Grants Accountant

Reporting to the Director of Grants Accounting, the Grants Accountant is responsible for maintaining continuous compliance with federal, state and industry requirements for accurate and timely reporting on expenditures of funds for a portfolio of assigned grants. This position is responsible for all post-award financial accounting & reporting for their assigned projects. This includes accounting, billing, receipting, reporting, and ensuring compliance with Federal and State regulations, sponsor/grantor requirements and Foundation activities.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE:

• Responsible for the prescribed implementation of procedures for internal controls: procedures and practices within the Grants and Restricted Accounting Department consistent with current GASB, FASB, and OMB Uniform Guidance Standards.
• Understands and utilizes: Indirect Cost and Fringe Rates, long and short applications.
• Performs processes to generate expense validation certifications consistent with OMB Uniform Guidance for faculty and others devoting effort to sponsored awards.
• Monitors restricted and sponsored award accounts for reasonableness, allowability, allocability and consistent treatment of costs and initiates corrections as needed.
• Determines the difference between exchange and non-exchange transactions as well as appropriate revenue recognition.

FINANCIAL SYSTEMS: Financial Management System

• Assists in the monitoring of grant related transactions recorded in the general ledger, making appropriate adjustments when needed.
• Assists in managing the supporting tables within the finance system for grant accounting and initiates updates as needed.
• Assists in system testing and coordination of testing with department workflow.
• Employs reporting tools to generate financial reports.
• Generates various output reports for grant analysis.
• Initiates vendor billings and receivables.
• Participates in the review of process workflows, system testing, and training.
• Provides feedback and recommendations for system design improvement.
• Reviews and validates data for accuracy and completeness.

Workday Payroll System:

• Utilizes reporting tools for validation of salary information, labor distribution/redistribution and expense validation reporting requirements.
• Generates various output reports for grant analysis.

COLLABORATION/TRAINING:

• Frequently communicates with assigned Principal Investigators (PIs) to ensure timely and accurate grant reports.
• Works collaboratively with other University Departments and other external agencies in support of grant management.
• Supports and assists in quarterly training sessions in grant processes and procedures for Principal Investigators and the Office of Sponsored Research Projects.
• Possesses competent communication skill set that allows successful communication (written and verbal) with various constituents.
• Works collaboratively with team members in the use of the Financial Management System.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Management retains the right to add or change job duties at any time.

Skills Required

• Bachelor s Degree in a business-related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of three years of experience in general account analysis and reconciliations as well as experience in preparing and analyzing a periodic budget/forecast to actual variance report.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of applications is required.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines while maintaining focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
• Team player with strong communication and writing skills.

Skills Preferred

• Bachelor s Degree in Accounting.
• Public Accounting experience.
• Minimum of four years in grant/restricted accounting and reporting, preferably in a college or university setting.
• Experience with Workday Grants, Contracts, Billing and Project Costing is a plus.
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, DHHS Regulations and NJHHS guidelines.
• Membership in professional associations such as the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) or the Society of Research Administrators International (SRA).

Experience Required

• Minimum of three years of experience in general account analysis and reconciliations as well as experience in preparing and analyzing a periodic budget/forecast to actual variance report.

Experience Preferred

• Public Accounting experience.
• Minimum of four years in grant/restricted accounting and reporting, preferably in a college or university setting.
• Experience with Workday Grants, Contracts, Billing and Project Costing is a plus.
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, DHHS Regulations and NJHHS guidelines.

Education Required Bachelor s Degree in a business-related field from an accredited college or university.

Education Preferred Bachelor s Degree in Accounting.