Director, Grants and Contracts Accounting

HCC•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Director, Grants and Contracts Accounting directs and manages the College’s post-award fiscal administration of grant awards, ensuring compliance with institutional financial policies and procedures, applicable federal and state requirements—including 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and the State of Texas Uniform Grant Management Standards—and donor stipulations. The role leads the daily operations of Grants Accounting and advises management on grant and contract proposals, negotiations, billing, budgets, accounting, reporting, and administration. It also develops and maintains departmental procedures and processes, internal controls, and financial systems and policies supporting grant accounting. The Director leads the preparation and submission of the College’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate proposal, negotiates the indirect cost rate with DHHS, and seeks agency and Chancellor approval. The position oversees audits and program reviews, prepares federal and state award expenditure schedules and related audit materials, works directly with auditors, and develops corrective action plans for identified deficiencies. It also prepares the annual restricted fund budget and variance analysis for Board of Trustees review and approval, and provides monthly restricted fund status reports to management. The role directs the accounting activities of Grants Accounting staff and oversees grant budgets, transactions, invoicing, receivables, cash draws, reporting, sub-recipient compliance, and grant closeouts. It works with grant managers, faculty, administrators, departments, funding agencies, and governmental entities to ensure funds are properly established, managed, and used in accordance with applicable requirements. The Director participates in month-end and year-end general ledger close activities and communicates regulatory changes across the College.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting.
Six years of accounting and finance experience, including two years of grants accounting and supervisory experience.
Valid Texas driver license.
MS Office programs.
Information management systems.
Project management.
Budget management.
Ability to perform job requirements with or without reasonable accommodations.
Ability to remain stationary during the shift, move items weighing up to 25 pounds, and position oneself to operate job equipment.
Ability to apply established protocols in a timely manner, access/input/retrieve information using technology devices, and communicate with others to accomplish job requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration or Accountancy.
Higher education experience.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Responsibilities

Develop strategic initiatives and advise College leadership on grant and contract negotiations, proposals, billing, budgets, accounting, and reporting.
Develop, implement, and maintain accounting procedures and processes for the Grants and Contracts Accounting Department.
Compute, prepare, submit, and secure the College’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates.
Lead audits and program reviews relating to grants conducted by federal and state entities and funding agencies.
Prepare the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal and State Awards and related audit notes and materials.
Stay current on regulatory guidelines and laws, interpret grant requirements, and ensure institutional compliance.
Prepare the annual restricted fund budget and budget variance analysis for Board of Trustees submission and approval.
Design and oversee office procedures and internal controls that support effective operations, safeguard assets, and ensure reliable, compliant financial information.
Oversee post-award fiscal administration of all College grants and contracts and direct Grants Accounting staff.
Determine whether restricted fund transactions are appropriate and compliant with Uniform Guidance, state regulations, agency rules, and College policies and procedures.
Review allowable costs, including purchase requisitions, invoice payments, travel requests, P-Card transactions, payroll distributions, stipends, and tuition benefits.
Monitor sub-recipient compliance and risk assessments; grant reporting, invoicing, effort reporting, cost sharing, cost transfers, financial reporting, and project closeouts.
Work with grant managers, faculty, administrators, and departments to establish and maintain grant funds and ensure appropriate use of funds.
Ensure individuals understand and comply with donor restrictions, processes, and policies for funds under their management.
Approve grant-related budgets, journal entries, requisitions, budget adjustments, cost transfers, cost sharing, G-Code requests, accounts receivable adjustments, travel requests, and Concur transactions.
Approve grant and contract invoices and monitor receivables and amounts due from agencies.
Approve direct cash draws through G5, ASAP, NSF Research.gov, TWC CEDAR, and THECB portals.
Interact with governmental agencies and work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and funding agencies.
Interpret policies and funding-agency regulations and communicate new or revised regulations College-wide.
Manage grants, sub-awards, and cooperative agreements.
Submit accurate and timely reports to federal and state agencies and provide monthly restricted fund status reports to HCC management.
Participate in month-end and year-end general ledger closing.
Work directly with Single Audit auditors, providing documentation, support, and responses; ensure compliance with regulatory audits, inspections, and internal reviews.
Develop and recommend corrective action plans for deficiencies and may serve as liaison to audit teams during on-site visits.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and business processes for internal controls supporting accurate and reliable financial data and systems.
Develop the HCC indirect cost recovery (F&A) proposal, negotiate the IDC rate with DHHS, and seek agency and HCC Chancellor approval.