Grant/Project Accountant

Responsible for pre- and post-award grant accounting, from application through closeout, ensuring compliance with City Policies and Procedures and funding source administrative guidelines.  An employee in this class serves as an assistant to the Assistant Finance Director and other departmental staff to oversee compliance and financial performance of grants and projects. Aids departments with bidding, purchasing and coding. Ensures accurate and timely submission of financial reports. Prepares requests for reimbursements/drawdowns journal entries, and reconciliations to ensure financial records follow both grant and GAAP requirements. This position also assists the Assistant Finance Director with year-end closing, audit, and financial statement processes to ensure a clean and timely year-end audit.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

· Assists with and/or performs grant-related pre- and post-award functions.

· Performs accounting functions related to Federal, State, private and Local contracts and grants.

· Monitors and track the status of contracts and grants through their program life cycle.

· Prepares invoice/billings/vouchers and drawdown calculations.

· Prepares backup documentation as required by each funding source.

· Prepares adjusting and closing entries in the accounting system.

· Prepares, interprets, analyzes, and monitors budget to actuals and variance reports.

· Assists with budgeting and forecasting activities.

· Record capital asset acquisitions and disposals in the Accounting/Asset system

· Tracks capital project costs and closes out completed projects to make sure properly recorded in the Asset system

· Prepares all required monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual financial reporting documents for assigned programs.

· Answers financial inquiries about the program from internal staff and external parties.

· Escalates fiscal concerns to management.

· Ensures accounting records are continually maintained in compliance with Federal and State guidelines and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

· Follows City accounting and financial policies and procedures.

· Maintains knowledge of current Federal issues relating to grants, contract, and governmental accounting.

· Researches and interprets Uniform Guidance, laws, regulations, grants and contracts, as needed.

· Participates in bidding and selection process for grant funded programs.

· Assists in monthly and year-end financial close-out activities, audit, and financial statement processes to ensure a clean and timely year-end audit.

· Assists with financial reporting and administrative requirements of contracts and grants.

· Assists with other duties and projects as time allows.

· Performs other related job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related area; and two (2) years of experience working with Federal Grants/Capital Assets; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications:

· Possession of a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

· Masters Degree or Certified Public Accountant preferred, but not required.

· Must be willing to obtain Certified Local Government Finance Officer certification within three (3) years.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Knowledge of technical accounting.

· Knowledge and ability to evaluate, recommend, and implement new fiscal methods and approaches when needed.

· Knowledge of governmental accounting, including treatment of restricted funds, deferred revenue, and accounting for government and private grants.

· Knowledge of accrual accounting concepts.

· Demonstrated intermediate to advanced skill and competency with Excel

· Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of public financial administration, including budgeting, reporting, purchasing, and contract administration and negotiations.

· Knowledge of funding sources and associated federal and state requirements and regulations, federal requirements include 2 Code of Federal Regulations 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

· Skills in the use of Excel (Intermediate user level required).

· Skills in oral and written communication.

· Ability to manage accounting workflow, assist with problem solving, multi-task efficiently daily, and effectively use office-automated systems to input data to facilitate accounting tasks.

· Ability to provide reports timely, accurately, and consistently with the ability to deviate from routine when high-priority needs arise.

· Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.

· Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.

· Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure with limited supervision.

· Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation instructions, and procedure manuals.

· Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.

· Ability to write business correspondence and procedure manuals.

· Ability to present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, employees.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work in this classification is defined as light work requiring the physical exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demands require climbing, crouching, crawling, standing, walking and lifting. Vocal communication is required for responding to inquiries, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for extensive reading, to prepare and analyze written or computer data, determine the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observe general surroundings and activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office with a controlled environment without exposure to harmful conditions.