OPT Certified Public Accountant Jobs
Certified Public Accountant jobs on OPT are available at public accounting firms, corporate finance teams, and government agencies. CPA licensure requirements vary by state, but your F-1 OPT work authorization is fully valid for paid CPA roles. STEM OPT extension may apply if your degree is in accounting or a related field.
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Get Access To All JobsMORNINGSTAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bookkeeper
Location: Washington, DC
About Morningstar
Morningstar Community Development is a real estate development and ownership company based in Washington, DC. Our work includes multifamily housing, commercial properties, renovation projects, and new development.
Position Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented Bookkeeper to maintain accurate financial records across multiple properties, development projects, and affiliated entities. This position will work closely with ownership, property management, and external accountants to manage daily accounting, track cash needs, and support timely financial reporting. The ideal candidate has hands-on bookkeeping experience, understands real estate accounting, and can independently manage competing deadlines while keeping records organized and current.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Accounting and Reconciliations
- Maintain accurate general ledgers for multiple entities, properties, and projects.
- Record and properly classify income, expenses, transfers, deposits, and other transactions.
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and intercompany balances monthly.
- Investigate discrepancies and resolve missing or incorrectly recorded transactions.
- Maintain supporting documentation and an organized digital accounting system.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Review vendor invoices for accuracy, proper entity allocation, supporting documentation, and required approvals.
- Prepare payment schedules and process approved payments.
- Track unpaid invoices, vendor balances, reimbursements, and outstanding receivables.
- Prepare invoices for management fees, development fees, and reimbursable expenses.
- Maintain vendor records, collect W-9 forms, and assist with annual 1099 preparation.
Property and Development Accounting
- Coordinate with property management to reconcile rent collections, tenant balances, security deposits, and operating expenses.
- Track project costs by property, cost category, and approved budget.
- Maintain records of contractor payments, retainage, change orders, and construction-related invoices.
- Assemble accounting support for lender draw requests and track funding received.
- Record owner contributions, distributions, and intercompany advances with appropriate documentation.
- Track recurring obligations, including debt service, insurance, utilities, and property taxes.
Cash Flow and Financial Reporting
- Update weekly cash balances, expected receipts, upcoming payments, and short-term cash-flow forecasts.
- Flag anticipated cash shortages, overdue receivables, and unusual expenses.
- Prepare monthly financial reports, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and accounts payable and receivable aging.
- Support month-end and year-end closing and provide organized schedules to external accountants.
- Follow approval procedures and maintain clear records of financial activity.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
- Experience maintaining books for multiple entities or business locations.
- Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, account reconciliation, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
- Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and reconciliation schedules.
- Ability to identify discrepancies, investigate their causes, and follow through to resolution.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet recurring deadlines.
- Clear communication skills and discretion when handling confidential financial information.
- Experience in real estate development, property management, or construction accounting.
- Experience with AppFolio and QuickBooks.
- Familiarity with job costing, construction draws, retainage, and intercompany accounting.
- Experience supporting cash-flow forecasts and budget-to-actual reporting.
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
MORNINGSTAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bookkeeper
Location: Washington, DC
About Morningstar
Morningstar Community Development is a real estate development and ownership company based in Washington, DC. Our work includes multifamily housing, commercial properties, renovation projects, and new development.
Position Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented Bookkeeper to maintain accurate financial records across multiple properties, development projects, and affiliated entities. This position will work closely with ownership, property management, and external accountants to manage daily accounting, track cash needs, and support timely financial reporting. The ideal candidate has hands-on bookkeeping experience, understands real estate accounting, and can independently manage competing deadlines while keeping records organized and current.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Accounting and Reconciliations
- Maintain accurate general ledgers for multiple entities, properties, and projects.
- Record and properly classify income, expenses, transfers, deposits, and other transactions.
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and intercompany balances monthly.
- Investigate discrepancies and resolve missing or incorrectly recorded transactions.
- Maintain supporting documentation and an organized digital accounting system.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Review vendor invoices for accuracy, proper entity allocation, supporting documentation, and required approvals.
- Prepare payment schedules and process approved payments.
- Track unpaid invoices, vendor balances, reimbursements, and outstanding receivables.
- Prepare invoices for management fees, development fees, and reimbursable expenses.
- Maintain vendor records, collect W-9 forms, and assist with annual 1099 preparation.
Property and Development Accounting
- Coordinate with property management to reconcile rent collections, tenant balances, security deposits, and operating expenses.
