Research Accountant I

The University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and Vision

Retirement programs

Paid vacation & sick leave

Paid holidays

Employee discounts & perks

Education assistance

Job summary

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a Grants Accounting role within Research Administration. This on-site position in El Paso, TX focuses on the lifecycle of sponsored awards, grant accounting, and ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines and university policies.

Candidate will perform entry-level accounting duties, learn Peoplesoft and related systems, and collaborate with multiple departments to support audits and external reporting requirements.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance from a four-year college or university.
• Experience: No prior experience required.

Responsibilities

• Performs entry-level professional accounting duties under general supervision.
• Understands the life cycle of a grant and interprets sponsor contracts and guidelines.
• Monitors compliance with GAAP and sponsor guidelines; prepares financial statements and reports.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

PeopleSoft

R&I Tools

GART

Milestones Database

Subcontract Database

Job description

Position Information

Hiring Department: Research Administration
Reports To: Accounting Assistant Manager
Job Location: On-site; El Paso, TX
Posting End Date: Open until filled. This posting may close once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Hours: 40 hours per week, standard Monday- Friday 8:00am- 5:00pm, flexibility is required on evenings and weekends
FLSA status: Exempt
Earliest Start Date: As soon as possible.
Salary: $45,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Cover Letter (Recommended)
• List of three references (Recommended)

Position Summary

Plans, directs, and manages accounting activities within Grants Management Accounting.

Statement Of Duties And Responsibilities

Performs entry-level professional accounting duties under general or close supervision, applying established policies, procedures, and accounting principles.
Understands the life cycle of a grant, being able to comprehend and interpret sponsoring agencies contracts and guidelines.
Apply this knowledge to the sections in the department, Grants Accounting (GA), Support Center (SC), and Cash Management (CM).
Identifies problems and inconsistencies in all grant related activities to include budgets, post award expenses, overdrafts, billing, accounts receivables, and revenue for closeout review and determine appropriate corrective actions and procedures. Maintaining documentation for audit purposes or agency requests. Working with university departments, sponsoring agencies and any third-party agency systems needed.
Performs statistical analyses to determine trends, estimates, and the impact of significant changes to sponsored awards.
Monitors compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, sponsoring agency guidelines, federal, state, and University policies and procedures.
Collects appropriate data and prepares federal, state, local and private financial statements and reports according to funding agency requirements. Reporting cost, revenues, property, cost-share data and any other requested information.
Collaborate with internal departments to address any changes to the sponsoring award.
Assists in the collection of and preparation of external audit materials.
Provides training to campus as needed on sponsored projects processes.
Assists in the training of new personnel within the Grants Management Accounting department.
Assists with various special projects as needed, such as the testing of institutional software systems.
Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems, to include Peoplesoft, R&I Tools, GART, Milestones Database and Subcontract Database.
Other duties as assigned.

Grants Accounting

Responsible for all award set up in Peoplesoft, manages all accounting activity throughout the award life cycle, including budget and cost transfers, assisting with on demand requests. Prepares and submits financial reporting based on agency requirements. Works closely with multiple departments to ensure cost share requirements are set up and met in a timely manner. Reviews and processes all subcontract payment activity within the awards. Addresses any errors with pending transactions in collaboration with internal departments.

Support Center

Reviews and approves payment documents in Peoplesoft with grant funding to include non-po vouchers, expense reports, APS forms, purchase requisitions, IDTs, E-forms and, SNOAs, working closely with university departments to resolve any compliance issue. Evaluates summer double deductions on grants, works directly with Budget department to have corrections processed in a timely manner.

Cash Management

Runs billing process in PeopleSoft for award activity for all contract types, that includes CRB, LOC, and Fixed. Prepares billing reconciliation for invoice accuracy and reviews the unbilled transactions.
Applies funds received both via check and ACH to corresponding invoices. Works on sponsor refunds and write offs. Responsible for reconciling AR account to GL activity. Responsible for preparing and maintaining the receivables aging reports. In constant communication with sponsoring agencies to obtain pending receivables.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Degree in Finance from four-year College or university
and
Experience: No prior experience required.

Why Pick UTEP

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP ) is a comprehensive public research university that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve.

UTEP is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 26,000 students are Hispanic, and half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

This is an especially exciting time to join UTEP as it advances the goals of its 2030 Strategic Plan . Built around the institution’s core strengths—its location, its people, its supportive culture, and its community partnerships—the plan lays out a bold vision for the next decade, aimed at maximizing the University’s regional impact and national stature.

What UTEP Offers

Miner Perks and Benefits

• Benefit Package includes: Medical, Prescription, Life Insurance and Wellness platform
• Voluntary Benefits: Dental, Vision, Additional life insurance, UT Flex, Short and Long - term disability plans
• Retirement Programs
• Longevity Pay
• Paid Vacation & Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Discounts & Perks
• Employee Education Assistance program
• And much more! Visit our Benefits Summary Page for more information on our additional benefits.

Disclaimer: Eligibility for perks and benefits may vary based on part-time or full-time employment.

Additional Information

Note: To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

The primary accountabilities are intended to describe the general content of and requirements of this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Incumbents may perform all or some of the primary accountabilities listed. Specific tasks or responsibilities will be documented in the incumbents’ performance objectives as outlined by the incumbents’ immediate supervisor or manager. This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code

• 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. A valid driver’s license issued by the State where the applicant resides and insurability as defined in UTS 157 may be required to perform the position's essential functions.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.

The noise level for this work environment is usually moderate.

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to a learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries—including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident—about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at [phone], by email at [e-mail] , or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 223C.

For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at [e-mail] .