Accounting Specialist: Social Work Office of Research & Public Service - UTK

Support a Mission. Strengthen our Team. Make an Impact.

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is seeking an Accounting Specialist to support the financial and administrative operations of the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP). This role is ideal for a detail-driven, service-minded professional who enjoys solving problems, keeping processes moving, and helping teams stay compliant, organized, and audit-ready.

As an Accounting Specialist, you'll be a key partner to program staff—helping facilitate the financial processes that support TCSEPP's work with non-custodial parents as they overcome barriers to employment, pay child support, and strengthen bonds with their children. You will process, review, document, and follow through on a wide range of non-labor financial transactions, ensuring each item is accurate, properly coded, fully documented, and compliant with University, SWORPS, sponsor, grant/contract, and project-specific requirements.

In addition to transaction support, you'll serve as a practical resource to staff by answering questions, reinforcing expectations, and contributing to improvements in procedures, job aids, and training materials.) If you take pride in strong follow‑through, sound judgment, and helping others navigate financial processes with confidence, we'd love to hear from you.

This is a grant‑funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

• Process day‑to‑day financial transactions and ensure everything is accurate, properly approved, coded correctly, and compliant.
• Fix problems and missing documentation by coordinating with staff, vendors, and University offices.
• Maintain organized, audit‑ready records and provide documentation needed for sponsor invoicing, monitoring, audits, and closeout.
• Support purchasing and vendor and help prepare related contract paperwork so submissions are complete and ready for review.
• Handle travel and University card activity, review transactions, complete the first review/approval, resolve issues, and route items for final review.
• Manage petty cash and gift cards with strong documentation and internal controls; resolve or elevate discrepancies as needed.
• Help staff understand and follow fiscal processes by answering questions, supporting onboarding/training, and communicating approved process updates.
• Improve how work gets done by spotting recurring issues and recommending updates.

• Education:
  
  Associate's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• In lieu of a degree, an additional two years of progressively responsible accounting/administrative experience may be accepted.
• Experience:
  
  Two years of progressively responsible accounting and administrative experience.

• Knowledge of basic accounting principles and financial transaction processing.
• Skill in communicating fiscal policies, procedures, and financial‑process requirements clearly and professionally to employees with varying levels of financial knowledge.
• Skill in providing responsive customer service and practical training, demonstrations, walkthroughs, or process guidance to staff.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive deadlines while working independently and collaboratively.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn University financial and procurement systems.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related…