West Chester University
Marshfield, Missouri
United States - Nationwide
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Davis, California
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Posted: 24-May-25
Location: West Chester University
Internal Number: 4951303
Join a vibrant equity-minded campus community whose excellence is reflected in its community, cultural engagement, and student success. The Department of Finance and Business Services invites applicants for the position of Senior Accountant (Manager 180). The University seeks an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Grant Accountant to join our accounting team. This is a hybrid position with up to 90% remote work.
West Chester University, a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, is a public, comprehensive institution committed to offering high-quality undergraduate education, selected post-baccalaureate and graduate programs, and a variety of educational and cultural resources for its students, alumni, and citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. The University offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs in the sciences and mathematics, business and public management, arts and humanities, health sciences, education and social work, music, and interdisciplinary studies. We are a community of educators dedicated to developing graduates who succeed personally and professionally and contribute to the common good.
WCU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities.
The Finance and Business Services Department provides timely, accurate and meaningful financial information and advice to the University community to support management decision-making, and to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, accountability, and regulatory compliance to the University's constituents.
Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Senior Grant Accountant is responsible for the University's grant funds, including post-award accounting for the contracts and grants received by West Chester University. This role is critical to the post-award administration of federal, state, and private grants and contracts. This position provides leadership support in the implementation of best practices and positive changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the University's grant accounting function. The incumbent provides guidance on grant management, federal and non-federal grant regulations, NACUBO recommendations, PASSHE requirements, and other applicable grant requirements to the accounting team and campus partners. The Senior Grant Accountant ensures financial compliance with applicable regulations, prepares timely reports, and provides guidance to faculty and departmental staff.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong analytical and leadership skills both on-site and in a remote work environment. The individual has a deep understanding of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), post-award grant management, accounting principles and practices. The candidate has experience with compliance and audit preparedness including Single Audit processes. The person has working experience of grant management in a higher education setting. The candidate has knowledge of process improvement and automation experience whilst embodying a commitment to excellence in financial reporting and compliance.
Responsibilities include:
- Manage the post-award financial administration of sponsored projects
- Monitor budgets, expenditures, and cost allocations for compliance with grant terms
- Monitor allowable costs, track budget-to-actuals, and resolve variances with departments
- Assist with budget revisions, carryforward justifications, no-cost extension tracking, and closeouts
- Monitor subawards and ensure timely invoice review, compliance, and documentation per grantor and institutional policies
- Prepare and submit financial reports and invoices to sponsors
- Reconcile grants and ensure proper recording of financial activity. Actively participate in month-end and year-end close process
- Prepare and process payroll allocations, expense transfers, and indirect cost allocations
- Assist in audits, including Single Audits, financial statement audits, and sponsor-specific audits, and help ensure audit readiness
- Interpret and apply Uniform Guidance and sponsor-specific requirements
- Collaborate with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, principal investigators, and department administrators
- Evaluate and improve business processes to increase automation while ensuring that proper controls are in place. Recommend and implement changes to policies and procedures to ensure compliance
- Perform other tasks, duties, and special projects assigned
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field
- At least 2 years of working experience as a Senior Accountant
- Intermediate to advanced Excel skills and strong analytical thinking
- Ability to effectively communicate in writing and verbally, and present dynamically to a variety of constituents
- Master's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a closely related field; and/or
- Current CPA license; and/or
- Experience working in a higher education setting; and/or
- Experience working in public accounting in an auditing and/or compliance function; and/or
- Experience in grant accounting with strong knowledge and training in Federal Grant Regulations, including Uniform Guidance; and/or
- Experience with higher education and grant management systems/software such as Banner, SAP, BI/Business Intelligence, Cayuse, PeopleSoft, and OnBase); and/or
- Familiarity with grant sponsor portals (e.g., Research.gov)