Senior Grant Accounting Specialist, Post Award

Position Summary

The Senior Grant Accounting Specialist, Post Award is a key member of the accounting team who works directly with program directors and the office of Sponsored Projects and liaisons with funding source contacts for all grants. The Senior Grant Accounting Specialist, Post Award exercises independent judgment and discretion in planning and carrying out the duties of the job. This position is responsible for providing post award administration support for grants, financial reporting and accounting, developing and implementing fiscal Senior Grant Accounting Specialist, Post Award policies, relationship management with various constituents for financial reviews and budget variances, and providing accounting technical assistance. This position also provides cash management and audit support. In addition, this role is expected to complete fundamental professional accounting functions and identify problems that may exist within higher education with a primary focus on grant accounting. They will set up new grants; periodically monitor grant expenditures to ensure compliance; calculate and enter indirect cost allocations; meet with Principal Investigator/Project Director when a grant is awarded to review responsibilities and maintain communication throughout. At the conclusion of the grant, this position will prepare financial reports for funding agencies; review and approve grant related journal entries and reports prepared by accounting team members, invoice and draw down funds per granting agency guidelines and assist with the close out process. This position will also assist in maintaining and monitoring the financial accounting system and related subsystems; prepare financial reports and statements for various stakeholders; and assist in establishing and monitoring internal controls to safeguard resources and improve efficiency. May also serve as back-up for other accountants within the department as well as the direct manager.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Research to assist with budget submission on grant proposals. Ensures awarded grants follow Federal OMB guidelines and any regulations required by funding agencies. 
• Serves as a liaison including coordination of information flow between accounting department, program directors and managers, and grant writers.
• Maintains files of all grants, contracts, notice of grant awards, revisions to grants, and other related documents.
• Establish regular meeting schedules with (Office of Sponsored Projects) OSP team members and (Principal Investigators) PI’s to keep them informed of current financial status of their programs compared to budget and total grant funding.
• Reviews utilization of grant funds.
• Assists with informing program directors and managers, and grant writers about federal, grant and university regulations and policies
• Prepare all assigned required program grant billings and financial reporting within established time frames.
• Prepare and enter into the general ledger approved journal entries. Review and approve journal entries prepared by grant specialists as part of monthly close. Maintain adequate controls and documentation to help ensure accuracy of entries.
• Reviews monthly salary allocation, fringe benefit charges, indirect cost calculation and revenue recognition of grant accounts.
• Provides information on how types of funding (direct and indirect) can be utilized
• Work to streamline grant reporting and compliance
• Lead preparation for and support during periodic funder program reviews.
• Conducts research and provides resolution to complex accounting problems, including investigation and analysis of data to ensure accuracy and completeness and performs corrective actions.
• Manages a larger and more complex sponsored project portfolio.
• Research and implement existing or new market software packages as pertains to grants and grant management.
• Assist as needed with the annual audit; prepare requested audit schedules.
• Responsible for providing much of the information for grants which fall under review with an A-133 audit and working with auditors directly on that project.
• Assist with the identification of significant weaknesses in the accounting internal controls and the development of compensating/alternate controls to strengthen the identified weaknesses.
• Prepare periodic Federal Indirect Cost Rate application following OMB guidelines to secure the maximum rate possible.
• Participates in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other system upgrades and conversions.
• Leads the recruitment process for any post award grant specialist hiring by revising position descriptions, reviewing candidates, and participating in interviews.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Supervises post award grant specialist, up to 3 positions

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; Master’s degree, preferred; or
• Three to Five (3-5) years’ progressive experience in grant and contract accounting, budgeting and reporting within a large non-profit.
• Intimate knowledge and understanding of the federal regulations relating to grants including OMB Circulars A-122 and A-133.
• Not-for-profit accounting experience preferred.
• Experience working in a technology-driven enterprise preferred.
• All skills, abilities, and education will be considered for minimum qualifications.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of Workday Financials desired
• Ability to participate as an active team member of the Business Unit, Department and University to work toward a common goal. Contributes fully to the team effort and plays an integral part in the smooth running of teams without necessarily taking the lead.
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the company and oneself.
• Actively seeks to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives. 
• Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes.  Ability to generate and/or recognize imaginative or creative solutions that generate successful outcomes.
• Thorough knowledge of fund accounting principles, processes and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), as well as, University policies, process and procedures regarding financial transactions; including GL analysis and month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Strong planning and organizational skills and follow through with an ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple deadlines and frequently changing priorities. Good follow-up and follow-through to ensure deliverables.
• Proficient in prioritizing work to meet deadlines, and multi-task while maintaining flexibility in the work environment in accordance to the organization’s values.
• Intermediate use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook with advanced excel skills including VLOOKUP’s and Pivot Tables. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individual of constituencies in a diverse community. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing while providing excellent customer service.
• Work independently and foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures across the organization and within all levels.

Travel: No Travel Required

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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

Compensation Range:

Annual Salary: $56,890.00 - $76,800.00

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality, diverse workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 5,000 faculty and staff and serves over 41,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community and a commitment to diversity. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our diverse student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University offers an opportunity to work in an innovative environment that supports diversity.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a diverse mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. We are focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, color, ancestry, age, family care status, veteran status, marital status, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and other legally protected group status.