Sponsored Project Accountant (Sponsored Projects Shared Services)

We are seeking a Sponsored Project Accountant who will require working knowledge of accounting principles, 2CFR 200, FAR, and other agency specific regulations and an understanding of the life cycle of an award. Under guidance, responsible for the full life cycle of basic research awards from NIH and other federal agencies, i.e. R01’s. Basic research awards are typically less complex, i.e. standard reporting, fewer and less complicated rules and regulations. Under guidance, interacts with department administrators and contacts at external agencies. Once priorities are set, performs tasks independently with regular process updates.

Sponsored Projects Shared Services is responsible for the fiscal administration of all awards (grants, contracts and cooperative agreements) made to the University by governmental and private agencies. Additionally, it is responsible for the related compliance of all divisions of the University. Functions of the department include sponsored award setup, sponsored award financial reporting, and sponsored award closeout.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Establish master data for awards in SAP

• Review the notice of award that is received from Research Administration in the document management system (Oculus) for terms and conditions in order to establish the award in the accounting system (SAP).
• Establish master data in SAP by interpreting the terms and conditions from notice of award in order to comply with laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Establish budget data in SAP based on the information from the notice of award in order to provide a level of control for revenues and expenditures charged to the award.

Execute the financial reporting process

• Routinely execute reports from SAP by utilizing standard formatted reports (BW reports) in order to identify reports and prioritize workload.
• Generate BW reports by award to obtain revenue and expenditure information in order to begin the financial reporting process.
• Analyze BW report by comparing revenue and expenses to information in the notice of award and previously submitted financial reports in order to complete the financial report accurately. Verify accuracy of itemized charges, account numbers, and total costs. Review account information to verify balances for departments.
• Interpret financial transactions and events for users who must make economic or business decisions.
• Collaborate with departmental personnel by sending draft financial reports to the department in order to obtain department approval before submitting financial report to the sponsoring agency.
• Verify documents for completeness and compliance with government and private agencies.
Submit financial report to the sponsoring agency per the terms and conditions of the award.

Monitor awards for master data changes, compliance issues and overall quality assurance

• Update SAP master data due to changes in the terms and conditions of an award in order to comply with laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Update SAP budget data due to changes in the terms and conditions of an award in order to maintain the level of control for revenues and expenditures being charged to the award.
• Communicate with departmental personnel to obtain documentation necessary to support expenditures or revenues required as a result of an audit inquiry.
Monitor costing compliance on research grants and contracts; Perform various procedures on sponsored awards to maintain compliance with applicable regulations and award terms (e.g. appropriate treatment of administrative costs, unallowable costs, rebudgeting restrictions, etc.)

Execute the award closeout process

• Analyze the award’s revenues and expenditures by executing a BW report to ensure that the SAP data matches the financial report submitted to the sponsor.
• Communicate with departmental personnel to resolve any outstanding encumbrances that need to be removed in order to formally close the award.
• Update SAP master data including the budget to formally close the award from accepting any further revenues or expenditures.

Provide customer service support to the user community

• Utilize interpersonal communication skills to address a wide range of questions from departmental personnel regarding sponsored awards in order to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Respond to inquiries from internal and external sources and review accounting transactions to locate and resolve discrepancies.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or related field required.
• Candidates with a degree in a field other than accounting, business or finance with 2-3 years of progressively responsible related work experience may be consider.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Ability to work with Federal regulations
• Some familiarity with and an awareness of the laws and regulations that apply to an accounting function and are required to ensure compliance.
• Ability to understand the University’s accounting system, particularly with the grants management features.
• Proficiency in the use of financial software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and/or word processing.
• Ability to use various software applications, such as spreadsheets, relational databases, statistical packages, and graphics packages to assemble, manipulate, and/or format data and/or reports.
• Ability to exercise judgment in the processing and resolution of non-routine accounting matters while assuming responsibility for those decisions.
• Ability to interact with personnel from Departments, Offices of Research Administration, and Divisional Business Offices as needed and to be sensitive to the relationship between those areas.

Classified Title: Sponsored Project Accountant
Role/Level/Range: ATP/03/PB
Starting Salary Range: $46,200 - $80,800 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5pm
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/JH at Keswick
Department name: Sponsored Projects Shared Services-Other
Personnel area: University Administration