Accounting Transition & GAAP Compliance Support

Courageous Women Association (CWA) is seeking a skilled finance/accounting volunteer to help us transition our accounting from cash-basis to accrual-basis so we can produce GAAP-aligned financial statements. We use QuickBooks and want to build a sustainable structure that staff and the board can maintain.

Scope of work / key deliverables:
- GAAP-aligned Chart of Accounts update (including appropriate asset/liability structure and accounts for deferred revenue, depreciation, and restricted funds as applicable).
- QuickBooks configuration for accrual accounting, including guidance on journal entries and reporting settings.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for:
- Monthly close process
- Receipting and revenue recognition basics
- Bank/credit card reconciliations
- Expense coding and review controls

Board-ready reporting templates, such as:
- Monthly financial dashboard (P&L, balance sheet, budget vs. actual, cash position)
- Simplified notes/talking points for board review
- Annual statement package outline

Training + pilot run: a short, guided “pilot” of accrual processes (e.g., one month close or a quarter), plus a basic training session for staff and board members on accrual fundamentals and how to read the reports.

CWA’s mission is to help women and children heal from violent environments and achieve self-sufficiency through safe housing, career development, and wraparound support. Strong financial infrastructure is essential to that mission.

By transitioning to accrual accounting and strengthening GAAP-aligned reporting, CWA will:
- Improve accuracy, transparency, and internal decision-making
- Increase funder confidence through clearer financial statements
- Strengthen compliance and audit readiness
- Expand eligibility for larger grants and partnerships that require GAAP-based reporting

This project directly supports the sustainability and growth of CWA programs—including Courage House, CDEEP, and Sister2Sister—by building the financial systems needed to responsibly expand services to more survivors.

We have organizational buy-in and the basic infrastructure already in place, and we will prioritize responsiveness and follow-through during the project.

Success setup includes:
- Leadership alignment: Staff and board support the shift to accrual and understand its importance for compliance and growth.
- Tools and records ready: We currently use QuickBooks and have organized 2–3 years of financial records for reference.
- Dedicated point person: A designated staff lead will coordinate scheduling, provide documents, and ensure timely decisions.
- Regular working cadence: We will set weekly check-ins and dedicate time each week to review deliverables and test changes in QuickBooks.
- Implementation plan: Deliverables will be adopted into ongoing operations. SOPs will be incorporated into our Policy & Procedures Manual to ensure the work is sustainable beyond the volunteer engagement.