The Senior Grant Accountant 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.
UNE offers a generous comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The package includes varied health and dental plans; a retirement plan that includes up to an eight percent match; extensive paid leave including holidays, vacation, sick, and personal time; and educational benefits. Please visit the Human Resources Benefits site for additional information regarding UNE’s benefits package.
Responsibilities
- 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.
- Assists in the preparation of applicable fiscal reports for sponsored programs and ensures the timely submission thereof.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Ability to travel and work between both campuses.