Grant accountant

Job Description

Job Description

ESSENTIAL EXPECTATIONSESSENTIAL EXPECTATIONS                                                     

Mission, Vision, and Values Expectations
At Goodwill, our mission, vision, and values guide how we serve our community, support one another, and conduct our work. Every team member is expected to demonstrate behaviors consistent with our core values, contribute to a positive and mission-focused culture, and perform their responsibilities in a manner that advances the organization's purpose and impact.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Expectations

Goodwill is committed to fostering a culture of dignity and trust where all individuals feel respected and valued.  The sum of individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, background, education, unique capabilities, and talent converge to create an environment of inclusivity, equity, and excellence.

Safety Expectations

At Goodwill, safety is everyone’s job.  Ensuring a workplace where people can grow and enrich themselves and others by giving can only happen if our environment is secure and safe.  Being compliant with safety rules, policies, procedures, and regulations, while assessing and eliminating workplace hazards, is essential to our business and delivering our mission.

POSITION EXPECTATION POSITION EXPECTATIONS

Position Summary

The Grant Accountant is responsible for the accounting, compliance, reporting, reconciliation, and financial stewardship of grants, restricted funds, and related program funding in a nonprofit environment. The role supports financial operations, accurate reporting, internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance with funder requirements, federal/state/local requirements, GAAP, and nonprofit accounting principles. The position aligns with the organization's mission and values and supports cross-departmental collaboration.  The Grant Accountant independently analyzes grant activity, identifies financial and compliance risks, supports organizational decision-making, and serves as a financial resource to program and grant stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Grant Accounting and Financial Management

• Maintain accurate accounting records for grants, contracts, restricted funds, and related revenue/expenses.
• Set up and maintain grant codes, funding sources, budgets, restrictions, and reporting attributes in the accounting system.
• Review and record grant revenue, releases from restriction, cost allocations, and related entries in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles.
• Monitor grant budgets and expenditures to ensure costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, properly documented, and charged to the correct funding source.
• Prepare and post journal entries, accruals, reclassifications, and reconciliations related to grant activity.
• Provide financial oversight throughout the grant lifecycle, including proposal budgeting, award setup, financial monitoring, amendments, reporting, reconciliation, and closeout.
• Identify potential grant compliance, spending, documentation, or funding risks and proactively communicate concerns and recommended corrective actions to Finance and program leadership.

Grant Billing, Reporting, and Compliance

• Prepare timely and accurate grant invoices, reimbursement requests, drawdowns, financial reports, budget-to-actual reports, and other funder-required submissions.
• Track reporting deadlines, grant periods, match requirements, indirect cost rates, restrictions, and compliance deliverables.
• Review grant agreements and award documents to identify fiscal requirements, documentation standards, billing rules, and reporting obligations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable grant terms, nonprofit requirements, internal policies, and federal, state, and local reporting requirements.
• Partner with program and development teams to ensure required financial documentation is complete, accurate, timely, and compliant with grant requirements. Resolve budget variances and support funder reporting.

Accounting Operations and Reconciliations

• Perform monthly reconciliations of grant and all other accounts receivables, deferred revenue, restricted net assets, funder balances, and related general ledger accounts.
• Support accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, payroll allocation, and month-end close processes as they relate to grant-funded activity.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Financial Analysis

• Collaborate with the CFO, Director of Finance, Assistant Controller, program leaders, and grants/development staff to develop grant budgets and budget narratives.
• Monitor grant spending and provide regular budget-to-actual analysis to support program decision-making.
• Provide analysis of spending trends, funding gaps, match requirements.
• Perform financial grant closeouts, including final reconciliations, revenue recognition, expenditure review, receivable resolution, final reporting, and confirmation that financial requirements have been satisfied .

Internal Controls, Audit Support, and Documentation

• Maintain organized grant files, award documentation, budgets, amendments, billing records, approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Prepare audit schedules and documentation for external audits, funder reviews, single audits if applicable, CARF audit, and other compliance reviews.

