Grant Accountant

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

Tidewater Community College is seeking a Grant Accountant to manage college-wide financial activity for externally funded grants and contracts. You will ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional rules, and act as a financial liaison across departments.

The role emphasizes reporting, budgeting, and risk mitigation while promoting strong internal controls and accurate grant data for decision-making.

Qualifications

• GAAP and fund accounting knowledge required.
• Ability to interpret federal, state, local, and college policies.
• Apply accounting methods across diverse transactions and reports.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Experience with integrated financial and reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve grant expenditures for allowability and compliance.
• Monitor general ledger postings, appropriations, and cash activity for grants.
• Reconcile records and resolve discrepancies to ensure accuracy.
• Prepare internal and external financial, budget, and grant reports.
• Serve as finance liaison to departments on grants and budgeting.
• Provide training and support to stakeholders on grant practices.
• Interpret regulatory requirements related to grant administration.
• Promote best practices to strengthen financial controls.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Fund accounting

Policy interpretation

Financial reporting

Analytical skills

Spreadsheet proficiency

Communication skills

Tools

PeopleSoft

Cardinal System

Procurement systems

Job description

Title: Grant Accountant

Agency: Tidewater Community College

Location: Norfolk - 710

FLSA: Nonexempt

Hiring Range: $25.00 per hour, part time

Full Time or Part Time: Part Time

Additional Detail

Job Description

Tidewater Community College has served South Hampton Roads - both students and employers - for 50 years. It has grown from 1 campus into a regional educational and economic force. TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce services in Hampton Roads, enrolling nearly 25,000 students in 2024-25. Founded in 1968 as a part of the Virginia Community College System, Tidewater Community College (TCC) services South Hampton Roads with 4 campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, 7 regional centers and 2 important cultural institutions. The college had 3,399 graduates in 2024-2025, 40 percent of whom pursued degrees that would let them transfer to 4-year institutions. Of South Hampton Roads residents enrolled in higher education 33% enrolled at TCC. TCC's institutional accreditation is affirmed through 2027 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Under the direction of the Financial Manager for Grant Accounting, the Grant Accountant is to provide college-wide financial management, reporting, and supportive services for externally funded sponsored programs, grants, contracts, sub-awards, and subcontracts in compliance with federal, state, VCCS, and college regulations, policies and procedures. Ensure appropriate application of AICPA and GASB reporting standards, Serve as the financial liaison between external agencies and internal departments to ensure timely resolution of grant-related financial issues.

Functional Responsibilities

The Grant Accountant manages and oversees financial transactions and business processes supporting the administration of grants and sponsored programs. This position ensures the accurate recording, compliance, reconciliation, and reporting of grant-related financial activity and helps safeguard the college’s financial resources.

• Review and approve grant and sponsored program expenditures prior to obligation to ensure allowability, accuracy, and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Monitor and maintain accurate general ledger postings, appropriations, allotments, and cash activity related to grants and sponsored programs.
• Reconcile financial records and investigate and resolve discrepancies to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
• Prepare and analyze internal and external financial, budget, and grant reports.
• Serve as a trusted resource and subject-matter expert to college departments on grants, contracts, sub-awards, budgeting, and related financial processes.
• Provide guidance, training, and support to stakeholders to promote consistent and compliant grant and financial practices.
• Interpret and apply federal, state, local, and institutional policies, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements related to grant administration, budgeting, and cash management.
• Implement and promote best practices that strengthen financial controls, mitigate risk, prevent financial loss, and support compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to promote accuracy, transparency, accountability, and informed financial decision-making.
• Support the college’s commitment to maintaining strong financial stewardship and the integrity of grant and sponsored program funds.

Overall, this position plays a key role in ensuring that grant and sponsored program funds are managed responsibly, accurately, and in accordance with applicable financial and regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and fund accounting
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, local, and college policies to financial activities
• Ability to apply and adapt accounting methods across diverse financial transactions and reports
• Ability to interpret complex policies and make sound decisions
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Experience with integrated financial and reporting systems
• Ability to assemble, analyze and prepare financial reports involving various financial data from multiple sources
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks to meet stringent deadlines
• Ability to work well independently
• Ability to prepare and analyze financial reports
• Ability to research, investigate, analyze, reconcile, and evaluate data
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and ability to collaborate across a wide range of constituents
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, local, and college policies to financial activities
• Advanced proficiency in spreadsheets, word processing, and database software
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and ability to collaborate across a wide range of constituents

Additional Considerations

• Experience with Oracle PeopleSoft, Administrative Information System and/or Commonwealth of Virginia Cardinal System
• Experience with integrated procurement systems
• Experience with training in grant/contract accounting, indirect cost plans, and federal cost principles
• Knowledge of the Cash Management Improvement Act and federal fund management
• Experience with governmental, grant and contract accounting in a higher education environment