Grants Accountant

Grants Accountant

Location:

Alexandria, VA (hybrid; onsite two days per week, with three days remote).

Salary Range: $90,000.00 to $ annually

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation’s tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). AIHEC supports American Indian and Alaska Native higher education through dedicated research and programmatic initiatives designed to strengthen Native languages, cultures, and Tribal communities. AIHEC administers federal and private grant funding that supports TCUs and Native students nationwide, and produces the Tribal College Journal (TCJ), a premier national publication sharing insights on American Indian education.

The Grants Accountant is responsible for the financial administration of a diverse portfolio of federal and private grants and cooperative agreements. This role ensures accurate financial reporting, compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and other applicable federal regulations, and effective stewardship of resources that directly support TCUs and Native student success. The Grants Accountant works closely with program staff, senior finance leadership, and external auditors to safeguard the integrity of AIHEC's grant-funded operations.

This position reports to the Accounting Manager.

Grants Financial Management

• Maintain accurate accounting records for a portfolio of federal, state, and private grants and cooperative agreements.
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate federal financial reports (e.g., SF-425) and other funder-required financial deliverables.
• Monitor grant budgets, expenditures, and drawdowns; identify and communicate variances or risk of over/under-spending.
• Lead month-end close activities for grant-related accounts, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), OMB circulars, and specific federal awarding agency requirements.
• Support subrecipient monitoring activities, including risk assessments, budget reviews, and desk reviews of subrecipient financial reports.
• Assist in maintaining and updating internal control policies and procedures related to grants management.
• Support preparation for and response to the annual Single Audit (Uniform Guidance audit), including compiling documentation and drafting management responses to findings.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare grant-related schedules and support for the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).
• Assist with indirect cost rate calculations and application, including NICRA compliance.
• Support the preparation of internal financial reports and dashboards for program and executive leadership.
• Prepare and manage program billing and reporting deliverables for grants and contracts, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Assist with organization-wide financial statement preparation as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with program staff to ensure grant spending aligns with approved budgets and grant terms.
• Coordinate with the procurement function to ensure grant-funded purchases meet federal procurement standards.
• Support new grant setup, budget modifications, and no-cost extension requests.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of experience in nonprofit or governmental grants accounting.
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and federal grant compliance requirements.
• Experience with financial reporting for federal awards (e.g., SF-425, SEFA).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Concur, and ADP, along with advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with program billing and reporting for grants and contracts.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a nonprofit environment and understanding nonprofit operations.

Preferred

• Experience working with or supporting Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal organizations, or Native-serving nonprofits.
• Familiarity with subrecipient monitoring…