Sponsored Projects Accountant

Carlow University • Pittsburgh, PA

53d

About The Position

The Sponsored Projects Accountant, reporting to the University Controller, has responsibilities including oversight of grants management and indirect cost analysis, endowment analysis and spend reporting, development of complex financial dashboards and data warehouse analyses, management and reporting of university restricted funds and associated ad-hoc statistical analysis. This role is lead accountant for restricted funding and related audit processes. The position will assist with financial planning and budgeting processes, analyzing complex financial statements and reports, preparing projections, and performing research and analysis as required by leadership. Adept at providing financial projections and making recommendations based upon ongoing analysis of university resources. Acts as a strong strategic resource to the Controller and Vice President of Finance and Business Development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or relevant field with preference given to candidates with Master's degree
• 5+ years progressive experience with nonprofit fund accounting, with preference given to candidates with higher education experience
• Advanced Excel analysis, modeling, consolidation, pivot, V-lookup, charting and related complex functions
• Experience with ERP systems, data management, manipulation, and presentation
• Knowledge of federal and state funding regulations including Uniform Guidance
• Ability to provide leadership within a cross-functional organization, solve complex issues, manage projects, deliver results and meet deadlines with high precision
• Effective in a dynamic and collaborative environment in a positive and proactive manner
• Exhibit clear and concise communication effective in a hybrid work environment utilizing technology to ensure strong collaboration and timely, accurate and efficient transfer of information

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years federal grant management and administrative experience preferred
• Preference given to CGMS - Certified Grants Management Specialist

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly budget vs actual financial reports for Federal grants, communicate financial data to stakeholders to develop effective forecasting and provide decision aides
• Prepare periodic and final financial reporting for submission to federal agencies including DOE, HRSA, NSF and support principal investigator to compile information for agency audit inquiries
• Review expenditures to ensure compliance with federal guidelines, including uniform guidance 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards
• Serve as a resource on grant administration, actively collaborating with grant principal investigators and fund managers regarding inquiries on administrative, financial or programmatic issues for grant activities
• Assist principal investigator in preparation of financial components of proposals and review budgets for compliance and spend timeline
• Create grant accounts set-up in ERP system and monitor cost-sharing requirements for fulfillment
• Serve as overall technical accounting resource to Controller and other university staff
• Calculate amount of indirect costs earned based upon grant spend, report actuals earned, used and forecast future indirect revenues
• Review and approve expenditure requisitions and orders in E-Procurement system for compliance with federal guidelines ensuring costs are reasonable, necessary, allocable, and allowable within funding limits
• Draw federal funds from G6 DOE grants management portal
• Maintain quarterly endowment report on market and investment changes and annual spend allocation
• Oversee university database used to project annual restricted spend allocation, calculations, notification to fund managers
• Maintain proper accounting for due to/due from unrestricted, temporarily restricted and permanently restricted fund accounts
• Partner with Advancement to reconcile endowment balances between Raiser's Edge and ERP systems and establish quarterly forecasts for new restricted and unrestricted endowments
• Create internal models and analytical tools, aligned with university's investment partner and OCIO to monitor portfolio performance
• Provide audit deliverables related to endowment funds timely and with precision
• Manage audit process for restricted government and endowed funds, including single audits, to ensure all deliverables and deadlines are met
• Prepare annual SEFA report
• Prepare footnotes calculation and disclosures for endowments
• Record journal entries to ensure proper accounting for restricted government and endowed funds and indirect costs
• Reconcile restricted government and endowed balance sheet accounts to subsidiary systems, external statements and GL
• Maintain ERP chart of accounts for restricted government and endowed funds
• Maintain self-service system for restricted government and endowed funds including creating roles and assign user access
• Prepare monthly actual financial reporting of revenue, expenses and available funding for all restricted funds including government grants, private grants and other awards and gifts
• Prepare periodic and final financial reporting for submission to donor agencies and support fund manager to compile information for agency inquiries
• Communicate financial data to stakeholders to develop effective forecasting and provide decision aides
• Monitor restricted account balances to ensure effective and timely utilization to alleviate financial pressures on operating results
• Collaborate with fund managers to plan and forecast spend ensuring donor mission is accomplished timely and effectively
• Analyze negative restricted fund balances, correct errors and implement proper measures and controls to prevent spending in excess of available funding
• Serve as a resource on grant and gift administration, actively collaborating with restricted fund managers regarding inquiries on administrative, financial or programmatic issues for grant or gift activities
• Assist fund manager in preparation of financial components of proposals and review budgets for compliance and reasonableness of spend timeline
• Create restricted fund accounts set-up in ERP system
• Serve as overall technical accounting resource to Controller and other university staff
• Calculate amount of indirect costs earned based upon grant spend, report actuals earned, used and forecast future indirect revenues
• Review and approve expenditure requisitions and orders in E-Procurement system for compliance with donor restrictions and guidelines ensuring costs are reasonable, necessary, allocable, and allowable within funding limits
• Manage audit process for restricted funds in conjunction with the Accounting Manager to ensure all deliverables and deadlines are met
• Prepare footnotes calculation and disclosures for net assets
• Record journal entries to ensure proper accounting for restricted funds and indirect costs
• Reconcile restricted balance sheet accounts to subsidiary systems, external statements and GL
• Maintain ERP chart of accounts for restricted funds
• Maintain self-service system for restricted funds including creating roles, assign user access, and import fund budget annually
• Perform requested ad-hoc analysis and kpi's using business intelligence software and data warehouse capabilities to improve business productivity, efficiency, and financial health
• Ability to recognize the need and then create and design new reports or to drill deeper into a current static report to get enhanced details
• Determine which data sources to utilize, appropriate data presentation, to provide customized analytics

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life & disability benefits package
• Tuition benefits for undergraduate and graduate programs
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Program
• Complimentary use of Carlow's fitness center and amenities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees