Gift and Grant Accountant

CW Talent; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 59,600 - 89,400; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA is seeking a Gift and Grant Accountant to steward restricted funds, grants, and endowments, ensuring accurate recording and compliance across donor-supported accounts.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, you will work with Development, Finance, and program leaders to provide timely financial reporting, manage reconciliations, and support audit readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience in nonprofit, higher education, or fund accounting.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and internal control practices.
• Ability to analyze financial data and manage multiple deadlines.
• Excellent Excel skills and experience with ERP/financial systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage restricted gifts, grants, endowments, and donor-funded accounts, including setup, maintenance, and closeout.
• Prepare monthly reconciliations and maintain fund tracking.
• Support grant lifecycle activities, including budget revisions and financial closeout.
• Prepare reports for sponsors, donors, and leadership; assist with month-end/year-end close.
• Maintain internal controls and respond to audit requests.
• Collaborate with Development, program leaders, and Finance to improve processes.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP/financial systems

Job description

BRUTON HEIGHTS SCHOOL
301 First St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA

Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Its mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with the Foundation digitally.

About the Position

The Gift and Grant Accountant, reporting to the Assistant Controller, is responsible for the financial stewardship, accounting, reporting, and compliance oversight of restricted gifts, grants, endowments, and other donor-supported funds. This role partners closely with Development, Finance, cost center budget managers, and program leaders to ensure transactions are recorded accurately, donor and sponsor restrictions are honored, financial reports are timely and reliable, and internal controls are maintained. The position plays a critical role in supporting audit readiness, fund transparency, and sound financial decision‑making across a complex, mission‑driven organization.

Main Duties

Grant and Gift Fund Administration and Accounting

• Manage the accounting and financial administration of restricted gifts, grants, endowments, and other donor‑ or sponsor‑funded accounts, including fund setup, maintenance, and closeout.

Establish and maintain appropriate general ledger accounts, fund codes, project codes, and supporting schedules to ensure accurate tracking of restricted activity.

Record journal entries, reconcile cash and investment activity, and prepare monthly reconciliations for restricted funds, pledges, endowments, grants receivable, deferred revenue, and related balance sheet accounts.

Support sponsored and restricted fund lifecycle activities, including budget revisions, release of restrictions, transfers, cost‑share tracking, billing or draw requests when applicable, and financial closeout.

Compliance, Controls, and Audit Support

Review gift agreements, grant awards, and supporting documentation to interpret financial terms, restrictions, reporting requirements, allowable uses, and compliance obligations.

Monitor expenditures and fund balances to ensure transactions are accurate, properly coded, allowable, and consistent with donor intent, sponsor requirements, institutional policy, and applicable accounting standards.

Prepare documentation and respond to requests for external audits, single audits when applicable, donor reviews, and internal compliance reviews.

Maintain strong internal controls, documentation standards, and records retention practices for gift and grant transactions.

Reporting and Financial Close

Prepare periodic financial reports for internal stakeholders, sponsors, donors, and leadership, including budget‑to‑actual analyses in conjunction with Finance, spending summaries, and fund balance reports.

Assist with month‑end and year‑end close activities related to restricted funds, endowments, and grants, including account analysis, roll forwards, audit schedules, and financial statement support.

Collaboration and Process Improvement

Partner with Development, program leaders, cost center administrators, and Finance staff to resolve discrepancies, support stewardship reporting, and improve restricted fund processes.

Identify opportunities to improve processes, reporting, training, and systems related to gift and grant accounting and contribute to implementation of best practices.

This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties, responsibilities, and reporting structure may evolve over time based on operational needs.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in accounting.

Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in higher education, nonprofit, foundation, sponsored programs, or fund accounting environments.

Experience with restricted fund, grant, endowment, or gift accounting, including reconciliations, reporting, and compliance support.

Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and internal control practices.

Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data, interpret agreements, and manage multiple deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with ERP or financial systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with donor databases, development systems, grant management systems, Workday, or fund accounting platforms.

Experience preparing audit schedules, donor stewardship reports, or endowment spending analyses.

Strong understanding of restricted fund accounting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and audit support.

Ability to interpret gift agreements, grant terms, and endowment documentation and translate requirements into sound accounting treatment.

Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills with careful attention to detail.

Ability to communicate financial information clearly to both financial and non‑financial stakeholders.

Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

Demonstrated commitment to customer service, collaboration, and continuous process improvement.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Stand: Yes

Walk: Yes

Sit: Yes

Climb or balance: Rarely

Reach with hands/arms: Occasionally

Talk or hear: Yes

Lifting up to 10 lbs.: Rarely

Lifting up to 25 lbs.: Rarely

Lifting up to 50 lbs. (with assistance): Rarely

Lifting up to 100 lbs. (with assistance): No

More than 100 lbs. (with assistance): No

Wet/humid conditions: No

Work near moving mechanical parts: No

Extreme cold: No

Extreme heat: No

Work Schedule

Regular business hours Monday‑Friday

Compensation

Compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.

Range: $59,600 - $89,400

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.