STA - Federal Accountant

General Definition of Role

The federal programs accountant performs the accounting and financial service functions for

programs funded by grants or special revenue. These functions include preparing financial

projections and budgets, actual v. budget reporting, reviewing/monitoring of individual grants

and transactions for compliance with private, local, state, and federal fund requirements, billing

and collections, journal entries, and financial grant reporting including preparation of reports for

granting authorities and the district's annual report. Position may also be required to verify

budget proposals for grant applications.

The grant accountant provides fiscal service and support for both central office departments as

well as individual school personnel. The position will also answer inquiries from external auditors

and federal, state, and local agencies concerning grant information and to effectively

communicate complex financial issues to employees, administrators, auditors, the public and

granting agencies.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function

satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or

ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities

to perform the essential functions.

Salary

Pay Grade NC18 (commensurate with education and experience).

Reports to

Finance Operations Director. Position works extensively with grant program managers and staff

in other departments and schools throughout the district.

Essential Functions

• Plans, organizes, and coordinates the centralized accounting and financial reporting for

assigned grant portfolio, including preparing annual and project budgets, forecasting revenue,

estimating any carry-over of funds from one year to the next.

• Research issues, prepares invoices/ billings, and collects funds for the support of restricted

fund expenditures.

• Prepares or assists in the preparation of all applicable fiscal reports for sponsored programs

and ensures the timely submission thereof.

• Coordinates with key personnel at all levels of the District to support proper and timely

expenditure of grant funds in compliance with applicable guidelines and budget deadlines.

• Develops positive working relationships to foster a collaborative environment for grant

coordination and oversight.

• Computes, prepares, and submits the annual indirect cost rate. Provide information on the rate

with applicable state agencies as required. Applies indirect costs.

Attends professional development training and stay abreast of the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) Circulars and their applicability to grant management related audit, federal

regulations, state laws and District policies, and any workshops or seminars on grants or special

revenues.

• Compiles year-end reports, work papers and analysis necessary for the District's auditors to

complete the yearly audit of the District's grants.

• Maintains grant fiscal records and database.
• Reviews and approve journal entries for program managers, assigns account codes and monitors

charges for reasonableness and compliance with district policies and procedures.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Finance Operations Director or the Chief Financial

Officer.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to prioritize and self-direct, analyze situations, identify situations where appropriate

to make decisions.

• Substantial knowledge of federal and state regulations related to area of responsibility,

including the relevant portions of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

• Knowledge of principles and practices of governmental accounting.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, and evaluating complex financial data.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely both orally and in

writing.

• Ability to analyze and interpret data for accuracy. Detail oriented.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to provide a high level of customer service and

establish and maintain effective interdepartmental communications and relationships.

• Proficiency in various computer applications including comprehensive databases, spreadsheets,

and word processing software.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least five years of general accounting experience or equivalent experience managing grants.

This should include processing complex financial transactions, ensuring compliance with legal or

contractual requirements, recordkeeping, and preparation of monthly, quarterly and/ or annual

reporting.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and

repetitive motions, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking,

stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing, or pulling and

lifting.

• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken

word.

• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, operating

motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.

• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic)

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work

performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted

as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of

employees to this job.