Sponsored Programs Accountant

Sponsored Programs Accountant

The mission of William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) is to seek and broadly communicate knowledge in marine and coastal science to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world through research, education, and advisory service. The Batten School & VIMS make seminal advances in understanding coastal and marine systems through research and discovery, translate research findings into practical solutions to complex issues of societal importance, and provide new generations of researchers, educators, problem solvers, and managers with an education of unsurpassed quality. The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) partners with researchers across the institution to provide the best opportunity for researchers to be successful with obtaining and managing external awards.OSP does this by facilitating all aspects of proposal submission, providing in-depth knowledge of and expertise in both pre and post award services, ultimately serving as stewards for the Institute's overall research efforts.

Virginia Institute Marine Science ( VIMS ) Office of Sponsored Programs ( OSP ) is charged with the management of all pre-award and post-award activities associated with extramural funding requested and received. The Sponsored Programs Accountant monitors, reconciles, and analyzes expenditures on sponsored awards to ensure compliance with federal, state, institutional and award-specified regulations, and guidelines. Prepares and submits invoices and financial reports for sponsors and assists in providing supporting documentation for financial audits. Develops and provides institutional leadership with financial and analysis reports.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and sponsor rules and regulations related to grants and contracts.
• Ability to interpret Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and OMB's Uniform Guidance as it relates to institutions of higher education.
• Ability to complete advanced analysis and reconciliation of financial data.
• Strong working proficiency in a variety of computer applications including advanced knowledge of automated accounting / financial systems.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, independently, resolve issues effectively, and exercise sound judgment when making decisions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with a varied constituency (e.g., senior faculty researchers, technical staff, students, departmental fiscal personnel, and representatives from external agencies).
• Strong organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple priorities concurrently with competing deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.
• Experience in accounting or sponsored programs administration at an institution of higher education.
• Experience using Workday (finance /accounting module) and/or Cayuse.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal regulations governing grants/contracts including 2 CFR 200 (Uniformed Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), with the demonstrated ability to interpret guidelines, regulations, and complex documents and apply policies and procedures.
• Strong proficiency with web-based payment, and awards management systems (e.g.,ASAP,ACM$) or other similar web-based applications.
• Knowledge of Commonwealth of VA state university policies.

Conditions of Employment

• This position is subject to additional hours beyond the typical workday/week to meet the changing business needs.
• This position is subject to occasional travel.
• This is a restricted position, subject to the continued availability of funding.

Performs work of varied and considerable difficulty requiring advanced data collection, analysis, forecasting, and compiling and writing reports.Applies knowledge of accounting principles, auditing standards, budgeting practices, public administration, and/or legal and regulatory compliance.Interacts frequently with internal and external senior officials, professionals, and the public requiring a high level of communication skills to analyze or resolve issues.Develops, interprets, and/or evaluates compliance with policies and procedures.