Senior Financial Accountant
The Washington Post Open · verified Oct 22, 2026 At a glance
Senior Accounting role at The Washington Post. DC-Washington-TWP · full-time · $85,100–$127,700 base.
financeroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Handle general ledger entries and close work at month- and year-end, then prepare financial statements
- Compare income statement and balance sheet results, investigate variances, and surface trends for leaders
- Apply GAAP guidance with accounting management and keep procedure documents current, including each process's purpose
- Find accounting tasks to automate, recommend process changes, and build automations for your assigned areas
- Prepare audit, tax, compliance, and annual statement support, and respond to auditor requests with accurate data
What you bring
- A bachelor's degree in accounting and at least three years of increasing responsibility in accounting or auditing
- Hands-on strength in general ledger work and financial reporting, including complex statement preparation and analysis
- Advanced Excel capability, including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and Power Pivot
- Experience with data analytics and visualization platforms, plus clear written and verbal communication
Who this fits
This senior accounting role suits someone who can work independently, manage shifting priorities, and collaborate with stakeholders while maintaining accuracy. The role is on-site five days a week, with stated exceptions for newsgathering and business travel. CPA or CA credentials, or progress toward a CPA, are preferred.
From the employer
Join the future of news
We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.
About Our Team
The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning News and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.
Why This Role Matters
The Washington Post’s Finance Department is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join our Financial Accounting and Reporting team. This role is pivotal in ensuring the integrity of financial data that enables our leaders to make informed, strategic decisions. You will thrive here if you are adaptable to evolving business priorities, curious about the bigger picture, and eager to apply your accounting expertise to enhance processes and deliver high-quality results.
What Motivates You
You take pride in producing accurate, high-quality financial information that supports strategic decision-making.
You have a keen eye for detail and maintain efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
You adapt quickly to shifting priorities and balance speed with precision in your daily work.
You enjoy applying your technical accounting knowledge to complex scenarios, researching new guidance, and finding practical solutions.
You are energized by opportunities to improve processes, introduce automation, and drive innovation.
You appreciate working independently while providing timely updates, managing competing priorities, and collaborating with stakeholders across the organization.
How You'll Support the Mission
Execute general ledger accounting functions, including journal entries, month-end and year-end close activities, and preparation of accurate financial statements.
Conduct detailed variance analyses for income statement and balance sheet accounts, identifying trends and insights for leadership.
Interpret and apply GAAP accounting standards in collaboration with Financial Accounting management, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
Develop and maintain clear, up-to-date process documentation for accounting procedures, outlining both task execution and business purpose.
Identify opportunities for automation, recommend innovative process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy, and utilize tools to build automations for your areas of responsibility.
Prepare documentation for annual financial statements, tax and compliance filings, and audit requirements.
Support interim and year-end audit cycles by providing timely, accurate data to internal and external auditors.
Lead or contribute to special projects, analyses, and ad hoc reporting requests.
Deliver excellent service to internal and external stakeholders, fostering collaborative relationships across departments.
The Skills and Experience You Bring
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
At least 3 years of progressive experience in accounting or auditing.
Proven expertise in general ledger operations and financial reporting.
Proficient with data analytics platforms and data visualization tools (e.g., Alteryx, Power BI)
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Pivot).
Strong written and verbal communication skills to prepare, present, and collaborate effectively.
Ability to prepare and analyze complex financial statements.
Demonstrated problem-solving skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
Strong time management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
Preferred Qualifications
CPA or CA designation or CPA candidate.
Experience with Oracle, Hyperion Smartview, BlackLine, Salesforce, Bloomberg Tax and Accounting Fixed Assets, LeaseQuery, SAP, and Asana.
Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.
Compensation and Benefits
Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:
Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
Nine paid holidays and two personal days
20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
Robust mental health resources
Backup care and caregiver concierge services
Gender affirming services
Pet insurance
Free Post digital subscription
Leadership and career development programs
Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.
The salary range for this position is:
$85,100 - $127,700 AnnualThe actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.
Your story awaits. Apply today!
Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.