"Grants And Contracts Accountant"

POSITION SUMMARY

Date application must be received for priority consideration by: December 2, 2025
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date: December 29, 2025
Closing Date or if blank, Open Until Filled:
Job Family Group: Support Staff
Support Staff Classification Title: Accountant 2
Division/Department: Finance and Administration/Business Services
Compensation Range (commensurate with experience): Salary Range 25, Step 1-3 $27.44 -$30.11/hourly or $4,756-$5,219/monthly 1.0 FTE
FLSA Status: Exempt
Appointment Basis: 12-month
Time Type: Full-time
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Renewable/Non-renewable/Grants/Limited Duration/Temporary: Renewable
This position must possess and maintain a current, valid Driver License: Yes
This position is designated as a critical, security-sensitive or safety-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check: Yes
Lead Work/Supervisory Responsibilities: No
Work Location Type: On-campus
Work Hours: M-F (8:00a - 5:00p) Hours are subject to change with notice.
Worker Status: Must be able to legally work in the United States without visa sponsorship

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT

• Each applicant is required to provide (as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) a letter providing some detail of the applicant's qualifications and interest in the position; and (2) current resume/CV. - PLEASE NOTE - during the application process, you will be prompted to attach these documents in the area titled 'Resume.' Please either combine ALL documents into ONE attachment, OR upload each item separately in this section. Failure to upload ALL of the required documents may disqualify application from consideration.
• For inquiries and additional information, please contact Human Resource Services via email at hrs@sou.edu or by phone at (541)552-8553.
• To view SOU's very generous benefits and pension programs available to eligible positions, please visit benefits overview
• Our benefits package is an important complement to the offered salary and our Total Compensation Calculator, demonstrates our value.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Grants and Contracts Accountant is responsible for the daily accounting functions, financial reporting and invoicing for all grants and contracts managed for Sponsored Programs. Using generally accepted accounting principles and internal control theory to analyze, record, and interpret financial data, including revenue and expenditures, the Grants and Contracts Accountant will devise, implement, and maintain accounting systems to achieve success within the award project and maintain a culture of trust, cooperation, and accountability in support of the university's mission.

The Grants and Contracts Accountant role, under direction from the Associate Director of Business Services, involves coordinating accounting information between internal university programs and external agencies, in addition to analyzing accounting systems and developing procedures to ensure compliance with standards related to university policies and grants management. This position, in collaboration with the Award Manager, will have regular contact with internal university stakeholders to discuss topics such as grant balances, reconciliations, invoicing, payment authorizations, and accounting policies, as well as with external funding agencies, to request reimbursement invoices and ensure compliance with the financial aspects of grant-funded projects.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with a CPA or PA certificate and three years of accounting experience*, OR
• Bachelor's degree with 30 quarter (20 semester) hours of accounting courses and three years of accounting experience*; OR
• 30 quarter (20 semester) hours of college-level accounting courses and five years of experience*.
• Transcripts must be submitted for all required and/or related courses. All courses must be from accredited colleges, universities, or private vocational schools.

*Accounting experience must include at least 6 of the following:

• documenting and resolving problems within an accounting system;
• classifying revenues and expenditures to funds and accounts;
• ensuring accounting system conforms with applicable controls;
• reconciling accounts to general or control ledgers;
• preparing journal vouchers;
• applying accounting principles to one or more functional areas; i.e., AR, AP, etc.;
• tracing errors through accounting system;
• processing data using a computer;
• communicating technical material orally and in writing;
• applying computer report information;
• knowledge of governmental and fund accounting;
• applying PC spreadsheet, database, and word processing software.

Preferred Requirements

• Knowledge of Workday Finance and Grants Modules
• Experience with grant and contract accounting, including budgeting, invoicing, reporting, or compliance monitoring.
• Knowledge of fund accounting and governmental accounting standards (GAAP, GASB, OMB Uniform Guidance/2 CFR 200)

Essential Functions

(40%) Financial Management

• Apply generally accepted accounting principles and controls to grants and contracts budgets, spending, and invoicing in a timely and efficient manner.
• Identify and resolve accounting problems, such as mistaken categorization of expenditures and revenue, missing facilities and administration costs or other expenses, and out of balance conditions.
• Establish internal controls to prevent unallowable costs or overdrafts.
• Perform regular reconciliations between the Workday grants module, the general ledger, and sponsor records, and execute correcting journals.
• Review and approve spending on grants for accuracy, allowability, and allocability.
• Provide data, analysis, and reports as required for grant and contract audits.
• Ensure timely closeout of expired awards, including final invoices and financial reports.
• Stay current on federal, state, and sponsor regulation changes and incorporate them into accounting/reporting practices.
• Ensure university compliance with accounting procedures for recording accounts receivable and payable activities in relation to established institutional and federal grants and contracts policies. With appropriate approval, implement recommended procedures and monitor activity.
• Review and update internal grant and contract procedures for accounting analysis, identification of out of pattern conditions, and resolution of accounting issues keeping in line with university and federal grants accounting procedures.
• Make recommendations for modifications to procedures and policies regarding grants and contracts accounting data collection and report generation and distribution by preparing formal recommendations of current accounting practices.
• Facilitate the acceptance and execution of grant and contact agreements.

(35%) Compliance, Reporting, and Audit Preparedness

• Monitoring compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), cost principles, and audit requirements.
• Ensuring timely submission of financial reports (SF-425, sponsor-specific reports, etc.) to federal agencies and other sponsors.
• Tracking and managing subrecipient monitoring requirements (collecting reports, verifying audit compliance, ensuring expenditures are allowable).
• Assisting with or monitoring effort certification/compensation reporting to ensure salary charges to grants are consistent with effort spent.
• Preparing and submitting interim and final financial reports required by sponsors.
• Coordinating with Sponsored Programs Office and PIs to ensure reports are accurate and submitted within required timelines.
• Maintaining audit-ready documentation for all grant transactions.
• Participate as necessary in the audit of grants.
• Assist in preparation of the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)
• Perform duties as necessary to support Single Audit and sponsor-specific audits.
• Ensuring compliance with federal, sponsor, and institutional record retention policies (often 3-7 years post-award closeout).

(20%) Workday Grant Module System Utilization

• Assist with ongoing implementation of the Workday Grants Module to streamline grant financial management, invoicing, tracking, and reporting.
• Improve the Workday Grants Module to automate functions such as tasks, invoicing, milestones, etc., and to generate reports that allow snapshots of grant budgets and spending.
• Enter new grants/contracts into Workday Grants Module to allow for accurate spending, tracking, task assignments, invoicing, and reporting.
• Train campus staff and faculty on accounting procedures and utilization of grant accounting and reporting in Workday.
• Provide data, analysis, and reports from Workday as required for audits.

(5%) Duties Include

• Other duties as assigned

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.
• Expressed ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.
• Great ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information. Must be able to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Takes initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, online systems, social media platforms, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Willingness to work effectively in a heavily bureaucratic environment which requires regular interaction with a number of levels within the organization and multiple outside agencies.
• Working knowledge or ability to quickly learn, university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.