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.