Senior Grant & Gift Manager

Carthage College; Kenosha (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Carthage College seeks a Senior Grant & Gift Manager to oversee the financial administration of grants, gifts, endowments, and donor-restricted funds. You will ensure GAAP, Uniform Guidance compliance, and strong internal controls while guiding financial reporting and stewardship.

Collaborating with Institutional Advancement, Financial Aid, and other campus units, you will manage post-award processes from proposal review to closeout and deliver analyses to support decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in accounting/finance or related field.
• Minimum five years in grant/fund/nonprofit or higher education accounting.
• Strong GAAP, fund accounting knowledge with advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee post-award administration for federal/state/local/private grants.
• Prepare grant financial reports, budgets, and closeout documentation.
• Monitor grant expenditures, labor allocations, and variances.
• Manage gifts, endowments, pledges, and donor-restricted funds.
• Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and sponsor rules.
• Produce monthly/quarterly/annual financial reports for sponsors and leaders.
• Support internal controls and process improvements for restricted funds.
• Provide training on grant compliance and financial reporting requirements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Cross-campus collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

CPA certification preferred

Tools

Workday Financial Management

Job description

The Senior Grant & Gift Manager at Carthage College overseesthe financial administration, accounting, compliance, reporting,and stewardship of restricted grants, gifts, endowments, pledges,and other donor-restricted funds. As the College’s subject matterexpert for grant and gift accounting, this position ensurescompliance with federal, state, sponsor, donor, and institutionalrequirements.

Working collaboratively with Institutional Advancement, StudentAccounts, Financial Aid, the Office of Sponsored Services, HumanResources, and other campus departments, the Senior Grant &Gift Manager manages the full lifecycle of grants and restrictedgifts, from proposal development through financial reporting andcloseout.

This position plays a key role in safeguarding donor intent,maintaining strong internal controls, ensuring accurate financialreporting, and supporting institutional decision-making throughfinancial analysis. A strong knowledge of Generally AcceptedAccounting Principles (GAAP), Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200),nonprofit and higher education accounting, and fund accountingprinciples is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Grant Accounting and Financial Management:

• Manage the financial administration of federal, state, local,corporate, and private foundation grants throughout the post-awardlifecycle.
• Establish and monitor grant budgets to ensure compliance withsponsor requirements and institutional policies.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff during proposal developmentby reviewing grant budgets and sponsor financial requirements.
• Prepare grant financial reports, sponsor billings,reimbursement requests, drawdowns, and grant closeoutdocumentation.
• Monitor grant expenditures, labor and fringe allocations,indirect costs, and budget variances, providing financial guidanceto principal investigators and department leadership.
• Review monthly grant activity, prepare Budget versus Actual(BvA) reports, and assist with grant forecasting and budgetrevisions.
• Maintain grant receivables, deferred revenue, sponsor payments,and related reconciliations.

2. Gift and Endowment Accounting:

• Manage the accounting and financial administration ofrestricted and unrestricted gifts, pledges, endowments, charitablegift annuities, and donor-designated funds.
• Record and reconcile gifts, pledges, stock gifts, investmentactivity, and related journal entries in collaboration withInstitutional Advancement.
• Review gift fund assignments, donor restrictions, and revenueclassifications to ensure compliance with donor intent andinstitutional policies.
• Prepare and reconcile pledge activity, receivables,collections, and related accounting records.
• Record and reconcile endowment investment activity, includingfair market value adjustments, investment allocations, spendingdistributions, cash draws, and related general ledgeraccounts.
• Maintain endowment schedules, investment records, andsupporting documentation to ensure accurate financialreporting.

3. Compliance and Regulatory Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), GAAP,sponsor regulations, donor restrictions, and College policies.
• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for the annualfinancial statement audit, Single Audit, and other regulatoryreporting.
• Monitor grant compliance, including allowable costs, effortreporting, cost sharing, matching requirements, and reportingdeadlines.
• Prepare journal entries related to net asset releases, indirectcost recoveries, capital gifts, Perkins funds, and charitable giftannuities.
• Assist with IRS Form 990 and other required federal and statereporting.

4. Financial Reporting and Analysis:

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports forgrants, gifts, endowments, and restricted funds.
• Analyze financial activity, budget variances, and complianceissues, and prepare forecasts in collaboration with InstitutionalAdvancement and campus leadership.
• Update grant budgets and financial forecasts based on currentand projected activity.
• Prepare supporting schedules and management reports forauditors and external stakeholders, and develop financialdashboards to support decision-making.

5. Internal Controls and Process Improvement:

• Maintain and strengthen internal controls over grant, gift,pledge, endowment, and restricted fund accounting.
• Review accounting activity, coding, and restricted funds toensure compliance with donor, sponsor, and institutionalrequirements.
• Develop and maintain accounting procedures, schedules, andsupporting documentation for grants, gifts, endowments, andrestricted funds.
• Recommend process improvements that enhance efficiency,compliance, reporting accuracy, and stewardship.

6. Campus Collaboration and Training:

• Serve as the College’s primary financial resource for grant,gift, pledge, and endowment accounting. C
• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement, principalinvestigators, Human Resources, Finance, and other campusdepartments to support grant and gift administration, donorcompliance, and financial reporting.
• Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on grantcompliance, budgeting, donor restrictions, and financial reportingrequirements.

7. Other Duties as Assigned:

• Assist with annual budget preparation for grant-funded andrestricted activities.
• Support special financial projects, strategic initiatives, andinstitutional committees related to grants, researchadministration, compliance, and financial management.
• Assist with fiscal year-end closing, audit preparation, andwork additional hours during peak periods as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, BusinessAdministration, or a related field is required.
• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in grant, fund,nonprofit, or higher education accounting, including administrationof federally funded grants and knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFRPart 200).
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, and higher educationor nonprofit accounting practices, with advanced proficiency inMicrosoft Excel and accounting software.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving,communication, and project management skills, with the ability tocollaborate effectively across campus and with external fundingagencies.
• Experience with restricted gift, endowment, and pledgeaccounting, Workday Financial Management or a comparable ERPsystem, and CPA certification are preferred.

About Carthage

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thrivingChicago-Milwaukee corridor, Carthage College blends the bestliberal arts traditions with desirable degree programs,transformative learning opportunities, and personal attention fromdedicated faculty and staff. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acrearboretum with stunning lake views, is home to 2,600 undergraduatestudents and 200 graduate students. Founded in 1847, Carthage isconsistently named a Best Midwestern College by The PrincetonReview and a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & WorldReport. All Carthage employees play a vital part in the success ofour students, as we work together to create an environment whereall can achieve their true potential. Grow with Carthage.

Carthage College is an equal opportunity employer (EOE)dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse community.We welcome applications from a broad spectrum of people, includingmembers of ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and individuals withdisabilities. All qualified applicants will receive considerationfor employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, genderexpression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin,protected veteran status or status as an individual with adisability.