Accountant I (Grant & Gift Accountant)

TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

TOPEKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is seeking an Accountant I (Grant and Gift Accountant) to support grants, gifts, and restricted funding accounting, including budget and expenditure monitoring, reconciliations, reporting, and documentation to ensure proper recording and reporting of funds.

You will collaborate with the District Grant Coordinator and program staff to ensure financial accuracy, compliance, and timely processing of grant- and gift-related transactions, prepare journal entries, and assist with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and directly related experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.
• Three or more years of experience with finance accounting, governmental accounting, grant accounting, school finance, or restricted fund accounting is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with computerized accounting or ERP systems is required.

Responsibilities

• Maintains accounting records for grants, gifts, and other restricted funding sources.
• Assists with setting up grants and maintaining related records within the District's ERP system.
• Monitors grant and gift budgets, expenditures, and available balances.
• Ensures compliance with grant financial regulations, such as 2 CFR Part 200.
• Prepares journal entries, reconciliations, and account analyses to support accounting for grants, gifts, and other assigned financial activities.
• Reviews expenditures for proper coding, allowability, completeness of documentation, and alignment with grant, gift, or district requirements.
• Assists departments and program staff with questions related to grant and gift accounting, balances, coding, and financial procedures.
• Supports preparation of financial reports, reimbursement requests, drawdowns, and other documentation related to grants and restricted funds, as assigned.
• Maintains detailed grant and gift files, award documents, amendments, and supporting records for audit, compliance, and required document retention purposes.
• Reconciles assigned restricted funds accounts and investigates and communicates concerns and discrepancies in a timely manner. and communicates concerns and discrepancies to appropriate staff.
• Assists with year-end financial processes, schedules, and reporting related to grants, gifts, and assigned accounts.
• Supports external audits by providing required documentation, schedules, and explanations for assigned areas.
• Collaborates with Grant Coordinator, school and department personnel, and program managers to support accurate financial reporting and compliance.
• Identifies and recommends improvements to grant and gift accounting processes, internal controls, and ERP workflows.
• Maintains current knowledge of governmental accounting standards, grant requirements, and district procedures applicable to assigned duties.
• Assists with preparation of the annual state budget document, including compiling supporting data, reviewing submissions for accuracy and completeness, and helping ensure compliance with established timelines and reporting requirements.
• Assists with processing budget transfers and budget amendments, including preparing supporting documentation, verifying coding, and maintaining related records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Grant accounting

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Accounting software

Job description

Position Summary

The Accountant I (Grant and Gift Accountant) is a professional-level accounting position

Position Summary

The Accountant I (Grant and Gift Accountant) is a professional-level accounting position responsible for supporting the District's accounting functions related to grants, gifts, and other restricted funding sources. This position assists with budget and expenditure monitoring, reconciliations, reporting, and maintenance of supporting documentation to help ensure funds are properly recorded, tracked, and reported. In addition, the position works closely with District Grant Coordinator and programmatic staff to support compliance, financial accuracy, and timely processing of grant- and gift-related transactions.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Maintains accounting records for grants, gifts, and other assigned restricted funding sources.
• Assists with setting up grants and maintaining related records within the District's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
• Monitors grant and gift budgets, expenditures, and available balances.
• Ensures compliance with grant financial regulations, such as 2 CFR Part 200.
• Prepares journal entries, reconciliations, and account analyses to support accounting for grants, gifts, and other assigned financial activities.
• Reviews expenditures for proper coding, allowability, completeness of documentation, and alignment with grant, gift, or district requirements.
• Assists departments and program staff with questions related to grant and gift accounting, balances, coding, and financial procedures.
• Supports preparation of financial reports, reimbursement requests, drawdowns, and other documentation related to grants and restricted funds, as assigned.
• Maintains detailed grant and gift files, award documents, amendments, and supporting records for audit, compliance, and required document retention purposes.
• Reconciles assigned restricted funds accounts and investigates and communicates concerns and discrepancies in a timely manner. and communicates concerns and discrepancies to appropriate staff.
• Assists with year-end financial processes, schedules, and reporting related to grants, gifts, and assigned accounts.
• Supports external audits by providing required documentation, schedules, and explanations for assigned areas.
• Collaborates with Grant Coordinator, school and department personnel, and program managers to support accurate financial reporting and compliance.
• Identifies and recommends improvements to grant and gift accounting processes, internal controls, and ERP workflows.
• Maintains current knowledge of governmental accounting standards, grant requirements, and district procedures applicable to assigned duties.
• Assists with preparation of the annual state budget document, including compiling supporting data, reviewing submissions for accuracy and completeness, and helping ensure compliance with established timelines and reporting requirements.
• Assists with processing budget transfers and budget amendments, including preparing supporting documentation, verifying coding, and maintaining related records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and directly related experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position.
• Three or more years of experience with finance accounting, governmental accounting, grant accounting, school finance, or restricted fund accounting is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with computerized accounting or ERP systems is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with federal grant regulations.
• Experience preparing financial reports, grant reimbursement requests, or audit schedules is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and governmental accounting practices.
• Understanding of grant and restricted fund accounting concepts.
• Ability to prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reports with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills for working with staff across departments and with external agencies or donors, as needed.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating as part of a finance team and managing multiple deadlines.
• Ability to support professional growth.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with staff, administrators, auditors, and outside agencies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Working Conditions / Physical Demands

The work is primarily performed in an office environment. The employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, use a computer for extended periods, and occasionally lift, carry, or move light office materials weighing up to 15 pounds. The position requires speaking, listening, manual dexterity, repetitive motions, and visual acuity sufficient to review detailed financial documents and enter data with a high degree of accuracy. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.