Sr Grant Accountant

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University is seeking a Senior Grant Accountant to manage financial operations for grants and contracts on campus in Dallas. The role includes monitoring expenditures, tracking budgets, and generating sponsor reports in PeopleSoft.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and at least five years of accounting experience, preferably in nonprofit or higher education grant accounting, with strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in accounting or finance.
• Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in accounting.
• Experience with grant budgets and spending in nonprofit or higher education is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform financial management of grants and contracts including monitoring expenditures on a timely basis.
• Track spending against budget and verify accuracy of journal entries.
• Prepare financial spending reports to grant sponsors in different formats.
• Prepare bills (invoices) and ensure cash is collected on time.
• Set up new grants in PeopleSoft to enable spending by researchers.
• Develop ad hoc financial projections for grant spending and operational metrics.
• Create internal training programs and assist researchers in managing awards.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Time management

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

Tools

PeopleSoft

Excel

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Job description

Job Description - Sr Grant Accountant (CON00000037)

Job Description

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Senior Grant Accounts performs overall financial management of grants and contracts including monitoring direct charges, processing expenditures on a timely basis, and working with researchers and campus departments.

The positions tracks spending against budget and verify accuracy of departmental forms and journal entries. The position is also is responsible for financial reports, invoices, and setup of new awards and incremental funding in the PeopleSoft financial system.

Essential Functions

Perform overall financial management of grants and contracts including monitoring direct charges, processing expenditures on a timely basis, and working with researchers and campus departments. Track spending against budget and verify accuracy of departmental forms and journal entries.

• Prepare financial spending reports to grant sponsors using different formats for federal (such as NSF), state, foundation, and corporate sponsors.

Prepare bills (invoices), send to sponsors and ensure cash is collected on a timely basis.

• Setup new grants in PeopleSoft to enable spending by the researchers. This includes input a mix of financial and non-financial measures.

Develop ad hoc financial projections for grant spending, operational metrics, and recommendations for process and system improvements.

Create internal training programs and assist researchers in managing their awards to ensure spending on a timely, effective, and allowable basis.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in accounting or finance.

A minimum of five (5) years of work experience in accounting is required.

Experience in the financial management of grant budgets and spending is preferred. General accounting and financial reporting experience in a nonprofit or higher education institution is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, time management, and problem solving skills.

Candidate must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision and within a team environment.

Candidate must have a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and Outlook) and Windows. Experience with Peoplesoft is preferred. E xperience with new system implementation projects desired.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.