Grant Accountant

Grant & Restricted Fund Accountant

About the Opportunity

Are you an experienced accounting professional with a strong background in grant accounting, restricted funds, and financial compliance? Do you enjoy working with complex financial information while building relationships and helping others understand the numbers?

We are partnering with a well-established, financially strong organization experiencing exciting growth in its grant-funded programs. As grant activity continues to expand, they are seeking a knowledgeable and highly collaborative Grant & Restricted Fund Accountant to play a critical role in financial oversight, compliance, reporting, and accountability.

Reporting directly to the Controller, this individual will oversee the financial management of grants, contracts, and other restricted awards from foundation, corporate, and government sponsors. You'll be involved throughout the entire grant lifecycle, from initial award setup and budget establishment through expenditure monitoring, reporting, compliance, and final closeout.

This is an opportunity to join a supportive finance team where your expertise will have a direct impact on the institution's ability to successfully manage and maximize its grant funding.

The ideal candidate is more than a strong accountant. They are someone who can confidently explain financial information, establish trust across departments, identify potential compliance concerns, and serve as a go-to resource for grant-related accounting questions.

What You'll Do

Grant Accounting & Financial Management

• Oversee the financial administration of grants and contracts.
• Manage the post-award grant lifecycle, including award setup, budget distributions, expense monitoring, periodic invoicing, financial reporting, reconciliations, and final closeout.
• Establish and maintain accounting procedures, protocols, internal controls, and cost allocation practices to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Monitor grant budgets and expenditures to ensure spending remains within approved funding levels and grant periods.
• Review and approve grant expenditures to ensure costs are allowable, allocable, and reasonable under applicable grant agreements and regulations.
• Monitor indirect cost recoveries and related allocations in accordance with federal Uniform Guidance requirements.
• Track cost-sharing commitments, budget revisions, labor distribution transfers, and other grant-related financial adjustments.
• Prepare journal entries to resolve discrepancies, allocate residual balances or overdrafts, and correct accounting issues identified through reconciliations and grant closeouts.

Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as a financial resource to departments and stakeholders, translating complex accounting and compliance requirements into practical information.
• Maintain regular communication with departments and funding agency contacts to resolve issues and gather necessary information.
• Provide joint oversight with the Controller of accounting staff involved in grant and restricted fund accounting.
• Help improve financial reporting structures and processes as the grant activity continues to expand.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of accounting experience, including internal controls and auditing.
• Experience with grants and contracts administration, higher education experience is a plus or a nonprofit organization.
• Working knowledge of federal Uniform Guidance and grant compliance requirements.
• Experience with endowed fund and restricted fund accounting.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, reconciliations, budgeting, cost allocations, and internal controls.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office and…