Accountant III - 003031

University of South Alabama; Mobile (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of South Alabama’s Office of Grants and Contracts Accounting is hiring an Accountant III to manage general accounting functions for grants and contracts, prepare reports, monitor restricted funds, and ensure compliance with funding terms.

The role collaborates with Sponsored Programs Administration, dean and PI staff, and external auditors to produce accurate financial schedules and respond to compliance inquiries, while maintaining internal controls under Uniform Guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited institution and three years of professional accounting experience.
• A master's degree in accounting may substitute for one year of the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and/or performs general accounting functions for Grants and Contracts.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly expenditure reports and billing for granting agencies.
• Monitors cash for the restricted funds.
• Reconciles accounts to monitor revenue and ensure accuracy of receivable balances.
• Monitors cost sharing requirements for grant accounts.
• Reviews awards and collaborates with Sponsored Programs Administration.
• Ensures expenditures adhere to policies, budgets, and regulations.
• Generates internal and external financial reports and schedules.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Job description

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Number 003031

Position Title Accountant III - 003031

Division Finance and Administration

Department 172300 - Grants and Contracts Accounting

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelors degree in accounting from an accredited institution as approved and accepted by the University of South Alabama's and three years of professional accounting experience. A master's degree in accounting may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with grants, service centers and/or clinical trials is preferred.

Job Description Summary

The University of South Alabama's Office of Grants and Contracts Accounting is seeking to hire an Accountant III .

Essential Functions

• Supervises and/or performs general accounting functions for Grants and Contracts.
• Prepares monthly and quarterly expenditure reports and monthly, quarterly, or annual billing for granting agencies.
• Monitors cash for the restricted funds.
• Reconciles miscellaneous accounts in the restricted fund in order to monitor accounts receivable balances and ensures the accuracy of revenue.
• Monitors and documents cost sharing requirements for grant accounts.
• Reviews awards when received and works with Sponsored Programs Administration to revise awards of any ambiguous terms.
• Supervises and/or monitors grants and contracts expenditures for adherence to University, State, and Federal policies, allowability of expenditures under the terms of the agreements and adherence to the budget.
• Supervises and/or reviews service center rate calculations, billing and account reconciliations and coordinates, as needed, with Sponsored Programs Administration, University Attorney, Internal Audit and outside agencies.
• Participates in service center policy discussions and meetings.
• Monitors monthly the increased internal controls resulting from the implementation of Uniform Guidance.
• Investigates, non-compliance and performs root cause analysis.
• Communicates with deans, chairs, principal investigators, business managers and other departmental staff regarding regulations of funding agencies.
• Advises campus Research Administration on cost principles.
• Assists in establishing new procedures that are necessary to address changes in regulations.
• Works closely with PI's to answer questions and resolve problems and with sponsoring agencies to understand the increasing complexity of rules and compliance.
• Creates internal and external reports.
• Distributes effort reporting documents, follow-up on receipt and resolves discrepancies.
• Backs up to and/or reviews clinical trial contracts and completes billing and account reconciliations and coordinates, as needed, with Sponsored Programs Administration, University Attorney Internal Audit and outside agencies.
• Participates in clinical trial policy discussions and meetings.
• Prepares summary of Current Restricted Funds Expenditures by Division.
• Prepares financial schedules required by external auditors for the A-133 report.
• Assists with documentation and reports relating to annual audit.
• Maintenance of consultant/subcontract digital files.
• Uses a calculator and personal computer to prepare financial statements as required by the funding agency.
• Possesses excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate well both orally and in writing.
• Utilizes user report generator to create internal and external reports from extracted mainframe data.
• Regular and prompt attendance.
• Ability to work schedule as defined and additional hours as required.
• Related duties as required.

Posting Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Job Open Date 06/04/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Working Days Monday - Friday

Working Hours 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Job Location Main Campus

Full-time or Part-Time Full Time

Regular or Temporary Regular