Position: Accounting Assistant

Reports To: Staff Accountant

Compensation: $20.00 per hour

Why Utah?

Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.

Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.

Position Summary:

The Accounting Assistant provides financial, administrative and clerical support by ensuring vendor payments are completed and that expenses are controlled by processing, verifying and reconciling invoices and credit card transaction receipts according to established policies and procedures in an efficient, timely and accurate manner. Routinely performs clerical duties such as word processing, filing, and supporting customer requests. This is a full time position averaging 35 hours per week.

Qualifications:

• Associates degree or equivalent preferred
• 1-3 years of accounts payable and general accounting experience preferred

Critical Skills/Competencies:

• Proficiency in MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Outlook) and accounting software
• Strong math and analytical skills
• Well organized and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work directly with department heads, card holders, etc to ensure completeness, timeliness, accuracy and compliance with all aquarium purchasing policies

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews all invoices for appropriate documentation and approval prior to payment
• Prioritizes invoices according to payment terms and potential cash discount potential
• Processes invoices for payment
• Reviews and reconciles all credit card transaction receipts, and posts to the accounting system
• Maintains files and documentation thoroughly and accurately, in accordance with company policy and accepted accounting practices
• Monitors charitable donation request mailbox, and reviews all requests for appropriate documentation
• Logs all donation requests appropriately before submitting for approval.
• Retrieves, sorts, and distributes mail
• Monitors general email inboxes and responds to requests for information from guests
• Other assignments by supervisor

Physical Demands of the Job:

• Extended periods of sitting with data entry

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accounts
  • Paid time off & 12 paid holidays per year
  • Paid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement)
  • Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverage
  • Convenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)
• 401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contribution
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Aquarium membership
• Discounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchases
• Free and discounted animal encounters
• Pet insurance and discounts
• Footwear discounts
• Entertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.

The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.