Non-profit Accountant

Non-profit Accountant

● Business Service Provider Role: Part-Time Festival Accountant

● Organization: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music

● Location: Business Service Provider may work from own business location, but requested to be onsite at least 1 half day a week

● Office location is downtown Santa Cruz, CA

● Contractor role

● $ per month, depending on Business Service Provider qualifications

● Start date: 1/2/2026

About Us:

Cabrillo Festival's mission is to "transform the orchestral experience for artists and audiences by building a vibrant community dedicated to the creation and performance of profound, relevant, and innovative music." Founded in a coffeeshop in Aptos, CA in 1963, the Festival presents two full weeks of concerts and events at the Civic Auditorium in Downtown Santa Cruz. With a small but mighty year-round staff of four, dozens of seasonal staff, and dedicated board of directors, the Festival is embraced by the local community, who offer host housing to our core orchestra musicians coming from across the nation to perform the work of living composers each summer, under the guidance of Music Director and Conductor Cristian Măcelaru. Cabrillo Festival is actively working to advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by examining our practices and policies, addressing bias at individual and institutional levels, and increasing opportunities for participation and collaboration with artists, staff, board, and audiences of all cultural origins, abilities, and orientations.

The Festival general operating budget is approximately 1.5 million (including in-kind), and the Festival has approximately 2.9 million in restricted investments and endowment.

Statement of Work Overview:

The Festival Accountant role is vital in maintaining our fiscal operations, health, and ensuring compliance with non-profit accounting standards. This role free from the control and direction of the Festival and is responsible for independently managing the bookkeeping and accounting systems of Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, including

– the execution of essential bookkeeping and accounting operations.

– the production of quarterly financial reports, maintenance of an accurate and efficient system of accounting data and records.

– collaborate with the Executive Director and Board Treasurer in implementing procedures and controls designed to mitigate risk, ensure adherence to accepted accounting practices, and enhance the accuracy of contract and grant compliance and positive financial results.

– provide support for the annual budget process/cash flow projections and tax preparation.

Key Business Service Provider Responsibilities:

● Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Coordinate with Operations Manager to enter and track receivables (e.g. donations, grants, ticket sales, and misc. income)
• Ensures that payables are paid in a timely manner

● Payroll

• Enters bi-weekly payroll activity in Paychex and imports adjusting entry into QBs

● Reporting & Financial Management

• Prepares timely quarterly and annual Financial Statements, per current non-profit regulations
• Submits reports to Executive Director upon request to support grant reporting

● General Bookkeeping & Accounting

• Maintain and update all financial records, journals, and the chart of accounts
• Reconcile bank statements and credit card accounts
• Prepares G/L account reconciliation and quarter end/year end journal entries, including monthly bank reconciliations for all West Coast Community Bank, Fidelity, and Vanguard accounts

● Tax Returns & Audit

• Prepares annual tax returns per state and federal regulations or works in coordination with a CPA to do so
• Prepares 1099s for all vendors
• Provides assistance needed for the annual audit, if and when required
• Monitors payments to vendors for needed FTB withholding on payments

● Financial control & accounting principals

• Ensure compliance with non-profit accounting regulations and IRS requirements
• In collaboration with Executive Director, maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions

● Budgeting & Cash Flow

• Assists in the production of the annual budget, as needed, and reviews budget variances to actual
• Advises Executive Director on matters related to cash flow and financial planning
• Provides financial analyses and reporting as needed

Business Service Provider Qualifications:

● Proven experience in bookkeeping/accounting, strong preference for non-profit experience

● Maintains independent business bookkeeping/accounting business and remains free to provide the same types of services to others

● Strong knowledge of accounting principles, software (e.g., QuickBooks), and data management software (Excel)

● Familiarity with non-profit tax regulations, GAAP principals, and restricted fund accounting

● Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills

● Ability to handle confidential information with integrity

● Strong communication skills

Hours and Compensation:

● As necessary to complete tasks. Estimated to be approximately 6-10 hours per week, with more surrounding the summer Festival and during the preparation of 1099s

● Business Service Provider Compensation: On retainer for approx. $ per month; hours beyond retainer during high volume periods would be agreed upon in advance $35-55 per hour. Rate depending on qualifications. [JR1]

● Flexible scheduling, in office responsibilities once a week

● This role is an independent contractor position.

Application Process:

Resume and cover letter are required for consideration; please send to with "Festival Accountant" in the title of the email.

We are seeking candidates that embrace diversity in all its forms and strive for an inclusive community that fosters an open, enlightened, and productive environment. Review of candidate materials begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Cabrillo Festival is an equal opportunity, nonprofit organization committed to serving a diverse population without regard to ethnicity, color, creed, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military status, marital status, political opinion, national or cultural origin, familial status, mental or physical disability, economic status or source of income. Connected to this commitment, we can make reasonable accommodations for neurodiverse individuals, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with family care needs in the performance of this contractor role and in the application and selection process. If you require an accommodation, please contact us at or and we will endeavor to address your accessibility needs.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $1, $1,600.00 per month

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Santa Cruz, CA 95060