Accountant - Grants and Contracts

University of Wisconsin Madison; Brantford; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established academic institution seeks a detail-oriented financial administrator to manage extramural research grants and contracts. This role involves complex accounting duties, including preparing financial reports, monitoring accounts, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, providing training and support to stakeholders while navigating complex financial systems. Join a diverse and inclusive community dedicated to excellence in research and education, where your contributions will have a lasting impact.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Generous paid time off

Health/dental/vision/life insurance

Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts

Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund

Qualifications

• Experience with sponsored project award management is preferred.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is essential.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and process complex extramural award actions for compliance.
• Prepare and submit financial reports and invoices accurately.
• Collaborate with campus representatives on financial data.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Critical thinking

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Customer service orientation

Organizational skills

Time-management skills

Ability to teach others

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or Accounting

Tools

PeopleSoft

Microsoft products

Perceptive Content

Job description

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) is responsible for administration of the extramural research grants and contracts to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. RSP currently manages an open portfolio of over $4 Billion with annual awards over $1.5 Billion. The duties and responsibilities of this research administration position include the financial administration and accounting of grants and contracts awarded to the University of Wisconsin-Madison by Federal and Non-Federal sources.

This position will perform complex accounting duties, prepare and submit financial reports and invoices, monitor accounts receivable, process payments, and deliver training to others. They will collaborate with campus representatives to monitor, interpret, analyze, and reconcile financial data for sponsored programs. This position interacts directly with project sponsors and subrecipients related to financial reporting, invoicing, payments, and auditing on behalf of the university to ensure compliance.

Responsibilities:
Performs complex accounting duties. Prepares and submits financial reports and invoices, monitors accounts receivable, processes payments and delivers training to others. Collaborates with campus representatives to monitor, analyze, and reconcile financial data for sponsored programs. Interacts directly with project sponsors related to financial reporting, invoicing, payments, and auditing on behalf of the university to ensure compliance.

• 25% Analyzes, interprets, and processes complex extramural award actions to ensure financial requirements per federal, state, university, and sponsor regulations are followed on behalf of the institution


• 20% Audits and approves financial transactions such as subaward invoices, PI transfers, refunds, payments, cost transfers and fiscal closeout of awards and projects


• 25% Answers questions and advises campus stakeholders of correct processes and procedures for award management


• 15% Prepares and analyzes financial reports and invoices, data and records, identifies discrepancies, investigates, and recommends solutions as needed for accuracy on sponsored grants and contracts


• 15% Works within the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to establish awards, review expenditures, issue invoices, manage accounts receivable, and process post award modifications

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Preferred
Bachelor's Degree
Preferably in Business, Accounting, or closely related field.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
2. Ability to think critically and problem-solve.
3. Independent decision-making.
4. Attention to detail.
5. Customer service orientation and ability to work collaboratively among unique groups.
6. Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
7. Ability to teach others and adjust to change.
8. Knowledge of, or ability to learn, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
9. Knowledge of, or ability to learn, University, State, Federal, and/or Non-Federal rules and
regulations related to sponsored programs (i.e. Uniform Guidance, governmental cost accounting
practices and principles).

Preferred:
1. Experience with sponsored project award management.
2. Experience with creating, interpreting, and analyzing financial reports.
3. Experience with complex financial systems and office software (PeopleSoft, Microsoft products, Perceptive Content, etc.).
4. Experience with PeopleSoft and WISER

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

This position requires some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Minimum $60,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The starting salary for this position is $60,000 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. This position will receive a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Additional Information:

Multiple positions/vacancies might become available and this recruitment will be used to fill vacancies over the next 6 months.

A successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply:

To be considered, applications must be submitted online. Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. You will be required to upload a cover letter and resume.

Cover letters will be used as a writing sample and to determine the best-qualified applicants. Your cover letter should address your qualifications as they pertain to this position. Within the cover letter, please address your education and/or experience with the following topics:

- Maintaining effective working relationships (e.g. team collaboration);
- Interpreting, enacting and/or informing others of policies and procedures;
- Administering sponsored awards, Federal and/or Non-Federal;
- Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and/or its application to governmental accounting

Contact:

Kelly Marks
[e-mail]
608-262-5802
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Post-Award SPGC Acct I (Inst)(SC050)

Department(s):

A34-OVCR/ADMIN/RSP

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

313691-AS

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Division Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.