Accountant

Summary Statement: Responsible for the accounting, financial reporting, and billing for federal, state, and private extramural awards. Interprets and analyzes applicable federal, state, and private guidelines and policies, as well as specific contract and grant term and conditions. The incumbent assists and advises campus departments, divisions and department fiscal managers on extramural fund accounting issues, and prepares financial and budgetary adjustments when necessary. Core Functions/Duties: Duties/Responsibilities: Perform regular audits of active awards for compliance with specific award conditions, policies, and relevant guidelines, to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of invoices, requests for advances, and letter of credit draws. Advise, assist, and instruct divisions and departments regarding extramural fund accounting issues. Responsible for submitting monthly, quarterly, or as needed, invoices and/or reports and requests for advances on extramural awards, including letter of credit draws. Reconcile billings; financial information system; reconcile accounts receivable clearing accounts; produce aging reports. Notify divisions and other departments of overdrafts and assist them in necessary actions to clear discrepancies. Prepare all necessary budgetary & financial entries to close awards; refund unobligated balances; complete all other forms required for close-out of contract or grant. Monitor awards for aging of receivables; prepare budgetary and financial adjustments, (e.g., initial, adjusting, and final). Responsible for the preparation of interim and final financial status reports for contracts and grants according to relevant state, federal and private agencies' terms and conditions. Ensure accuracy and completeness of final financial reports. Perform letter-of-credit reports for Department of Energy or other assigned federal agencies. Provide monthly, quarterly, and financial and statistical reports for EMF using Business Objects, Banner and FMW, identifying errors, and providing payroll transfer preparation for correctional transfer processing. Analyze and create ad-hoc excel campus-wide statistical reports, monthly and as requested, using combined data from Business Objects, Banner, and FMW. Assist in audit preparation, document authentication, in direct communication with various campus units and outside auditors. Perform miscellaneous additional back-up functions. Review and analyze new awards in order to assign new fund numbers, and enter award information (budget allocation, project and budget periods, financial and billing requirements, indirect cost method, and special agency requirements) Perform monthly review and correction of Corporate Account Fund Profile. Required Qualifications and Competencies Associate's or Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience and training. Experience analyzing complex problems in a systematic way and evaluating reasonable alternatives before taking action. Experience reconciling general ledger accounts and budget/financial journal preparation. Knowledge of fund accounting and generally accepted accounting principles. Excellent organizational skills with ability to work in a methodical manner with strict attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy. Ability to work independently to perform tasks according to priorities and maintain quality standards despite time pressures. Ability to use good judgment in finding solutions to difficult problems, identifying and understanding the factors causing the problem. Proficient in the use of financial spreadsheets, reporting, database, word processing and financial information systems and software.