Part-Time Accounting and Bookkeeping Assistant

Part-Time Accounting and Bookkeeping Assistant

Avocet Polymer Technologies and Affiliates
Chicago, IL (4047 W. 40th St., near 40th and Pulaski) | On site
Part-time, approximately 10 to 15 hours per week | $20 to $30 per hour, depending on experience

About Us

Avocet Polymer Technologies and its affiliated companies are early-stage biotechnology firms based on Chicago’s southwest side. Our work centers on medical technologies for tissue injury and repair, including Avosil, an FDA-regulated topical product currently sold through hospital and retail channels, and a portfolio of research-stage therapeutic compounds supported in part by federal research grants.

We are a small team, which means the person in this role will see the full financial picture of an operating company rather than one narrow slice of it. You will work directly with company leadership and have real ownership of the work you take on.

The Role

We are looking for an undergraduate student to help maintain our financial records, keep us current on state and federal reporting obligations, support budgeting, and assist with business development. This is a hands-on position with meaningful responsibility.

This position is on site at our Chicago office. The schedule is flexible and will be set around your class schedule, with a minimum of one day per week on site.

Responsibilities

• Assist with maintaining the general ledger and routine bookkeeping on an accrual basis
• Reconcile bank and credit card accounts monthly and flag discrepancies
• Assist with accounts receivable and accounts payable, including customer invoicing, purchase order processing, and vendor bills
• Assist with tracking state and federal filing obligations, including corporate income tax filings, annual reports, franchise tax, and sales tax where applicable
• Organize and maintain documentation to support tax preparation and any external review
• Assist with building and monitoring annual operating budgets across affiliated entities
• Maintain separation of financial records across legally distinct affiliated entities
• Assist with grant financial reporting and drawdown documentation
• Assist with business development projects such as pricing analysis, cost tracking, and margin review

Minimum Requirements

• Currently enrolled as a junior or senior at a Chicago-area university, pursuing a degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related business field
• Completed coursework in financial accounting, with a working understanding of accrual accounting: the difference between cash and accrual basis, how accruals and deferrals work, and how transactions flow to the income statement and balance sheet
• Able to work approximately 10 to 15 hours per week on site in Chicago, a minimum of one day per week
• Careful attention to detail and comfort working with confidential financial information
• Able to work independently, ask good questions, and follow through without close supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or practical experience in intermediate accounting, managerial accounting, or taxation
• Familiarity with QuickBooks or comparable accounting software
• Prior bookkeeping, accounting, or finance internship experience
• Interest in life sciences, biotechnology, or small-company operations

Compensation and Schedule

$20 to $30 per hour, depending on experience and coursework completed. Approximately 10 to 15 hours per week on site at our Chicago office, scheduled around your class commitments, with a minimum of one day per week.