Accountant

Responsibilities include: interpreting and implementing MSOE policies related to grants and contracts, reviewing and interpreting policies of outside, private, and governmental funding agencies while ensuring compliance with Federal regulation Uniform Guidance, and ensuring expenditures adhere to private and governmental regulations and guidelines. The Accountant will serve in a backup role to Accounts Payable functions, and provides superior customer service to MSOE’s students and customers.

Essential Job Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all transactions are made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and Federal, State, and University guidelines.
• Serve as the Uniform Guidance subject matter expert.
• Prepare various financial statements and reports for the University, auditors, regulatory agencies, and others both internal and external to the University.
  • Maintain grant financial records by fiscal year and grant award year which include fringe and indirect costs associated with each grant.
• Guarantee revenue collection through automated invoicing and timely follow-up. Act as liaison to principal investigators, academic and department heads, and provide assistance in interpreting financial reports and transacting business.
  • Monitor sub-award/independent contractor invoices to MSOE. Work with researchers to resolve concerns and/or discrepancies.
• Generate regular fiscal reports on sponsored programs.
• Guarantee revenue collections and management through automated invoicing and timely follow-up.
• Submit periodic reports as required by various funding agencies.
• Review general ledger and related sub-ledger accounting activities to ensure appropriate expenditures. Make and/or provide instructions to staff and department heads for making corrections and adjusting entries on accounts.

• Participate in the maintenance of accurate financial records and facilitate information flow by working collaboratively with other University departments.

• Serve as the grant subject matter expert on usage and terminology crucial to the effective functioning of Financial Services.
• Analyze and recommend accounting and financial reporting improvements with a goal of using systems effectively and efficiently while maintaining a high level of accuracy and strong internal controls. Assist in the development of documentation, implementation, and improvement of grant financial policies and procedures.
• Prepare materials and participate in the negotiation with the Federal government on the University’s F&A rate and fringe rate base calculation.
• Maintain MSOE’s registration System for Award Management (SAM), and other registries necessary for submitting and maintaining grants.
• Audit preparation, planning and completion of PBCs, required schedules and financials.
• Budget planning and completion of certain general institutional information.
• Completion of research surveys as required.
• Maintain vendors in Purchasing module ensuring contact and 1099 data is correct.
• Review, verify and maintain purchasing card records.
• Advise Controller on accounting issues.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.

Experience:

• 3+ years of professional accounting experience required.
• Knowledge of GAAP and experience in preparation of financial statements and reports. Familiarity with Uniform Guidance is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and implementation of new processes.
• Grant & contract accounting and research administration in a non-profit or higher education environment a plus.

Skills:

• Ability to work independently and with teams in a deadline and detail-oriented environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community.
• Proficient in financial reconciliation, analysis and reporting.
• Ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Accuracy and attention to detail in daily work.
• Ability to keep complex records and to assemble and organize data.
• Strong customer service skills.

Hardware/Software:

• Proficient in the use of MS Excel for reporting and analysis.
• ERP accounting system proficiency with the ability to adapt computer skills to new systems.
• Experienced in the creation of database queries and reports.

The above is not an all-encompassing statement of duties, responsibilities and requirements for this position.

MSOE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.