IAE Accountant I

Description

Organization Summary:

The University of South Florida (USF) Institute for Applied Engineering (IAE) is a Florida not-for-profit corporation and US Direct Support Organization organized to benefit USFs research development and education mission. AE provides agile best value engineering products and services to enhance the performance effectiveness and safety of its customers including the Department of Defense other federal state and local agencies and industry. IAE provides these engineering solutions in alignment with its core competencies: Autonomous Systems; Human Performance Enhancement; Data Analytics; Cyber and Electromagnetic Domain Security; and Transportation and Energy infrastructure. IAE is currently executing contracts supporting Department of Defense and industry to include a 5-year $85M contract with United States Special Operations Command to provide applied research and advanced technology development products and services in support of their requirements.

Position Summary:

The role of IAE Staff Accountant is essential in safeguarding the financial health compliance and strategic decision-making of the business. This position is integral to maintaining precise financial records supporting audits and offering valuable insights crucial for the overall success of the organization. Additionally the Staff accountant plays a vital role in ensuring that all costs are accurately billed on a monthly basis to the Defense Finance and Accounting Office. Moreover the Staff Accountant bears the responsibility of ensuring compliance with federal cost accounting standards and other relevant regulations.

• Financial Accuracy:

  Staff Accountants are responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records. This includes recording transactions reconciling accounts and ensuring that financial statements reflect the true financial position of the company.

• Regulatory Compliance:

  IAE is subject to federal audits and compliance along with financial regulations and reporting requirements. Staff Accountants play a pivotal role in ensuring the companys adherence to these regulations encompassing tax laws and financial reporting standards.

• Financial Statement Preparation:

  IAE Staff Accountant will play a crucial role in budgeting and forecasting processes utilizing their involvement in tasks like processing accounts payable payroll among others. This active engagement enables them to provide valuable insights into historical financial data trends and expenses which assist management in making well-informed decisions. moreover in terms of audit support Staff Accountants prepare documentation and facilitates the audit process to ensure compliance and seamless audits when external auditors review the companys financial statements for accuracy. Additionally Staff Accountants are involved in cost control where they monitor expenses identify cost-saving opportunities and work towards ensuring the company operates within budgetary constraints.

• Support for Management:

  Accurate financial information is crucial for Management Decision Support and Staff Accountants play a key role in providing this support through the generation of financial reports and analyses.

• Technology Utilization:

  Staff Accountants frequently collaborate with financial software and tools to streamline processes boost efficiency and elevate the accuracy of financial reporting.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Level Minimum Qualifications:

This position requires a Bachelors degree in Accounting and one year of related experience or a Masters degree in Accounting or Business Administration (with appropriate accounting preparation and coursework.)

Education Level Preferred Qualifications:

Prefer a Bachelors degree with at least one year of full cycle accounting experience. Experience in DoD contracts Deltek and US accounting systems also preferred.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelors degree.
Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate ( is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelors degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a masters degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure certification or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Technical Skills

• Full-cycle accounting including general ledger accounts payable and reconciliations
• Payroll accounting and labor cost distributions
• Financial statement preparation reporting and analysis
• Budgeting forecasting and cost tracking
• Accounting systems including Deltek and Microsoft Excel
• Audit preparation and financial documentation
• Identifying and resolving accounting discrepancies

Soft Skills

• Strong attention to detail and financial accuracy
• Organization and ability to manage competing priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate accountability
• Proactive communication and timely escalation of issues
• Collaboration with Finance HR project teams and management

Industry Knowledge

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Federal cost accounting and financial compliance requirements
• Government contracting and contract billing
• DoD financial management and contracting environment
• Direct and indirect cost principles and cost allocation
• Federal audit and internal control requirements
• Government labor timekeeping and reporting requirements

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa St. Petersburg and USF 2025 U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USFs Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at .