Senior Grant Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Grant Accountant to support our client's grant programs and ensure accurate accounting and compliance. This role oversees the financial administration of grants and contracts, helping ensure budgets, expenditures, and reporting remain aligned with institutional and sponsor requirements. The position partners closely with investigators, administrators, and external funding contacts to provide sound fiscal guidance, maintain compliance, and strengthen stewardship of awarded funds.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate sponsored project proposals to confirm alignment with organization rules as well as state, federal, and sponsor-specific requirements.

• Guide principal investigators and campus departments through budget development, proposal documentation, and financial policy interpretation.

• Address questions related to allowable costs, salary support, fringe rates, indirect cost calculations, and other grant budget components.

• Monitor grant activity by reviewing spending patterns, investigating variances, and projecting future financial performance.

• Interpret award notices from sponsoring agencies and communicate key financial details to relevant stakeholders.

• Research changes in grant regulations and reporting expectations, then summarize their impact for internal teams and leadership.

• Maintain accurate grant records in Banner, including financial coding, data entry review, and validation of supporting information.

• Prepare financial and compliance reports, identify notable trends, and recommend actions to improve oversight and budget management.

• Follow up on discrepancies, missing documentation, or potential compliance concerns with investigators, sponsors, and administrative offices.

• Organize proposal, award, and compliance documentation in both electronic and physical files to support audit readiness and record retention.

• Demonstrated experience in grant accounting, including budget oversight, expenditure review, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, general ledger activity, reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close processes.
• Familiarity with federal and state grant regulations and the ability to apply institutional financial policies in a higher education setting.
• Proficiency with Banner or comparable financial systems used for sponsored program administration and reporting.
• Ability to analyze complex financial data, develop projections, and present clear written recommendations.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to advise faculty, administrators, auditors, and external funding representatives.
• Strong organizational skills and sound judgment when managing detailed records, compliance documentation, and competing priorities.
• Experience supporting account reconciliation, bank reconciliations, and broader fiscal management responsibilities is preferred.