Bookkeeper / Office Manager at Landscape Architecture Firm (Downtown Santa Barbara)

About This Jobs

CJM::LA is seeking an organized and detail-oriented Office Manager/Bookkeeper to support our well-established collaborative landscape architecture studio in downtown Santa Barbara. You will play a key role in maintaining daily operations while assisting a creative and dynamic team. This is an excellent opportunity to bring structure, clarity, and positive energy to help our growing practice thrive.

This position requires 15 to 25 hours per week in person at our downtown Santa Barbara office. This role involves complete bookkeeping and office management for our small, design-focused practice. The ideal candidate will operate with a high degree of independence when handling daily financial and administrative tasks, while coordinating with firm leadership on cash flow, budgeting, and operational decisions.

Core Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate financial records, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and monthly reconciliations.
• Prepare and issue client invoices based on time and expense data; track and follow up on receivables.
• Coordinate payroll and manage routine tax and regulatory filings (e.g., 1099s, sales tax).
• Produce monthly financial reports (profit and loss statements, cash flow summaries) for leadership review.
• Manage office operations: vendor coordination, supplies, insurance tracking, file systems, and basic human resources.
• Support project setup and contract administration from an accounting perspective.

Position Requirements

• Five years of post-graduate professional experience in bookkeeping and office administration at a small professional services or design firm.
• Fully proficient in QuickBooks (desktop and online), Excel, and project-based billing workflows; able to independently manage full-cycle bookkeeping.
• Demonstrated ability to own and manage financial processes with minimal supervision; knows when to escalate issues to leadership.
• Comfortable preparing and explaining basic financial reports; understands cash flow management in a small business context.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and maintain reliable systems without heavy oversight.
• Professional and concise communication with clients and vendors, particularly regarding billing and collections.
• Experience handling sensitive financial and personnel information.

To Apply

Please submit a detailed resume highlighting your experience with accounts payable and accounts receivable, and your proficiency with software such as QuickBooks. Include relevant degrees, certifications, and number of years of experience. Please also include a cover letter explaining why you are a great fit for our team, as well as a minimum of three references.