Staff Accountant- Guardianship

Posted: August 2026

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to Chandler Jones, HR Manager cjones@elderjusticeny.org

Location: Buffalo Office

Rate: Salary starts at $52,000

About CELJ: Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) is a civil legal services organization fighting for justice, primarily for low-income older adults, in 10 counties in Western New York. Our attorneys stop illegal evictions, save clients homes from foreclosure, put a stop to elder domestic violence, fight for public benefits, work with our local immigrant & refugee populations, and represent grandparents and other kinship care relatives in custody and neglect petitions in family court. We also advocate for systems-wide policy changes, commenting often on changes to regulations and working with local elected leaders on legislation that will impact the poor and vulnerable older adults in our area. We believe that independence and dignity are the hallmarks of justice.

Job Summary: Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) is seeking a Full-Time Staff Accountant. The Accounting Clerk is a key member of the finance unit. The position performs a range of general clerical, accounting, and bookkeeping support functions. These include posting entries, verifying, and reconciling input to financial reporting system output, processing payments, responding to inquiries to resolve a variety of problems.

Reports To: CFO & Guardianship Supervising Attorney

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Guardianship Accounting: CELJ’s Guardianship Unit serves as court-appointed guardian for Western New York residents who have been determined by the court to require assistance to meet their personal and financial needs. The Bookkeeper works closely with the Guardianship Unit to manage accurate and timely day-to-day transactions on behalf of clients.

  • Prepare and process weekly payables and deposits

  • Post all client deposits and disbursements in MIP software

  • Complete monthly Guardianship credit card reconciliation

  • Prepare monthly resource reports for Guardianship Unit

  • Provide support for reporting requirements to the NYS Court, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, and outside tax accountant

  • Ability to provide client fiscal snapshot, as needed

 Accounts Payable

  • Primary responsibility for all aspects of the Accounts Payable process including the completion of payments and control of expenses by receiving, processing, verifying, and reconciling invoices.

  • Collect, sort, and process all CELJ invoices and recurring expenses

  • Record expenses to accounting segments

  • Manage AP processes including maintaining W9 vendor forms, scheduling, and preparing checks; resolving purchase order, contract, invoice, or payment discrepancies and documentation; and insuring credit is received for outstanding memos

  • Manage CELJ monthly credit card statement including collecting receipts, creating spreadsheet with individual charges, importing to CELJ software and reconciling

  • Maintain paper and electronic records

 Other Responsibilities

  • Prepare checks and other payments for bank deposits

  • Provide filing, scanning and other clerical assistance as needed

  • Perform ad hoc projects, as necessary

  • May require some travel

 Education & Experience:

  • Associate's degree in related field

  • 2-4 years of accounting experience

 Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Strong written and oral communication skills

  • Strong attention to detail, well organized and accurate

  • Ability to meet deadlines

  • Ability to work within a team and respond to multiple requests

 CELJ offers a competitive benefits and compensation package, including: 

  • Extremely generous PTO

  • 90% employer covered health, dental & vision

  • Fourteen holidays a year, plus two half-day holidays. Including a week off between Christmas Day to New Years Day

  • Summer hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day

  • Payment of license fees and association dues

  • Encouragement of professional development

  • Eligible for Federal Loan Forgiveness

CELJ is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Employer recruits without regard to sex, race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and any such candidates are strongly encouraged to apply