"Fund and Grant Accountant"

Fund and Grant Accountant

Position Status: Full-Time

Classification: Exempt

Location: Hybrid and / or remote available

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Fund and Grant Accountant (F&GA) is responsible for the comprehensive financial administration, management, reconciliation, budgeting, and transaction processing of all unrestricted, restricted, and endowed gifts and donations, as well as private, federal, and state grants. This role ensures compliance with donor intentions and grant terms while maintaining accurate financial records and reporting.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

• Review donation and award documents to determine specific terms, conditions, and reporting requirements.
• Review expenditures, validate and/or create budgets, monitor transactions, and ensure compliance with donor or grantor intentions.
• Prepare financial reports from inception to closeout for all gifts and grants.
• Collaborate with Principal Administrators/Project Directors to prepare payment requests and obtain funds from sponsoring agencies.
• Interface with development staff, business office staff, and other university personnel to ensure successful fiscal management of gifts, grants, and donations.
• Utilize various software applications (e.g., BANNER Finance, Blackbaud, Microsoft Word, Excel).

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

- Reports to the Director of Finance and Vice President of Finance and Administration.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

- Supervises student employees and/or interns.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Unrestricted, Restricted, and Endowed Gifts and Donations Functions:

• Record financial transactions, including quarterly endowment distributions and fund transfers.
• Advise on endowment policy issues.
• Reconcile investment manager and custody statements.
• Lead gifts and donations-related audit work and support the University's audit.
• Analyze and report on endowment and other restricted gifts to campus constituencies.
• Manage endowment unitization processes and maintain accurate accounting of funds.
• Administer, account, and report for planned gifts and trusts, and provide backup support.
• Reconcile gifts and donations recorded in the general ledger with development records monthly.
• Prepare annual projected investment pooled income spending policy payout schedules.
• Perform cash flow analysis to determine appropriate fund liquidity.

Restricted Grants from Private Funding, State, and Grant Awards:

• Assist with pre-award budget development.
• Meet with Principal Administrators/Project Directors to review management and reporting responsibilities upon funding award.
• Monitor funding budgets compared to actual activity and address concerns with PDs.
• Set closeout schedules and review activity to ensure all transactions are recorded and invoices paid.
• Prepare final financial reports and file timely with funding agencies.
• Review and analyze new award setup documentation for terms, conditions, and requirements.
• Facilitate award closeout procedures, including final reviews of expenditures and payments.
• Process closing entries in the College’s accounting system.

General Duties:

• Create and maintain documentation of policies, procedures, and workflows.
• Provide financial analytics, coordinate account reconciliation activities, participate in audits, and prepare financial reports and budgets.
• Design and administer processes to ensure adherence to funding requirements.
• Create and update tools and resources for end users.
• Stay current and compliant with best business practices and relevant regulations, laws, and accounting pronouncements.
• Answer questions and resolve problems as needed.
• Perform other related duties, including process improvements, system implementation, and cross-team support.
• Prepare and review annual surveys (e.g., NACUBO) and other requests for investment data.
• Ensure compliance with college policies and procedures, coordinate cash drawdowns, and apply funds to proper records.
• Prepare month-end, quarterly, and annual financial reports, ensuring accurate and timely submission.
• Monitor and review transactions to ensure compliance with funding restrictions.
• Maintain and update financial files for audits and grant record retention.
• Prepare detailed, accurate, and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual investment journal entries, reports, statements, and reconciliations.
• Create new fund, grant, and project account setups in the General Ledger system.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of experience, or an equivalent combination of certification, training, education, and/or experience.
• Strong decision-making and interpretive skills, technical competence in fund accounting, and ability to provide effective advice on award issues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and accounting software.
• Ability to independently read and comprehend grants, contracts, regulations, and policies.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Solid knowledge of endowment investment accounting, fund accounting, and grant accounting.
• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Commitment to continuous process improvement and maintenance of internal controls.
• Ability to extract, interpret, and leverage data, including developing spreadsheets and using databases.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with Banner preferred.
• Higher education experience preferred.
• Knowledge of federal cost principles for grant management.
• Knowledge of planned gift accounting.
• Experience with Blackbaud fundraising products – raiser’s edge financial edge and award management

ABOUT CATAWBA:

Founded in 1851 in Newton, North Carolina, Catawba was started by German pioneers who had traveled from eastern Pennsylvania to settle in the valleys of the Haw, Yadkin, and Catawba Rivers. In 1890, Catawba became a coeducational institution and the first woman graduate completed her studies in 1893. In 1925, Catawba moved and re-opened to its current location in Salisbury, NC, which is about 45 minutes from Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte, two hours from the mountains, and four hours from the beaches. 

Today, Catawba College has 41 buildings on 276 wooded acres on a residential campus. Catawba is known for its 189 acre on-campus ecological preserve. Ranked as one of the best colleges in the south, Catawba offers 70 academic majors to approximately 1,300 students representing 34 U.S. states and 19 foreign countries. Students are instructed by nearly 90 full-time faculty, more than 83% of whom hold the highest degree in their field. 

Catawba provides an education focused on an institutional philosophy of a liberal education, which entails a broad range of knowledge, intellectual and practical skills, and individual and social responsibility fostered and developed in all academic programs. Catawba is a learning community that provides students unique opportunities to explore vocation, helping students to consider their calling, their passions, and their purpose as they prepare to reach their highest potential. Catawba’s mission is to provide “students an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation” and to enable “students to reach their highest potential while becoming responsible citizens.” More information about Catawba College is located at www.catawba.edu. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants shall submit the following materials, in a single file, pdf version only, to employment@catawba.edu:

• A letter of application;
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae; and
• Contact information for three (3) professional references. 

Catawba College is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Catawba is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, unless allowed by law and deemed necessary to Catawba operations. Candidates must successfully pass a background check and drug screening before employment begins, and Catawba complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination.