Grants and Contracts Accountant

Department: Finance and Administration    FLSA Status: Exempt    Employment Type: Full-time

Reports To: Director of Finance & Operations    Location: Salt Lake City, UT (Hybrid)

Westminster University invites applications for the position of Grants and Contracts Accountant within its Finance and Administration division. This is a key role responsible for the accurate and compliant financial management of the University's programs funded by grants and contracts, including awards from federal agencies, the State of Utah, private foundations, and other external sponsors.

The incumbent will provide comprehensive accounting and financial services across the full lifecycle of sponsored awards, from pre-award budget development through to final financial reporting and audit closeout. Working in close collaboration with academic departments, the Development office, and external funding bodies, the Grants and Contracts Accountant will ensure that all financial activity is conducted in accordance with Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), sponsor terms and conditions, and Westminster University's financial policies and procedures.

Grant Accounting and Financial Records

•  Perform all accounting functions for grants received by the University, including the creation and maintenance of the general ledger in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), applicable regulatory frameworks, and sponsor terms and conditions.

•  Implement and monitor procedures to communicate, educate, and ensure compliance with the University's internal financial policies and all applicable grant regulations, including Federal Uniform Guidance; includes the review and ongoing update of business office procedures relating to grant administration.

•  Calculate and record adjustments for labor distribution changes, including all related fringe benefit calculations, ensuring accurate allocation of personnel costs across sponsored project accounts.

•  Prepare invoices and cash requests for federal and non-federal funds in accordance with sponsor requirements and contractual payment schedules.

Budget Management and Monitoring

•  Regularly meet and work with grant administrators and principal investigators to develop and/or review fiscal year and grant year budgets, and to review planned and actual expenditure activity for adherence to grant award approvals and period of performance.

•  Establish and maintain a current grant status listing, including beginning and ending grant dates for all active awards, serving as a central reference for Finance and program staff.

•  Coordinate with the Director of Finance & Operations, or designee, on all matters relating to grants budgeting, budget revisions, accounting, reporting, and cash flow management.

Reporting, Audit and Compliance

•  Close out grants and file all required financial reports, including final expenditure reports, with the State and relevant federal or private funding agencies in accordance with award conditions.

•  Complete the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) included in the University's Annual Financial Audit.

•  Prepare required audit work papers for annual, state, federal, local, or internal audit requests; liaise with auditors and provide supporting documentation as required.

•  Compute, prepare, and submit the annual indirect cost rate report to the cognizant federal agency; provide information on the rate to applicable agencies as required.

Fixed Assets and Inventory

•  Ensure that fixed assets purchased with grant funds are tagged and inventoried in the University's fixed asset system; conduct physical inventory in compliance with University policy and Federal Uniform Guidance requirements.

Regulatory Awareness and Stakeholder Support

•  Stay abreast of applicable federal, state, local, and University statutes, policies, regulations, and procedures concerning grants and sponsored programs, including updates to Federal Uniform Guidance and sponsor-specific requirements.

•  Provide assistance to, and communicate effectively with, state, federal, and local administrators regarding grant applications, budgets, financial reports, and the overall administration of awards, as needed.

•  Perform other duties as assigned which are necessary to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance and Administration division.

•  Thorough knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the ability to apply these in the context of grant and contract accounting.

•  Sound understanding of revenue recognition principles applicable to nonprofit and higher education environments.

•  Knowledge of Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), including allowable cost principles and indirect cost allocation methodologies.

•  Proficiency in financial information systems; experience with Ellucian Colleague or comparable higher education ERP platforms is preferred.

•  Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, with particular expertise in Excel for financial modeling, analysis, and reporting.

•  Ability to research, compile, and critically review complex financial data, providing clear written analysis and recommendations to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

•  Demonstrated ability to manage a high-volume workload, prioritize effectively, and meet competing deadlines with strong attention to detail.

•  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey financial information clearly and confidently to faculty, administrators, and external stakeholders.

•  Strong interpersonal skills, with a collaborative and professional approach to working with diverse groups of colleagues, external business partners, vendors, funders, and financial institutions.

Required

•  Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.

•  Minimum of five years of experience in accounting or finance, with demonstrated experience in grants and contracts accounting within a higher education, research, or nonprofit setting.

•  Proven experience with financial reporting to external funding bodies, including government agencies and private foundations.

•  Experience preparing and monitoring grant budgets and managing accounts receivable.

•  CPA license preferred; candidates who are actively pursuing CPA certification are encouraged to apply.

Preferred

•  Experience with Ellucian Colleague or a comparable higher education ERP system.

•  Experience with federal research sponsors such as NIH, NSF, DOE, or DOD.

•  Familiarity with the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and single audit requirements under the Uniform Guidance.

•  Project management skills and experience coordinating across multiple academic departments or administrative units.