Director, Grants and Contracts Accounting

Houston Community College•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Grants and Contracts Accounting directs and manages the post-award fiscal administration of Houston Community College (HCC) grant awards and contracts. The role ensures compliance with institutional financial policies and procedures, applicable federal and state regulations—including 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and the State of Texas Uniform Grant Management Standards—and donor stipulations. It also provides guidance to management on proposals, billing, reporting, and grant administration, and helps integrate relevant state and federal principles into college policy. The Director leads the daily operations of the Grants Accounting Department and directs its accounting staff. The position oversees grant and contract accounting, budgets, billing, financial reporting, award closeouts, internal controls, and compliance monitoring. It leads grant-related audits and program reviews, works with auditors and funding agencies, and prepares required federal and state award schedules and reports. The role also develops HCC’s indirect cost recovery proposal, negotiates the indirect cost rate with DHHS, and prepares the annual restricted budget and variance analysis for Board of Trustees consideration. Houston Community College serves the Greater Houston area through 14 Centers of Excellence and satellite centers. It is a large, singly accredited, open-admission community college offering associate degrees, certificates, workforce training, and lifelong learning. This is a general-office position. The employee must be able to perform job requirements with or without reasonable accommodations and may be required to work after hours, including weekends and holidays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting.
At least 6 years of accounting and finance experience, including at least 2 years of grants accounting and supervisory experience.
Valid Texas Driver License.
Skills in MS Office programs, information management systems, project management, and 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, position oneself to operate job equipment, and apply established protocols in a timely manner.
Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from 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

Assist in developing strategic initiatives for grants and contracts, advising college leadership on negotiations, proposals, billings, budgets, accounting, and reporting.
Develop, implement, and maintain Grants Accounting Department procedures and processes.
Compute, prepare, submit, and secure HCC’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rates under 2 CFR Part 200.
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 accompanying notes for audit.
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 presentation to and approval by the Board of Trustees.
Design and maintain office procedures and internal controls that support effective operations, safeguard assets, and ensure reliable, compliant financial information.
Oversee the post-award fiscal administration of grants and contracts awarded to the College.
Direct the accounting activities of accountants and staff in the Grants Accounting Department.
Determine whether restricted-fund transactions are appropriate and comply 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 subrecipient compliance and risk assessments; required grant reporting; invoicing; effort reporting; cost sharing and transfers; financial reporting; and project closeouts.
Work with grant managers, faculty, administrators, and departments to ensure grants are properly established and maintained and funds are used appropriately.
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 invoicing and monitor receivables and amounts due from agencies.
Approve direct cash draws from G5, ASAP, NSF Research.gov, TWC CEDAR, and the THECB portal.
Interact with governmental agencies and work collegially and respectfully with faculty, staff, and funding agencies.
Interpret policies and funding-agency regulations for others and communicate new or revised regulatory requirements college-wide.
Manage grants, subawards, and cooperative agreements.
Submit timely and accurate 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 with auditors during the Single Audit by providing documentation, support, and responses; ensure compliance with regulatory audits, inspections, and internal reviews.
Develop and recommend corrective action plans for identified deficiencies and, when needed, serve as liaison to audit teams during on-site visits.
Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and business processes for internal controls that ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data and systems supporting grant accounting.
Develop HCC’s indirect cost recovery (F&A) proposal, negotiate the IDC rate with DHHS, and seek agency and HCC Chancellor approval.