Contracts and Grants Accountant

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Retirement and savings benefits

Paid holidays and personal leave

Transportation subsidies

Education assistance

Job summary

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine seeks a Contracts and Grants Accountant to manage a complex portfolio of contracts and grants across multiple sponsors. You will invoice, report financials, and provide expert guidance while ensuring compliance and confidentiality.

Hybrid work arrangement with onsite requirements and travel as needed. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field and five years of relevant experience; proficiency in Excel and ERP

Qualifications

• Grant and contract financial management experience for government or non-profit organizations.
• Ability to interpret contracts and grants terms for billing and reporting.
• Experience with AR, cash/bank reconciliations, revenue recognition; project-based accounting preferred.
• Experience preparing SF-425, SF-270, SF1034, SF1035, etc. strongly preferred.
• Capable of managing multiple priorities with minimal supervision and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent communication and ability to guide staff with varied financial backgrounds.
• Proficiency with Excel and ERP tools; Workday experience preferred.
• Experience with Workday Financials is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate billing and receivable matters across sponsors and internal/external customers.
• Build partnerships through effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
• Reconcile and analyze revenue, billable, and unbillable amounts monthly.
• Prepare sponsor invoices with supporting documents and financial reports.
• Provide financial analysis including settlement proposals and burden rate analysis.
• Communicate with sponsors and internal staff to resolve issues.
• Support audits and ad-hoc data collection and reporting.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information according to policies.
• Assist with the award life cycle and related financial activities.

Skills

Grant and contract financial mgmt

Interpret contract & grant terms

Accounting principles

AR aging & collections

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Multitasking & deadlines

Confidential information handling

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

Workday Financials

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Contracts and Grants Accountant manages large, complex portfolios which may include contracts and grants for multiple sponsors in one or more centers, offices, and Academies. Works independently using professional judgement to apply financial, accounting, problem solving and communications skills to prepare complex invoices/financial reports for various types of government contracts and grants. The role also serves as a subject matter expert to National Academies staff and provides a high-level of customer service experience both inside and outside the organization regarding billing, collection, technical troubleshooting and other relevant fields. Exercises appropriate level of professional care in carrying out accounting duties as it relates to accuracy, completeness, compliance and documentation of work.

Operates closely with members of Contracts and Grants Accounting unit but is also a key member of a finance service team that includes the contract manager, finance business partner(s) and cash application team. The finance service team supports a wide range of financial support for programmatic activities throughout the award life cycle as well as audit and other organizational initiatives. This role requires the ability to effectively multi-task and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Manages a portfolio within a matrix finance organization by coordinating billing and receivable matters with internal and external customers.
• Leverages strong professional and interpersonal communication skills to establish rapport and build effective partnerships, inside and outside the organization.
• Reconciles and analyzes revenue, billable, and unbillable amounts monthly.
• Prepare a timely and accurate sponsor invoice, supporting document package, financial report as needed.
• Provides financial analysis and support including, but not limited to, settlement proposal, final SF425, grant to date annual burden rate analysis for contract closeout.
• Effectively communicates with sponsors and internal customers including the contract manager, finance business partner, or other National Academies staff regarding various expenses for billing and financial reporting purposes to achieve results and timely resolution of issues.
• Supports external and internal customers through ad-hoc data collecting, reporting, analysis and special projects.
• Provides support to internal and external audits.
• Maintains an appropriate standard of confidentiality. When handling secure, privileged, sensitive, or confidential information and matters, maintains strict confidence and exercises care to prevent disclosure to others. Accesses confidential information for work-related reasons only, following the policies and procedures of the organization. Ensures that any privileged, sensitive, or confidential information is securely stored, disposed of, and transmitted according to the Institutional guidance.

Nonessential Job Duties

• Related duties and special projects assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Practical experience with grant and contract financial management for government or non-profit organization.
• Ability to interpret relevant financial terms and conditions of contracts and grants to be applied in billing and financial reporting activities.
• Practical experience with accounting and financial principles, including but not limited to accounts receivables, AR aging and collections, cash/bank reconciliations and revenue recognition. Experience with project-based accounting is preferred.
• Experience of preparing standard US government reports such as SF425, SF270, SF1034, SF1035 etc. strongly preferred.
• Capable of accomplishing basic daily tasks independently with minimum supervision and maintaining a high level of efficiency and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to effectively provide guidance to staff with and without financial management background
• Ability to manage and maintain privileged, sensitive, and confidential information and matters appropriately. Demonstrated ability of exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing in sensitive situations.
• Ability to leverage technology, including an ERP, Microsoft Excel, and other analytical tools. Demonstrated proficiency in Excel.
• Experience with automated accounting/ERP systems such as Workday and Workday Financials preferred.

Minimum Education/Training Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related field, or equivalent knowledge.

Minimum Experience: Five years of related professional experience.

Physical Capabilities: Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time.

Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: None.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls: Reports to Manager/Director. General direction is provided.

Work Environment: Hybrid Office/Telecommute environment, expected onsite percentage 60%, with occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations.

Compensation & Benefits: An estimated compensation range for this position is $73,760 - $92,190. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will be based on the candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and work experience, commensurate with compensation of current employees in comparable positions with similar knowledge, skills, and work experience, and subject to budget parameters. Note it is not typical for a candidate to be hired at the higher end of the range. This is a benefits-eligible position. Our Benefits Plan offers competitive and comprehensive benefit options, including medical, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement and savings benefits, leave benefits such as paid holidays and paid personal leave, transportation subsidies, and education assistance.

Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.

Job Family

ACCT

Employee Type

Employee

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

City/State

Washington, District of Columbia