Grants Accountant

General Statement of Job

Under general supervision, provides administrative and fiscal management of federal, state, and local grants. Position will provide oversight during the life cycle of the grant process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements across the County. Position will be responsible for monitoring and tracking costs, providing guidance, and collaborating with external and internal partners, financial reporting, and internal controls. Does related work as required and may be assigned special projects. Reports to the Grants Manager.

Special Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintains a database of all awarded County grants.

• Compiles and analyzes financial data for the development of monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports for program staff, management, and/or regulatory agencies.

• Generates reports to track expenditures, payments, budget balances, obligations, revenue, and fund balances for assigned grant programs. Reconciles grant award revenues with grant expenditures.

• Prepares financial reports and journal entries in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, federal guidelines, and all state and County regulations.

• Coordinates and assists with the submission of requests for reimbursements on reimbursement-based grants.

• Coordinates and assists with revenue recognition on advance-funded grants.

• Evaluates account coding to ensure funds are expended in accordance with the budget and grantor requirements. Approves grant expenditures within budget limits.

• Assists County departments with the submission of grant budget adjustment requests, no-cost extension requests, and other grant adjustments.

• Tracks capital assets purchased with federal and/or state grants and coordinates with the respective agency in cases of proposed disposition.

• Assists in sub-recipient monitoring to ensure compliance with the Uniform Guidance.

• Coordinates and submits the County's annual registration with the System for Award Management (SAM).

• Reviews and recommends fiscal year-end carry-forward requests that are grant-related.

• Coordinates with external financial statement auditors on the annual Single Audit Program, the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), and other audit requirements.

• Coordinates with Constitutional Officers and County departments and agencies receiving federal awards to monitor compliance with Uniform Guidance requirements and specific grant requirements.

• Assists in updating the County's Grants Policy to correspond with regulatory and other changes affecting the County's grants processes and procedures.

• Researches, analyzes, and resolves problems in accordance with federal, state, and County regulations.

• Responds to inquiries and requests for information from federal, state, and internal and external audit agencies.

• Works with supervisor and co-workers to improve work processes and services by making suggestions or recommendations.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Training & Experience

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Public Administration, Finance, or related field; with five (5) years of experience, three (3) of which should be directly related to federal grant accounting and administration and preferably in the public sector, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Professional financial or grant certification such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Grants Management Specialist (CGMS) is preferred, but not required.

Special Requirements

• Knowledge of computerized accounting systems and how they aid in compiling, maintaining, and using accounting information.

• Knowledge of techniques used to locate errors in accounting records.

• Knowledge of governmental accounting policies, procedures, and operations.

• Knowledge of internal financial control requirements.

• Knowledge of interpreting and applying appropriate federal, state, and local

government laws and regulations regarding grant contracts and administration.

• Skill in synthesizing or integrating analysis of data or information to discover facts or develop knowledge or interpretations; ability to change policies, procedures, or methodologies based on new facts, knowledge, or interpretations.

• Knowledge of the Uniform Guidance.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism when dealing with sensitive or confidential information.

• Skill in developing, modifying, and implementing financial policies.

• Skill in reviewing accounting transactions to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principles.

• Skill in applying audit standards to set up, monitor, and modify internal procedures.

• Skill in preparing and interpreting financial statements and other financial reports.

• Skill in advising management about the implications of financial information.

• Skill in reviewing the work of other staff for adequacy, methods, and conformance to County policies and grantor requirements.

• Skill in Microsoft Word and Excel. Experience in Access, programming queries/reports a plus.

• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information Includes giving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants.

• Ability to read financial documents, expenditure and revenue reports, financial statements, manuals, procedures, policies, regulations, correspondence, etc.

• Ability to prepare a variety of financial reports, accounting documents, correspondence, performance evaluations, and other administrative documents.

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively using government budgeting and financial terminology.

• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; to compute interest and ratios; to perform algebraic operations and statistical calculations.

• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instruction.

• Must be adaptable to multi-tasking and performing under periodically high levels of stress.

• Ability to demonstrate and possess strong analytical skills and the ability to learn and solve problems quickly.

• Skill in being a self-starter, requiring minimal supervision and direction.

• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of office equipment including a computer, calculator, copier, telephone, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment. switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving the nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate by telephone.