Manager Contract and Grant Accounting - 528623

The University of Alabama•Tuscaloosa, AL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager Contract and Grant Accounting oversees all aspects of post-award financial accounting for the Office for Contract & Grant Accounting to ensure compliance, accuracy, and strategic financial management. Provides management and supervision of CGA personnel. Develops and delivers training to various stakeholders. Interprets sponsor and University requirements. Implements continuous improvement for the department.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and six (6) years of accounting experience; OR master's degree and four (4) years of accounting experience; OR Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and four (4) years of accounting experience.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to clearly and effectively communicate and interact with contract and grant accountants, senior leadership, Principal Investigators, administrators, auditors, and sponsors with a customer service perspective.
Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing financial regulatory environment.
Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP) financial systems (such as PeopleSoft, Banner, Workday, Oracle, or other similar systems), accounting systems, effort reporting systems, electronic research administration systems, and Microsoft Office suite.
Adaptable to changing priorities while effectively managing multiple commitments.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex data and develop meaningful solutions to specific problems in collaboration with colleagues.
Excellent organizational skills to work with changing priorities and demanding workload, and to meet multiple and variable priorities and deadlines.
In-depth knowledge of federal and state costing policies, federal uniform requirements (2 CFR 200), generally accepted accounting principles, cost allocation methods, and accounting policies and procedures in an academic environment.
Proven record of collegial communication and cooperative initiatives with colleagues in sponsored programs, contracting, research compliance, finance, faculty, and administration.
Proven success in directing the work of financial staff and providing effective management of significant external funding.

Nice To Haves

Ten (10) or more years of experience working in contract and grant accounting in a research-intensive institution of higher education.
Experience managing a team in a professional, hybrid environment.
Experience with Banner.
Experience with ERP implementation.
Seven (7) years of professional accounting, audit, and/or financial compliance experience.
CRA or CFRA certification or CPA license.
Experience providing leadership and mentorship to departmental staff in all aspects of post-award financial management.
Evidence of collaborative work in a team environment and participation in the professional recruitment, development, and management of team members.
Experience in contract and grant fiscal administration for externally sponsored funding

Responsibilities

Manages all post-award accounting and financial administration of externally sponsored projects.
Award set-up and management in the University’s accounting systems.
Cash management.
General accounting functions.
Sponsor invoicing.
Reporting.
Audit activities.
Effort reporting.
Compliance with federal, state, local, private, sponsor, and University rules and regulations.
Mentorship, training, and direct supervision of CGA personnel.
Manages key processes including, month-end close, award set-up in the University’s accounting system, effort reporting, financial reporting, letter of credit draws, invoicing, indirect cost returns to colleges/administrative units, and project closeout.
Manages key compliance processes including subrecipient risk assessments, subrecipient monitoring, and internal and external audits of sponsored projects.
Supports education, outreach, and communication to CGA personnel, researchers, and staff across the University in accordance with federal regulations, University policies, and sponsor requirements.
Collaborates with various University departments and offices in the administration and development of systems designed to monitor effort certification, cost sharing, and fiscal compliance issues (e.g., payroll, accounting, purchasing, and travel).
Interacts with outside organizations (both prime sponsors and subrecipients).
Provides advice and assistance to the Assistant Vice President for Research Finance regarding overall financial compliance by the University.
Develops and maintains various reports for internal and external reporting.