Grants/Contracts Accountant

Shaw University; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Shaw University in Raleigh, NC seeks a Grants Accountant reporting to the VPFO/CFO. Responsibilities include post-award grant accounting, reconciling expenditures with grant budgets, drawing down funds, encumbrances, and preparing financial reports through final close.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's in accounting or finance, 3+ years of grants experience, strong Excel and Word skills, and preferably Jenzabar.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution.
• 3+ years of grants and contracts experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; strong database skills.
• Experience in Jenzabar preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate budget review of proposal submissions and related financial information.
• Reconcile expenditures with grant budgets.
• Assign account and project codes for grants in the university system.
• Encumber and unencumber grant funds; draw down funds.
• Approve budget transfers and monitor time & effort submissions against grants.
• Maintain grant expense databases and carryover balances.
• Assist in grant closeout and training PIs on compliance.
• Supervise work-study students as needed.
• Respond to PI questions on post-award reconciliation.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Word processing

Grant accounting

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

Tools

Jenzabar

Job description

Job Details

Description

Job Summary: 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.

Pre-award

Essential Job Functions:

• 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.
• Experience in Jenzabar preferred.

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.