Accounting Specialist

• Serves as the appropriate principal investigator’s/department contact for grant and contract accounting functions. 
• Reviews new award setup documentation for terms and conditions, award restrictions, or sponsor requirements for the fiscal and administrative management of awards. 
• Communicates any differences to the Manager II and note any special instructions in Tracking Notes and the account file. 
• Uses/designs appropriate Data Warehouse and General Ledger reports as well as spreadsheet and database programs to monitor, control, and report revenues and expenditures of awards to comply with requirements of funding sponsor/agency and University requirements. 
• Offers guidance and serve as the principal contact for departments and PI’s for information regarding the management of grants and contracts. 
• Ensures Projects and General Ledger (Oracle Cloud) are accurate and current. 
• Initiates necessary action required which includes input of budget adjustments, suspense clearance, F & A cost rate maintenance, and other related tasks. 
• Ensures that award end dates correspond to award documentation. 
• Reviews financial transactions and related documents to assure allowability, conformity, reasonableness and to avoid waste, loss, misuse. 
• Exercises sound judgment so that all transactions are in compliance with current agency and University regulations and cost principles. 
• Reviews cost-sharing accounts to make sure the appropriate cost sharing is taking place as planned. 
• Ensures all award supporting documents are complete and properly authorized. 
• Keeps grant and contract files organized. 
• Keeps supervisor informed of problem areas.

Information about the benefits provided to Rutgers employees can be found at: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in finance, accounting, or business-related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience that demonstrates knowledge of Accounting/Financing principles. 
• A minimum of two years relevant experience in a financial/accounting function, good communication skills, and computer literacy.

• Personal computer skills are essential, working knowledge of the Microsoft suite of programs is required. This includes spreadsheets, word processing, and database applications.
• Capable of working with a diverse group of business and academic professionals. 
• Good communication skills, and computer literacy.
• Strong verbal, writing, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills. 
• Ability to understand and apply the information pertaining to grant and contracts documents, University, Agency policies, and regulations.
•  Ability to handle multiple tasks and special assignments in a professional manner. 
• Willing to adapt to periodic changes made to their award workload assignment due to redistributions needed to balance the workload among all accountants.  

• Research or grants education and/or certification (CRA, CFRA, CPA, or Rutgers S.P.A.C.E. Certification). 
• Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). 
• Knowledge of Rutgers University systems, policies and procedures is highly desirable.
• Five years of grant and contract accounting experience. 

• Accountants use Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access to prepare and submit financial invoices and reports, ORACLE Cloud projects and general ledger and Financial Data Warehouse reports using Rutgers reporting tools to extract information from the financial data warehouse to be used in preparation of financial reports and invoices. Analysis of information and processing of correcting journal entries using Excel Templates and the Oracle Base Application. Review and analyze the allowability of transactions using ORACLE projects and general ledger and the financial data warehouse.

• Office environment