Government Property Accountant

Penn State University • University Park, IL

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Budget and Finance invites applications for a Government Property Accountant (Accountant - Intermediate Professional) to join the Asset Management Team. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the accurate valuation, capitalization, recording, and reporting of University assets, with a strong emphasis on Department of Defense (DoD), federally funded, and grant-supported assets. The Accountant supports the University’s fiduciary responsibilities related to federal investments, ensuring compliance with asset accountability, allowability, audit readiness, and closeout requirements across sponsored and non-sponsored funding sources.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills in complex funding and compliance environments.
• Collaborative and flexible decision-making style.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team while managing multiple priorities.
• Successful Department of Defense background investigation within six months of hire.
• Bachelor's Degree
• 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• None Required Certifications
• Successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Analyze financial gifts and acquisitions documentation to ensure accurate and proper capitalization, including recording, distribution, and follow-up in support of accurate financial and grant reporting.
• Capitalize gifts and asset purchases in accordance with University policy and federal requirements, including accurate posting of values to Government Furnished Property, GFP.
• Perform federal property closeout certificates.
• Analyze and resolve expense discrepancies to ensure allowability and completeness of costs associated with defense-related and sponsored projects.
• Responsible for reviewing, interpreting and applying new federal acquisition regulations to the University’s procedures and policies.
• Prepare and submit disposition requests to Department of Defense's (DoD) Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) system, supporting DoD and federal property accountability and lifecycle documentation requirements.
• Conduct asset tagging and inventory activities, supporting physical accountability and audit readiness for grant-funded and restricted assets.
• Generate detailed DoD financial property reports for University leadership and for Office of Naval Research (ONR) & other DoD Property Management System Analysis audits.
• Oversee department’s annual budget reconciliation, order office supplies and maintain responsibility for the department’s purchasing card usage.
• Review and analyze SAP Ariba purchase requisitions, assign proper asset classification to ensure correct capitalization depreciation assignments, and federal allowability.
• Provide support for monthly settlement of Assets Under Construction (AUCs).
• Provide support for the monthly depreciation run.
• Assist with lease evaluation and capitalization.
• Assist with milestone monitoring and capitalization.
• Serve as an audit liaison supporting asset, federal, and DoD-related audits.
• Provide support for asset transfer forms.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• Generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees