Application Guide

How to Apply for Bookkeeper/Administrator (part time, contract)

at Bloomington Cooperative Living

🏢 About Bloomington Cooperative Living

Bloomington Cooperative Living (BCL) is a unique nonprofit that combines affordable housing with democratic resident control, operating five houses for about 75 members. It's an ideal workplace for those passionate about cooperative economics, community-driven governance, and social justice. Working here means supporting a mission-driven organization that values transparency, collaboration, and resident empowerment.

About This Role

This part-time contract role is the financial backbone of BCL, ensuring accurate bookkeeping, tax compliance, and regulatory upkeep. The Bookkeeper/Administrator will work closely with a volunteer treasury committee and a CPA, making their work critical to the organization's financial health and ability to serve residents. The role offers flexibility (remote, part-time) while providing meaningful impact in a cooperative setting.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by logging into QuickBooks Online to reconcile bank accounts for one of BCL's houses, followed by emailing the treasury committee about a pending insurance renewal. You might prepare a monthly financial report for the board, coordinate with the CPA on tax document deadlines, and update SAM.gov registration – all while communicating asynchronously via Slack and Google Workspace.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Bloomington Cooperative Living Is Looking For

  • A self-starter with 2+ years of QuickBooks Online experience, ideally in a nonprofit context, who can independently reconcile books and generate reports.
  • Someone with 1+ year of nonprofit administration experience, comfortable managing tax filings, insurance renewals, and government registrations like SAM.gov.
  • A detail-oriented communicator who can coordinate with volunteer committees, board members, and external CPAs, and who thrives in a collaborative, member-driven environment.
  • Familiarity with Slack, Google Workspaces, and cooperative or member-based nonprofits is a strong plus, as these tools and dynamics are central to BCL's operations.

📝 Tips for Applying to Bloomington Cooperative Living

1

Highlight your experience with QuickBooks Online for nonprofit bookkeeping, especially if you've handled multi-entity or fund accounting, as BCL has multiple houses.

2

Showcase any experience with cooperative governance, member-based organizations, or affordable housing – even volunteer roles count. Mention specific examples of working with boards or committees.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize regulatory compliance tasks like tax filings, insurance renewals, and SAM.gov registration. Use keywords from the job description.

4

In your cover letter, explicitly mention your comfort with remote work and asynchronous communication, as you'll be coordinating with a volunteer team across time zones.

5

Research BCL's website and cooperative structure. Mention something specific (e.g., their democratic decision-making process) to show genuine interest.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your alignment with BCL's mission of affordable, resident-controlled housing and your enthusiasm for cooperative economics.", 'Detail your specific QuickBooks Online and nonprofit bookkeeping experience, including any work with volunteer committees or boards.', 'Demonstrate your ability to handle multiple compliance tasks (tax, insurance, registrations) independently and meet deadlines.', "Explain why you're interested in a part-time contract role and how you'll manage the administrative workload efficiently."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read BCL's website thoroughly, especially their 'About' and 'Houses' pages, to understand their cooperative model and current properties.
  • → Look into Indiana's nonprofit compliance requirements, including state-level registration and annual reporting, to show preparedness.
  • → Review the basics of SAM.gov registration and federal grants compliance, as BCL may receive government funding.
  • → Explore cooperative accounting principles (e.g., member equity, patronage dividends) to discuss how they might apply to BCL.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach training and coordinating with a volunteer treasury committee that may have varying levels of financial expertise?
2 Describe your experience with QuickBooks Online for a nonprofit with multiple funds or entities (like BCL's five houses).
3 Walk us through your process for ensuring timely and accurate tax filings (e.g., 990, state returns) with a CPA.
4 How do you stay organized and self-motivated in a remote, part-time role with limited supervision?
5 What experience do you have with cooperative governance or member-based organizations, and how would you adapt to BCL's democratic structure?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't apply without specific QuickBooks Online experience – the job requires 2+ years and it's central to the role.
  • Avoid generic cover letters that don't mention cooperative housing or BCL's mission – they value mission alignment.
  • Don't overlook the part-time, contract nature – ensure you're clear on availability and tax implications, and don't treat it as a full-time role.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Bloomington Cooperative Living!

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