Application Guide
How to Apply for Accounting Associate
at Teach Plus
🏢 About Teach Plus
Teach Plus is a national nonprofit that empowers experienced teachers to lead on policy and practice issues advancing equity and student success. Working there means supporting a mission-driven team where strong financial systems directly enable teacher leadership programs across the country. It’s a chance to apply accounting skills in a remote, mission-focused environment with real social impact.
About This Role
As an Accounting Associate, you’ll own day-to-day accounting tasks like accounts payable, employee expense reimbursements, corporate credit card review, vendor setup, and payment processing. You’ll report to the Managing Director of Finance and collaborate with staff, fellows, and vendors to keep records accurate and audit-ready. This role is the backbone of Teach Plus’s financial operations, ensuring timely support for programs and grant compliance.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing and coding invoices, processing employee expense reimbursements, and following up with vendors or staff on missing documentation. You’ll also reconcile corporate credit card transactions, set up new vendors in the system, and collaborate with the Finance team on improving processes. Expect regular check-ins with the Managing Director of Finance and cross-functional communication to ensure timely, accurate support for Teach Plus programs.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Teach Plus Is Looking For
- 2+ years of hands-on accounting experience, ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization, with strong accounts payable and expense reimbursement skills.
- Proficiency with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Bill.com, Expensify) and comfort learning new systems; intermediate Excel skills for reconciliations and reporting.
- Detail-oriented and organized, able to manage multiple payment cycles, vendor setups, and credit card reviews while maintaining accurate documentation and coding.
- Strong communicator who can professionally resolve questions from staff, fellows, and vendors, and who thrives in a remote, collaborative team environment.
📝 Tips for Applying to Teach Plus
Highlight any nonprofit accounting experience—especially work with grants, restricted funds, or audit preparation—since Teach Plus emphasizes grant compliance and audit readiness.
Quantify your impact in previous roles: e.g., 'processed 200+ monthly reimbursements with 99% accuracy' or 'reduced vendor setup time by 30%,' to show you understand efficiency in finance operations.
Mention specific tools you’ve used (QuickBooks, Bill.com, Expensify, Concur, etc.) in your resume and cover letter, as the role involves corporate credit card review and payment processing.
Demonstrate familiarity with remote work tools and processes (e.g., shared drives, e-signatures, virtual approval workflows) because this is a fully remote US position.
Connect your work to Teach Plus’s mission: explain why supporting teacher leadership and educational equity motivates you to bring rigor to accounting tasks.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
Emphasize your experience with accounts payable, expense reimbursements, and vendor management in a nonprofit setting. Highlight your attention to detail and ability to maintain audit-ready records. Show that you can communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders (staff, fellows, vendors) in a remote environment. Finally, tie your interest in Teach Plus’s mission to your commitment to accurate, timely financial support.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Teach Plus’s programs and policy work (e.g., Teaching Policy Fellowship, state-level initiatives) to understand how the Finance team supports these efforts.
- → Learn about the nonprofit accounting standards and grant compliance requirements that Teach Plus likely follows, such as fund accounting and audit preparation.
- → Review the Teach Plus website and recent annual reports to identify their funding sources and how financial stewardship enables their mission.
- → Check LinkedIn profiles of current Teach Plus Finance team members to understand team structure and the Managing Director of Finance’s background.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic resume that doesn’t highlight nonprofit accounting or specific tools like QuickBooks or Expensify—this role requires relevant system experience.
- Failing to demonstrate attention to detail in your application (e.g., typos, inconsistent dates), which is critical for an accounting position.
- Ignoring the mission-driven aspect: not mentioning Teach Plus’s work or why you want to support educational equity can make you seem like a poor cultural fit.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!