Grants/Contracts Accountant

Shaw University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Shaw University in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Grants Accountant reporting to the VPFO/CFO to manage post-award grant accounting and assist in pre-award budget reviews. The role supports monitoring, compliance, and financial reporting for awarded grants through closeout.

Responsibilities include reconciling expenditures, coding grants, encumber/unencumber funds, draw downs, and producing reports for PIs. The position may supervise work-study students and requires a BA in accounting or finance and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution.
• 3+ years of grants and contracts experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Reconcile grant expenditures with budgets.
• Assign account and project codes in the university system; view on intranet.
• Encumber and unencumber grant funds; draw down funds.
• Approve budget transfers and compare expenses/time & effort against grants.
• Monitor time & effort reporting; respond to PI questions on post-award reconciliation.
• Notify Director of Grants on current/actual expenses.
• Maintain database of grant expenses and available funds; ensure carryover balances.
• Perform financial accounting related to grant closeout.
• Support PI training on grant compliance.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

MS Office

Analytical

Detail oriented

Team player

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field

Masters or better

Job description

Reporting to the VPFO/CFO, the Grants Accountant is responsible for accounting duties related to post-award
administration and assisting the Pre-/Post-Award Specialist with the pre-award final proposal budget review. The
Pre-/Post-Award Specialist provides primary accounting function for all grant monitoring administration, compliance,
grant accounting, and financial reports of awarded grants through their final closing.

Essential Job Functions:

Pre-award:

• Facilitate budget review of proposal submissions as well as financial information.

Post-award:

• Reconcile expenditures with grant budgets.
• Assign account codes to incoming grants for accounting in University accounting system; assign project code for viewing on university intranet.
• Encumber and unencumber grant funds.
• Draw down grant funds.
• Approve all budget transfers and compare all expense and time & effort submissions against grants, maintains journal entry on each requisition (which are notes on reconciliation)
• Monitor time & effort reporting.
• Respond to any PI questions on post-award reconciliation in conjunction with Grants Administrator
• Notifies Director of Grants on regular basis of current/actual expense for all University grant/sponsored project/contracts
• Maintains database that records grant expenses and available funds according to concurrent schedules, grant year and university, and ensures carryover balances for each grant are properly recorded.
• Perform all necessary financial accounting related to grant closeout.
• Support the training of PIs in grant compliance as needed.
• All other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Grants and Contracts Accountant may be responsible for hiring and overseeing work-study students to assist with job duties.

Minimum Job Qualifications

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution of higher learning required.
• Accounting education or experience a must, along with budget management work.
• Must be an experienced user with Microsoft Word and Excel, with advanced database skills.
• Work generally requires 3+ years of relevant grants and contracts experience.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to clearly communicate issues to all levels of management.

Certificates, Licenses or Registrations

Research or grants education and/or certification are highly valued.

Other Competencies (skills, abilities, behavior)

Must have a philosophy that is consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of the organization. Vision, commitment, and experience in achieving goals and pursuing excellence is critical. Strong customer skills. Strong empathy and people skills. Excellent organizational skills. Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Must be able to read, write and speak fluently in English.

Physical Demands

Ability to sit or stand for up to 8 hours/day. Some lifting (up to 25 pounds occasionally), bending, and carrying. Specific vision abilities include the ability to use close vision. The employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and to use hands and fingers to handle or feel.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

MS Office

Novice

Analytical

Novice

Behaviors

Required

Dedicated

Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Detail Oriented

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Team Player

Works well as a member of a group

Motivations

Required

Ability to Make an Impact

Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Accounting or related field.

Preferred

Masters or better.

Experience

Preferred

3+ years of relevant grants and contracts experience.

Licenses & Certifications

Preferred

Research and Grants

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.