Contracts & Grants Accountant

Contracts & Grants Accountant

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Contracts & Grants Accountant.

Position Details
Location	Hattiesburg 118 College Drive Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001 United States
Division	Office of Research Administration
Position Type	Staff
Employment Status	Full Time
Grant Funded	No
Salary Range	46,842.00 - 46,842.00
Pay Grade	E08
Posting Close Date	Open until filled

Job Summary 
The Contracts & Grants Accountant prepares invoices and financial reports for external funding agencies, reviews and approves expenditures related to sponsored projects, resolves errors, responds to inquiries from researchers and sponsors, and assists with external and internal auditing of sponsored projects. The Accountant provides quality and timely services and engages with internal and external constituents (e.g., faculty, staff, deans, sponsors, subawardees, auditors) while ensuring compliance with university and sponsor policy for an R1 university with approximately $100M annual external funding.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities  

Reviews/audits and approves all department submitted University expenditure forms related to external funding, including but not limited to travel forms, remittance vouchers, interdepartmental invoices, and PAF’s, to ensure cost allowability, sufficient funds, appropriate dates, proper signatures, applicability, and reasonableness. Communicates with project directors and support staff concerning inquiries.

 Resolves all grant budget checking errors that include weekly accounts payable, bi-weekly and monthly payroll errors, auxiliary transactions and p-card transactions.  This involves communication with project directors, support staff, and the Controller’s Office for resolution.  Prepares journal entries for necessary adjustments to funded projects.

Prepares invoices and financial reports required by external funding agencies.  Ensures the University can properly document any cost sharing (matching) requirements and reports the match to the funding agencies.  This task involves reviewing and interpreting various regulations such as the Uniform Guidance (UG), federal, state, and funding agency specific guidelines.  This task also requires researching, obtaining, and copying official University financial records to satisfy agency documentation requirements.

Reviews and interprets award documents to understand financial requirements of the funding agency. Ensures proper documentation of expenses and cost sharing requirements. Understands and interprets various regulations such as 2 CFR 200 and other federal requirements, as well as state and funding agency guidelines, which may vary from project to project. Provides detailed information to auditors as requested.

Communicates with and provides training to project directors, support staff, and subcontractor financial staff concerning financial reporting and audit inquiries.  Works with other ORA staff to resolve problems and concerns.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications  
Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field from an accredited college or university.
One year of related experience or training.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
 

• Knowledge of accounting, budgetary, and management principles, practices, terminology, and procedures.
• Advanced skill in using Excel. Ability to use other standard office software such as Word and Outlook.
• Superior ability to communicate effectively (oral and written) with people from a wide variety of educational and occupational backgrounds, with the ability to convey complex information, especially financial.
• Ability to successfully meet deadlines while performing multiple tasks simultaneously, and copes well in stressful environment.
• Possesses critical thinking skills to understand and act upon complex issues and regulations.
• Attention to accuracy and detail while providing quality and timely support to constituents.
• Proactively and independently takes initiative to solve a problem or improve a process.
• Functions will in a team environment by contributing knowledge and by encouraging and supporting other team members.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and to understand, convey, and advise on complex regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to learn and use university and sponsor technology for preparing and submitting financial reports, and ability to adapt to the changing technology environment.
• Travel is sometimes required, both day trips and overnight trips.
  

Preferred Qualifications  
Experience with restricted fund and government accounting practices. Experience in a university, nonprofit, or government setting

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs on campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. Founded in 1910, USM is one of only 146 universities in the nation to earn the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity" designation, and its robust research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and large event venue safety and security, among others.  USM is also one of only 37 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $600 million across the state. USM welcomes a diverse student body of more than 14,000, representing 71 countries, all 50 states, and every county in Mississippi. USM students have collected four Truman Scholarships and 37 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, while also leading Mississippi with 27 Goldwater Scholarships, an honor that recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. Home to the Golden Eagles, USM competes in 17 Division I sports sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For more information, visit www.usm.edu .

As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer/Americans with Disabilities Act institution, The University of Southern Mississippi encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.