Grant Accounting Specialist

Vaco; Elyria (OH); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco is seeking a Grants Accounting Specialist in Elyria, OH to support the fiscal integrity of college grant and restricted accounts. You will review transactions, prepare journal entries, and produce financial reports for various grants with accuracy and compliance.

The role emphasizes collaboration with the Grants Accounting Manager, campus partners, and external stakeholders, handling reconciliations, documentation, and timely reporting while working in a hybrid schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2–3 years of related experience.
• Two to three years of related experience in grants accounting or similar field.
• Additional job-specific training may be required.

Responsibilities

• Review transaction details and propose journal entry transfers for posting.
• Review Time and Effort reports for restricted-fund employees, identify compliance issues, and recommend General Ledger corrections.
• Prepare financial reports for assigned federal, state, local, and privately funded grants, contracts, and gifts.
• Maintain accurate restricted financial records and conduct monthly reconciliations of assigned grants and contracts.
• Assist campus departments and external partners with proper procedures for restricted-fund activities and expenditures.
• Coordinate financial activities with employees responsible for administering restricted programs.
• Serve as a liaison between the accounting department, campus community, and external partners to support grant-related activities.
• Provide guidance on accounting procedures, expenditure classifications, and financial reporting requirements.
• Completes assigned tasks independently and explains policies and procedures to others.
• Identifies and resolves well-defined problems and recommends solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• May recommend or implement process improvements and contribute ideas related to policies, procedures, service quality, and operational efficiency.
• Works under general supervision and follows established procedures and protocols.

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Vaco is hiring for a Grant Accounting Specialist role in Elyria OH

Salary: 55-65,000/yr

Hybrid Schedule

Grants Accounting Specialist

Job Summary

The Grants Accounting Specialist supports the fiscal integrity of college grant and restricted accounts by providing accounting, financial reporting, and compliance assistance to the Grants Accounting Manager, campus community, and external partners. This role reviews transactions, recommends expenditure classifications and journal entry adjustments, and helps ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements and accounting procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Review transaction details and propose journal entry transfers for review and posting.
• Review Time and Effort reports for restricted-fund employees, identify compliance issues, and recommend General Ledger corrections in coordination with the Grants Accounting Manager and program financial managers.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of transactions, billings, collections, reconciliations, and financial reports for restricted accounts.
• Prepare financial reports for assigned federal, state, local, and privately funded grants, contracts, and gifts for review and approval.
• Maintain accurate restricted financial records and conduct monthly reconciliations of assigned grants and contracts.
• Assist with maintaining complete, accurate, and auditable grant documentation.

Grant Compliance & Award Management

• Apply appropriate accounting procedures to support compliance with grant regulations and cash management requirements.
• Assist campus departments and external partners with proper procedures for restricted-fund activities and expenditures.
• Support grant-related inquiries, audits, reviews, and documentation requests as assigned by the Grants Accounting Manager.
• Help ensure expenditures are appropriately classified, documented, and reported in accordance with applicable requirements.

Collaboration & Campus Support

• Coordinate financial activities with employees responsible for administering restricted programs.
• Serve as a liaison between the accounting department, campus community, and external partners to support grant-related activities.
• Provide guidance on accounting procedures, expenditure classifications, and financial reporting requirements.

Overview

• Completes assigned tasks independently and explains policies and procedures to others.
• Identifies and resolves well-defined problems and recommends solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• May recommend or implement process improvements and contribute ideas related to policies, procedures, service quality, and operational efficiency.

Knowledge and Skills

• Continues to develop and apply professional and theoretical expertise.
• Applies college policies and procedures to resolve a variety of accounting and operational issues.

Complexity and Impact

• Handles moderately complex problems requiring analysis of multiple factors.
• Builds productive internal and external working relationships.
• Exercises judgment within established procedures and practices to determine appropriate actions.
• Implements or recommends moderate process and system improvements to resolve issues and enhance effectiveness.

Supervision and Autonomy

• Works under general supervision and follows established procedures and protocols.
• Work is reviewed for sound judgment, accuracy, and overall adequacy.
• May provide general guidance, direction, or training to junior staff.

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two to three years of related experience.
• Additional job-specific training may be required.