- Track project costs by property, cost category, and approved budget.
- Maintain records of contractor payments, retainage, change orders, and construction-related invoices.
- Assemble accounting support for lender draw requests and track funding received.
- Record owner contributions, distributions, and intercompany advances with appropriate documentation.
- Track recurring obligations, including debt service, insurance, utilities, and property taxes.
Cash Flow and Financial Reporting
- Update weekly cash balances, expected receipts, upcoming payments, and short-term cash-flow forecasts.
- Flag anticipated cash shortages, overdue receivables, and unusual expenses.
- Prepare monthly financial reports, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and accounts payable and receivable aging.
- Support month-end and year-end closing and provide organized schedules to external accountants.
- Follow approval procedures and maintain clear records of financial activity.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
- Experience maintaining books for multiple entities or business locations.
- Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, account reconciliation, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
- Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and reconciliation schedules.
- Ability to identify discrepancies, investigate their causes, and follow through to resolution.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet recurring deadlines.
- Clear communication skills and discretion when handling confidential financial information.
- Experience in real estate development, property management, or construction accounting.
- Experience with AppFolio and QuickBooks.
- Familiarity with job costing, construction draws, retainage, and intercompany accounting.
- Experience supporting cash-flow forecasts and budget-to-actual reporting.
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
See all OPT Certified Public Accountant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Certified Public Accountant
Target firms with established OPT hiring pipelines
The Big Four and large regional accounting firms hire F-1 OPT students regularly and have HR processes in place for work authorization. Smaller firms may be willing but less experienced with the paperwork, so expect more education conversations.
Lead with your CPA exam progress
Passing CPA exam sections before or during OPT signals commitment and reduces employer concern about investing in a candidate who may not stay. Even one section passed strengthens your candidacy significantly when competing against domestic applicants.
Know your STEM OPT eligibility before you apply
Accounting degrees from STEM-designated programs may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving employers up to three years before H-1B visa sponsorship is needed. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before interviewing.
Address OPT timing proactively with recruiters
Accounting firms plan hiring in cycles. Being upfront about your OPT end date and STEM extension eligibility early in the process prevents late-stage rejections. Recruiters appreciate candidates who understand their own timeline and can explain it clearly.
Focus on public accounting first, then industry transitions
Public accounting firms sponsor H-1B visas at higher rates than most corporate finance teams. Starting in public accounting builds credentials, CPA progress, and sponsor relationships that make transitioning to industry roles on an H-1B far more straightforward.
Emphasize specialized technical skills that are harder to source domestically
International tax, transfer pricing, and forensic accounting are areas where specialized expertise is genuinely scarce. Framing your background around a high-demand niche shifts the conversation from visa overhead to skills the employer actually needs.
Certified Public Accountant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Certified Public Accountant on F-1 OPT without being licensed?
Yes. OPT authorizes you to work in accounting roles related to your degree even before you hold a CPA license. You can perform accounting work under a licensed CPA's supervision while pursuing licensure. Many employers hire OPT candidates into staff accountant or associate roles with the expectation that licensure follows.
Does my accounting degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your program's CIP code. Some accounting programs, particularly those integrated with data analytics, information systems, or quantitative finance, carry STEM-designated CIP codes that qualify for the 24-month extension. Check with your DSO to confirm. If you completed a dual degree with a STEM field, that degree may also qualify you independently.
How do I find CPA firms that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the best place to search for Certified Public Accountant jobs that are open to OPT candidates. Beyond job boards, the Big Four and large regional firms have established OPT hiring processes and are your highest-probability targets. Industry-specific accounting roles in healthcare, financial services, and technology also sponsor at meaningful rates.
Will CPA exam requirements affect my OPT employment options?
Licensure requirements don't restrict your OPT employment, but they do affect career progression and sponsorship decisions. Most states require 150 credit hours for CPA licensure. If your degree program was 120 hours, you may need additional coursework, which can overlap with your OPT period. Employers hiring OPT candidates for CPA-track roles generally expect you to be actively working toward that 150-hour requirement.
What happens to my CPA job if my OPT expires before H-1B approval?
If your employer files your H-1B petition before your OPT expires and USCIS issues a timely filing receipt, you're covered by a cap-gap extension through September 30 of that year. If the H-1B isn't selected in the lottery, you'll need to stop working. STEM OPT holders have more runway, since the extension pushes your timeline out by two years.