Senior Accountant - Sponsored Programs at Medical College of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa, WI

Job description

Summary To be responsible for providing financial, accounting and administrative support regarding grant and contract policies and procedures, compliance, regulatory issues, and post-award administration. Grants and contracts are funds awarded by federal, state and non-profit entities to support the research mission of MCW and the specific research work performed by faculty and staff employees. Primary Responsibilities Prepare all required external financial reports according to agency guidelines on a timely and accurate basis for supervisor review and approval, including both monthly invoicing to sponsoring agencies and financial status reports as required. This includes: Review actual expenditures to ensure adherence to agency regulations. Work with department administrators to ensure accuracy of expenditures to ensure adherence to agency regulations, including direct communication with external agencies when necessary. Prepare journal entries and execute cost transfers as requested and as needed on project accounts. Manage grant activities, which include: Provide departmental assistance as required, particularly in the area of external agency regulations. Review budget reallocation requests, ensuring requests are within agency guidelines. Review and resolve budget and cash deficits on sponsored and other extramural accounts. Prepare journal entries and execute cost transfers as requested, and as needed to reconcile project accounts. Monitor grant and contract expenditures, re-budgeting, cost-sharing, equipment justification, etc. to ensure costs are allowable, allocable and reasonable. Create invoices on a monthly basis for submission to external sponsoring agencies. Activities include: Review expenses to certify invoiced expenditures. Monitor open receivables and perform collection inquiries on delinquent payments. Perform account setup functions for sponsored grants and contracts. Activities include: Work with various departments in reviewing and establishing accounts. Work with MCW Grants and Contracts office to ensure that documentation is kept up to date and accurate. Resolve problems by working with the Grants and Contracts office. Independently and accurately ensure that all award and project information is entered into the Workday grants management system timely and accurately. Perform closeout of assigned grants and contracts and prepare for an annual audit to ensure compliance with federal OMB Uniform Guidance, including review and resolution of budget and cash deficits on project accounts. Perform activities related to the time and effort reporting process in accordance with OMB 2 CFR Part 200. Perform assigned duties related to the month-end and year-end financial statement closing and audit. Maintain and implement, where appropriate, sound internal accounting controls to efficiently manage assigned grants and contracts. In addition to daily grant financial, accounting, and administrative functions, this position will be responsible for various projects assigned to enhance department processes and procedures. Knowledge – Skills – Abilities Solid communication skills and the ability to listen critically and interact with individuals at all levels both within and outside the organization. Solid technology skills, including Excel, Word, automated accounting software, business intelligence cubes and related report writing tools is required. Solid critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills and the ability to work independently to assess available information, draw conclusions and understandings, and present such conclusions effectively to other parties. Strong organization skills and the ability to prioritize and stay focused on assigned priorities, work independently to meet internal and external deadlines and produce a consistently high-quality product. Demonstrated ability to contribute in a team environment and provide customer service in a decentralized organization. Demonstrated ability to show in