Sr. Accountant

VCU Grants & Contracts Accounting and Effort Reporting has an exciting opportunity for a Sr. Accountant!

The primary responsibilities of the Senior Accountant involve the post-award administration of grants and contracts from award to close-out. This includes preparation of departmental and special reports, as required by sponsors and management by deadlines. The individual in this position will also assist teams with close-out. In addition, this position will analyze data to ensure cost compliance with sponsor requirements, review financial system reports and data, prepare financial reports to the sponsor, reconcile general and operating ledgers, and review/follow-up with sponsors on the status of monthly receivables. This position will involve data entry in VCU’s financial system for award setup and will provide administrative assistance to Principal Investigators and Administrators, as well as prepare and mail invoices to sponsoring agencies.

The Senior Accountant performs difficult work independently and ensures the integrity of accounting theory applicable to multi-systems processing based on reporting regulations and requirements of sponsored programs. The individual will apply knowledge and skills that have a significant impact on research funding to the University. The Accountant performs challenging work, which supports a team environment, collaboration with other university offices, and high quality customer service.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a field such as accounting, finance, business, management, or related; or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, and sponsor rules and regulations (e.g. Uniform Guidance and OMB Circulars A-21 and A-110) related to grants.
• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and experience with both web-based and enterprise financial management/reporting systems.
• Experience reconciling financial accounts, analyzing data, and analyzing budgets.
• Ability to reason, think logically and independently, and analyze situations to achieve resolution of problems or concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to research, investigate, analyze, reconcile, and evaluate all project-related data regarding budgets, expenditures, and personnel using the University systems.
• Significant pre-award and post-award grant administration experience.
• Ability to organize work and set priorities which accurately reflect the relative importance of job responsibilities.
• Ability to prioritize assignments to complete work in a timely manner. Must be able to work independently and follow through on assignments with minimal direction.
• Ability to perform effectively under conditions of fluctuating workload.
• Effective analytical skills.
• Excellent, proactive, and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Verifiable history of excellent past performance and attendance records.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a university sponsored programs’ or grant accounting office post-award administrative setting, is preferred.
• Extensive experience with SunGard Banner Financial System is also preferred.

Additional Information

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, generous tuition benefit, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/a-z-list-of-benefits/