations.

What You'll Bring

• 3+ years of progressive accounting experience, including full ownership of the monthly close cycle. (Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance required; CPA or progress toward CPA a plus)
• Technical Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in QuickBooks Online, advanced Excel skills (complex models, lookups, pivot tables, and self-built tools), and deep fluency with payment platforms like Stripe, Braintree, Emburse, and Wise.
• Global Complexity: Proven experience operating in a multi-entity, multi-currency, global payroll environment, including intercompany accounting and indirect tax (experience with Questco, Multiplier, or similar PEO/EOR platforms is highly preferred).
• AI & Process Automation: Active, hands-on use of AI tools (Claude, Claude Code, Gemini or similar) in your daily workflow, and a track record of redesigning manual processes into scalable, automated ones, with measurable results you can point to.
• Proactive Communication: The ability to translate financial information into clear insight for non-finance audiences and senior stakeholders, building credibility fast across time zones and cultures.
• Agility & Ownership: A self-directed mindset that thrives in a fast-paced, remote-first environment with minimal oversight. You bring urgency without burning out, treat async communication as a skill, and are flexible with your hours to meet critical financial deadlines.

Success Metrics

• Close Excellence: A fast, flawless, and highly organized month-end close that you own and continuously improve, setting the standard for accuracy rather than just meeting a deadline.
• Process Transformation: Tangible, sustained upgrades to finance workflows through automation, AI integration, and proactive process design that scale as Skift grows.
• Cash & Compliance: Impeccable management of cash flow and AR/AP, and audits and year-end tax obligations that run smoothly because you anticipated what was needed.
• Strategic Partnership: Recognized as a trusted finance partner by leadership and department heads, leading budget vs. actuals reviews and communicating financial health with clarity and confidence.

How We Work

Skift's culture is diverse, cohesive, and full of people who love what they do and bring the best of themselves to work. We are remote but very connected and caring about each other.

How To Apply

If this role sounds like a fit, we'd love to hear from you. PLEASE SEND US A COVER LETTER ALONG WITH YOUR RESUME sharing why you're interested and how your experience aligns with Skift's mission.

Skift is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of travelers around the world. We welcome applicants from all life experiences and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Here's what you can expect next

If selected to interview, a Skift team member will reach out to schedule next steps.