Grant Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for a Grant Accountant to support grant-funded programs within an education environment in Princeton, NJ. This contract-to-permanent opportunity is ideal for a finance specialist who can oversee restricted funds, interpret grant requirements, and deliver accurate reporting to internal leaders and external funding sources. The role partners closely with program staff and finance stakeholders to strengthen compliance, budgeting, and financial stewardship across sponsored activities.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain grant budgets, develop financial forecasts, and analyze spending against approved funding plans to highlight variances and support decision-making.

• Monitor grant transactions to confirm alignment with private, local, state, and federal funding rules, and prepare financial submissions required by sponsoring agencies.

• Work closely with campus leadership, finance personnel, and grant program teams to coordinate expenditures, resolve issues, and support timely use of awarded funds.

• Prepare invoices and billings tied to restricted fund activity, track collections, and research account questions related to grant-supported expenses.

• Produce or assist with fiscal reports for sponsored programs, ensuring submissions are accurate, complete, and delivered within required deadlines.

• Calculate and submit the annual indirect cost rate, provide related documentation to applicable agencies, and apply indirect costs appropriately across grants.

• Maintain complete fiscal records for assigned grants, including database updates, account coding support, and preliminary review of journal entries for compliance and reasonableness.

• Assemble year-end schedules, analyses, and audit support materials for the finance office and external auditors covering grant activity.

• Review budget proposals connected to grant applications and provide ongoing fiscal guidance for grant-funded initiatives, including financial analysis, reconciliations, and statement preparation.

• Stay current on grant administration standards, regulatory updates, and institutional policies through ongoing development and apply that knowledge to daily work.

• Experience in grant accounting, fund administration, or financial oversight for sponsored programs.
• Strong knowledge of core accounting principles, including journal entries, reconciliations, budgeting, and financial statement support.
• Familiarity with government grant compliance requirements and financial reporting expectations for restricted funds.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including tools such as pivot tables and lookup functions, along with general Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet reporting deadlines, and maintain well-organized financial records.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and with program stakeholders.
• Understanding of internal control practices and the ability to apply compliance-focused review procedures to grant activity.