Senior Grants Management Specialist

University of New England; Maine; On-site; USD 77,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

University of New England is seeking a Senior Grants Management Specialist to manage post-award grant accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting across Federal, State and Private sources. The role includes reviewing awards, preparing budgets, invoicing, and ensuring compliance with granting agencies and university policies.

Responsibilities include grant set-up in Banner, journal entries, reconciliations, and assisting with audits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field; 3+ years in post-award grant accounting.
• Experience processing complex financial transactions with compliance and monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reporting.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulations related to area of responsibility.
• Proficiency with databases, report writing, spreadsheets and word processing software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Review grant contracts to understand the scope of work, funding requirements, budgets and ensure expenditures meet grant requirements.
• Prepare grant set up documents and budgets in Banner; record grant receivable and deferred revenue entries.
• Approve post-award expenditures and prepare invoices for grant funding.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliations for month-end close and other periods.
• Provide guidance to Principal Investigators and grant staff to ensure compliance with funding agencies and university policies.
• Assist in preparations for UG and MAAP audits and reporting.

Skills

Post-award grant accounting

Budgeting & forecasting

GAAP/compliance knowledge

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

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

Tools

Banner system

Excel

Word processing

Reporting tools

Job description

The Senior Grants Management Specialist performs accounting, compliance and financial services functions for programs funded by grants (Federal, State and Private sources) or special revenue as well as general university business. These functions include interpreting the post-award aspects of grant award notifications, preparing and recording grant budgets, actual v. budget reporting, invoicing for assigned awards, reviewing/monitoring of individual grants and transactions for compliance with private, local, state and federal funding requirements, provide guidance and leadership to PI and related staff to ensure proper compliance with funding agencies, billing and collections, journal entries, financial grant reporting including reconciliation and preparation of financial reports for granting authorities, assist in the preparation of the annual Uniform Guidance and MAAP financial compliance statements audit.
About The University of New England

UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.

Educational benefits:

• UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
• UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
• 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.
• Reviews grant contracts to understand the scope of the work, funding requirements, budgets and to ensure the expenditures incurred are necessary to fulfill the grant requirements.
• Recognizes that each grant has varying conditions and requirements (including unique compliance, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting requirements) and accurately interprets and organizes for those varying complexities and differences.
• Prepares grant set up documents for creation of grant index and fund within Banner, prepares annual and project budgets as well as entries to record the grant receivable and deferred grant revenue.
• Approves Post Award grant expenditures received from Accounts Payable and Payroll.
• Prepares invoices/ billings and collects funds for the support of restricted fund expenditures.
• Prepares journal entries and reconciliations for month-end close or other periods.
• Serves as backup to Grants Accounting and Compliance Manager and Grant Staff Accountant when needed.
• Assists in preparation of effort reports for Federal and State awards.
• Prepares various reports for Principal Investigators including budget forecasting, and estimating any carry-over of funds from one year to the next.
• Prepares Federal and State Financial reporting submitted to funding agencies.
• Provides quality customer service and technical guidance to the principal investigators/their grant administrators/Colleges/Centers to ensure proper and timely expenditure of grant funds in compliance with the funding agencies and university policies.
• Works collaboratively and effectively with the Office of Sponsored Programs.
• Prepares Post Award ad-hoc reports and related surveys as needed for members of the UNE community.
• Assists Grants Accounting and Compliance Manager in preparing reports and workpapers required for both UG and MAAP audits.
• Assists with the reporting writing needs of the Post Award area.
• Actively pursues professional development to stay current with related audit, federal regulations, and state laws, as well as publications, workshops or seminars on grants or special revenues.
• Seeks efficiencies in operations including Banner, reporting, and workflow processes.
• Possesses an understanding of the Federal regulations under the Uniform Guidance established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget ( OMB ).
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, and at least 3 years of experience with post award grant accounting or a combination of education and experience from which comparable compliance knowledge and skills have been acquired.

• Experience processing complex financial transactions, ensuring compliance with legal or contractual requirements, record keeping and preparation of monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reporting.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulations related to area of responsibility.
• Proficiency in various computer applications including comprehensive databases, report writing, spreadsheets and word processing software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to analyze source documents to extract account data for the preparation of entries and reconciliation of accounts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to provide a high level of customer service and establish and maintain effective interdepartmental communications and relationships.
• Detail oriented.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Additional Note

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extension.

Anticipated Pay Range

Anticipated Pay Range $77,200 – $88,000

Posting Number

Posting Number 2022PS0993P

Open Date

Open Date 09/18/2026

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Optional Documents

• Names and contact information for three professional references