Research Accountant II

The University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Prescription, Life Insurance,

Wellness platform

Dental, Vision, UT Flex, Disability

Retirement Programs

Paid Vacation & Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Employee Discounts & Perks

Employee Education Assistance

Job summary

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) seeks an experienced professional to plan, direct, and manage accounting activities within Grants Management Accounting. This on-site role supports award setup, cost transfers, and financial reporting across the life cycle of grants and contracts.

Responsibilities include maintaining ledgers, AR, revenue distribution, and compliance with funding agency requirements; training staff on grant processes; and collaborating with university departments and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field with 15 accounting credits.
• Two years of related accounting experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and monitors accounting systems and controls.
• Prepares federal, state, and local financial statements per funding agency requirements.
• Manages post-award ledgers, accounts receivable, revenue distribution, budgets and expenses.
• Assists with external audit materials and financial reporting.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP and University policies; supports training on grant transactions.
• Performs analyses to identify trends and impact on invoicing and financial reporting.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Degree in Business Administration with 15 credit hours in accounting

Tools

PeopleSoft

ORSP tools

GART

Milestones Database

Subcontract Database

Job description

Position Information

Hiring Department: VP Research - Business Center

Reports To: Business 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: $52,500 annually

Required Application Materials

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

Position Summary

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

Statement Of Duties And Responsibilities

• Performs duties at an INTERMEDIATE LEVEL such as
• Assists in the development, implementation, and monitoring of accounting systems and accounting controls, submitting recommendations for improving the department’s accounting operations.
• Collects appropriate data and prepares federal, state, and local financial statements and reports according to funding agency requirements. Reporting cost, revenues, property, and cost-share data.
• Assists in the collection of and preparation of external audit materials and financial reporting.
• Directs the maintenance of general and subsidiary ledgers of post award activity, accounts receivable, revenue distribution, budgets and operating expenses. Including any corrections requested/needed for project allowability, approval and closeout.
• Identifies and resolves problems and inconsistencies in all grant related activities to include overdrafts, Billing, AR, Post award expenses, determining appropriate corrective actions and procedures, maintaining documentation for audit purposes or agency request. Working with university departments, sponsoring agencies and any third-party agency systems needed.
• Determines proper handling of financial transactions interpreting and applying procedures, policies, and regulations to the administration of federal, state, local, and private awards.
• Provides training to campus as needed on grant transaction processes.
• Performs statistical analyses to determine trends, estimates, and the impact of significant changes to invoices, AR activity and financial reporting.
• Assists in the training of new personnel within the Grants Management Accounting.
• Monitors compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and University policy and procedures.
• 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, ORSP tools, GART, Milestones Database and Subcontract Database.
• Complies with all State and University policies.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Occasional traveling required.
• Award Management: 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.
• Support Center: Reviews and approves payment documents in Peoplesoft with grant funding to include non-po vouchers, expense reports, APS forms, E-forms and, SNOAs, working closely with university departments to resolve any issue. Evaluates summer double deductions on grants, works directly with Budget department to have corrections processed in a timely manner. Oversees the overdraft process for all university awards and recommends solutions. Works closely with the Award Management group for the closeout review and processing and processes the cost share appointments necessary to meet award provisions.
• Billing: Run billing process in PeopleSoft for all award activity for all contract types, that includes CRB, LOC, Fixed and Prepaid. Prepares billing reconciliation for invoice accuracy and reviews the unbilled transactions.
• AR: 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.

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 Business Administration with 15 credit hours in accounting from four-year College or university

and

Experience: Two years of related experience and/or training to the essential duties and responsibilities ; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

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.

About The Division Of Research & Innovation

The Research & Innovation division supports this world‑class research enterprise by advancing transformative research excellence across campus and nurturing an innovative, cross-disciplinary culture. In all our work, we maintain a constant focus on our public mission of increasing access to excellent higher education and advancing discovery that positively impacts the health, culture, education, and economy of our region, the State of Texas, the nation, and the world. We do so by enabling the research success of our faculty and students through supporting the university research mission by providing research development, stewardship, compliance and safety services, and securing strategic external partnerships.

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 in the 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 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] .