Finance/Grant Accountant

Job Description

Grand Canyon University!  One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning.

Located in the Valley of Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, GCU is a regionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University. 

The Finance/Grant Accountant is a member of the University Finance team under the supervision of the Accounting Manager, also working with the CFO to achieve the goals of the University. The Finance/Grant Accountant is responsible for maintaining financial, accounting and grant support services to meet the needs of the University and its donors. The Finance/Grant Accountant will focus heavily on budgeting, compliance, reporting and variance analysis functions and will be required to communicate these results to management.

This position is responsible for providing financial reporting and analysis for departments within the University, for the operations of post-award grant administration and related accounting duties, gift processing tasks and related administrative tasks.

Location: Main Campus, 33rd and Camelback

What you will do:

Responsible for managing the financial aspects of grants.

Setup grant budgets in accounting software and monitor budget activity.

Review invoices and provide account codes, when appropriate, for proper grant accounting.

Work with staff on salary allocations to grant expenses as required.

Audit grant accounting data, identify and correct errors, apply accounting principles to transactions and recommend revisions in departmental accounting procedures to ensure conformance with applicable statutes, laws, agency policies, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Prepare accurate and timely grant reports, including budget and financial analysis, for internal management purposes and requisite donor reports.

Prepare and distribute periodic invoices for project reimbursement as required by the grant.

Communicate monthly financial results with appropriate grant program staff, informing them of financial position of the project.

Meet with grant principal investigators as needed to review financial and budget data.

Perform grant re-budgeting and closeout functions as required.

Perform month-end duties, including preparation of journal entries and reconciliations as assigned.

Perform ad-hoc financial analysis in response to requests or to provide support to various programs.

Assist with preparing information needed for program audits, annual financial audit, and annual tax filings.

Identify and recommend cost savings initiatives for program activities and the organization.

Process gifts that are allocated to University programs; maintain supporting documentation to gift transactions.

Process Athletics team per diem disbursements and returns.

Other related duties as assigned.

What you will have:

BS Degree in Accounting or Finance.

Minimum 3 years of relevant, progressively responsible accounting experience with knowledge of budgeting, journal entries, and reconciliations in GL OR.

Substantial work experience in the Sponsored programs/Research Administration Field

Work experience in higher education and experience in the non-profit community and specifically with grant accounting.

CPA or CMA Licensure.

Knowledge of federal grants and regulations (strongly preferred).

Ability to effectively communicate financial information to non-financial individuals.

Ability to analyze, evaluate and summarize financial records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules and regulations.

Ability to complete detailed accounting transactions, prioritize and self-direct, analyze situations, identify situations where appropriate to make decisions, capable of managing numerous simultaneous projects.

Basic awareness/knowledge of federal and state regulations governing accounting practices, grant funding.

Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to provide a high level of customer service and establish and maintain effective interdepartmental communications and relationships.

Advanced knowledge of and demonstrated experience with MS Office package software applications with advanced skills using Microsoft Excel.

Knowledge and experience in CRM systems (strongly preferred).

Provide a positive example to students by supporting the University’s Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University

Why work at GCU:

Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan

Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays

Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events

Free covered parking

We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program

Free on-site gyms on campus