Collaboration and Team Support

• Work collaboratively across departments to align financial practices with organizational and program objectives.
• Provide guidance and training to program and administrative staff on grant coding, documentation, expense eligibility, deadlines, and fiscal procedures.
• Support a culture of transparency, accountability, confidentiality, and mission-driven service.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting, internal controls, grant accounting, and applicable federal, state, local, and private funding requirements. Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), including allowable costs, cost allocation, documentation, and audit requirements, required when supporting federally funded awards.
• Other projects as requested.

Core Competencies    

Leadership

Sets and enforces standards. Applies organization core values to guide decision making.  Works well with others and encourages teamwork and development.  Displays initiative.  Self-confident and motivates others.  Fair and consistent when evaluating or modifying behaviors in others.  Celebrates and rewards accomplishments.

Job Knowledge

Possesses comprehensive, functional and technical knowledge and skills to perform at a high level of accomplishment.  Discerns how the job relates to other functions within the department and Goodwill operations.  Follows policies, procedures, and safety protocols.

Accountability

Results oriented.  Sets goals, accepts responsibility for achieving results, and quality of work.  Takes ownership, remedies errors, and learns from mistakes.  Responds professionally to constructive criticism.

Communication

Possesses effective verbal/non-verbal, written, listening, and digital skills. Articulates complex and simple thoughts proficiently with colleagues, supervisors, direct reports, and customers. Effectively persuades and affects change.

Professionalism

Consistently conducts self in a competent, skilled and responsible manner. Performs to the highest standards with dedication, ethics, and integrity. Depicts the brand and represents the business appropriately.

Job Specific Competencies     

Analytical Thinking

Utilizes logical and strategic reasoning to break down and work through a situation or problem. Applies verbal and listening skills, problem solving, and creativity. Makes decisions based on data and personal judgement. Collaborates for data gathering and assumption validation.

Integrity and Trust

Displays, honest, fair and ethical traits. Accountable and maintains authentic and responsible behavior. Treats people with respect. Maintains confidentiality and inspires trust if others.

Initiative

Proactively evaluates, selects and takes action to solve current and potential problems. Meets objectives with a sense of urgency. Identifies new opportunities before being asked.

Problem Solving

Applies creative and analytical approach to identifying issues, understanding contributing factors and investigating core complications. Work to resolve complex situations independently or in groups. Utilizes negotiation skills when necessary. Delivers sustainable solutions. Implements and evaluates effectiveness.

Teamwork

Works collaboratively and respectively with others and is sensitive to team member engagement. Communicates openly seeking and providing support. Shares knowledge, provides assistance, and contributes well as a leader, facilitator, or participant. Accountable to the team.

POSITION SUCCESS INDICATORS

• Grant accounting records, reconciliations, and restricted fund balances are accurate, current, and supported by appropriate documentation.
• Grant invoices, reimbursement requests, drawdowns, financial reports, and funder submissions are completed accurately and submitted by required deadlines.
• Grant spending is monitored regularly, with budget variances, compliance risks, and documentation issues identified and communicated timely with recommended corrective actions.
• Program, development, and finance stakeholders receive clear grant financial guidance that supports compliant decision-making, audit readiness, and successful grant closeout.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant nonprofit grant accounting, fund accounting, restricted funds, cost allocations, grant billing/drawdowns, compliance reporting, and audit support. 
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting, internal controls, and federal, state and local grant compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and federal grant requirements as applicable and donor/funder reporting requirements preferred.

Requirements

• Advanced Excel and proficiency with accounting/grant management systems
• Strong analytical, communication, documentation, and confidentiality skills.
• Ability to interpret grant agreements and translate funding requirements into appropriate accounting and financial practices.
• Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, confidentiality, and ability to meet deadlines.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Able to lift, carry, push, and pull a minimum of 25 pounds.
• Prolonged standing, walking, reaching, stooping, lifting, pulling, carrying, sitting at a desk, and working on a computer.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

This position is primarily based at the corporate office and requires occasional travel to retail, mission, and operational locations.