Title: Grant Accountant

VP Area: Finance & Operations

Department: Business Operations

Published Salary Range: $50,000 - $60,000

Location: Hybrid/Remote (Michigan residents preferred; must be available to work on campus as required for meetings, audits, or other duties)

Job Summary/Basic Function:

The Grant Accountant is responsible for the financial management and oversight of grant funds received from federal, state, and other sponsoring agencies. This role ensures compliance with all applicable financial standards and regulations while safeguarding confidentiality, data security, and maintaining high standards of professionalism.

Hybrid/Remote Work Requirements:

This position may be performed remotely or in a hybrid work environment. The successful candidate must have the ability to work from home while adhering to all confidentiality, FERPA, and data protection standards.
Remote work is subject to approval by the department based on operational needs and must comply with all university policies regarding the secure handling of sensitive information.

• The candidate must be able to attend on-campus meetings and events as required for grant reporting, audits, or other business functions.
• The employee must maintain access to secure communication systems and university technology while working remotely, and comply with university safety guidelines and data protection protocols.
• The University reserves the right to modify remote work arrangements to ensure business continuity or to respond to changing operational needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform financial accounting, reporting, and record keeping in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and the Federal Uniform Guidance.
• Manage and maintain the Banner grant accounting module.
• Monitor and review grant expenditures for compliance with grant guidelines, regulations, and budgetary restrictions.
• Monitor and review grant receivables and follow-up if payments are not received on a timely basis.
• Work closely with the Payroll department to request payroll redistributions, and ensure compliance with grant guidelines.
• Prepare and submit timely financial reports to granting agencies, in accordance with GAAP and grant requirements. Follow-up as necessary to ensure accurate submission of data.
• Meet periodically with Grant Managers to review, analyze, and plan activities to ensure compliance with grant restrictions and expenditure guidelines.
• Create and maintain a system of documentation to support grant expenditures, reports, and other grant documents, to ensure that all records generated are retained in accordance with granting agency guidelines.
• Responsible for the financial aspect of grant audits; assist with the preparation of the annual FISAP report and Single Audit.
• Prepare the application and negotiation of the Federal indirect rate as required.
• Perform other Business Office accounting functions as assigned.

Additional Duties:

• Creates and/or posts journal entries recording financial activity of the University; allocates expenses, revenues, assets, and liabilities. 
• Maintains and/or coordinates records retention for the University’s financial records, including both paper documents and computer stored information or equivalents.

Additional Duties Related to Remote Work:

• Adhere to all university policies regarding the confidentiality and security of sensitive information, including FERPA regulations and protection of personal or financial data when working remotely.
• Maintain a secure work environment when accessing, processing, and storing university or grant-related data from a remote location.
• Ensure compliance with all institutional IT and security policies, including using university-provided virtual private network (VPN), secure file storage, and other tools for protecting university data when working off-campus.

Qualifications and Work Environment:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Proven knowledge of Federal Uniform Guidance, governmental fund accounting, and relevant university finance/accounting systems.
• Three (3) or more years of relevant experience in general ledger and grant accounting, with proficiency in data processing and spreadsheet applications.

Desired Qualifications:

• Five years or more of grant accounting experience.
• Experience with university finance/accounting systems, including BANNER.
• Proficiency in remote work technologies and experience in managing financial tasks in a hybrid environment.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• Ability to work remotely for extended periods while maintaining attention to detail and following confidentiality protocols.
• Ability to adhere to ergonomic guidelines and create a secure, distraction-free remote work environment.
• Adequate physical fitness to sit and concentrate for long periods, use fine motor skills to operate computer systems, and perform essential job tasks, including problem-solving and communication.

Workplace Safety and Confidentiality:

• Confidentiality: As a remote or hybrid position, strict adherence to FERPA and university confidentiality policies is required. The employee must ensure all sensitive and confidential information is securely stored and transmitted.
• Safety: The employee must establish a safe and suitable home office or workspace to meet all university safety protocols when working remotely. This includes ensuring the secure handling of university and grant-related materials and maintaining a professional, focused work environment.

Application Instructions:

To apply, submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents. In your cover letter, please indicate your ability and willingness to work remotely or in a hybrid setting and your experience with maintaining confidentiality and security protocols in a remote environment.