4062 Assistant Director, Grants and Foundation Accounting

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Chief Financial Officer

MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR President

GENERAL FUNCTION

The primary duty of the Assistant Director, Grants and Foundation Accounting is to oversee and perform professional accounting and administrative work necessary to maintain the University’s grants and contracts.  The Assistant Director, Grants and Foundation Accounting oversees and reports the expenditures that have been made on specific grants and contracts to various agencies, such as the Department of Education and works independently and exercises independent judgment in interpreting the policies and procedures of the various grants and contracts.  The Assistant Director, Grants and Foundation Accounting oversees accounting for the Missouri State University Foundation.  Work is reviewed by internal, independent, and agency auditors.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Accounting is required; a CPA or Master’s degree in an appropriate field is preferred.

Experience: At least five years prior experience in accounting is required; two years experience working with grants and contracts is preferred.

Skills:  High aptitude in accountancy and a good understanding of computers and their functions in accounting.  The ability to understand, interpret, and apply accounting principles as well as rules and regulations in grant proposals that apply to financial information is required. A record of inclusive conduct and evidence of multicultural skills in the workplace is preferred.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Prepares and oversees the preparation of the financial reports needed for grants and contracts by compiling, researching, and analyzing data regarding the expenditures of the grants and contracts.

2. Assists the grant writers in the preparation of the grant and the administration of the grant monies by interpreting the policies and procedures of the University and the granting agencies.

3. Ensures efficient administrative processes by monitoring the expenditures of federal programs such as Pell and the National Science Foundation grants.

4. Improves cash flow by assuring timely billing, including federal draw downs, of grant and contract receivables.   

5. Monitors externally sponsored grants and contracts by reviewing and/or assuring the review of the daily and monthly activities within these accounts and making accounting corrections as appropriate.

6. Approves (or confirms the appropriateness of) expenditures of externally sponsored grants and contracts in accordance with federal, state, institutional, or other agency guidelines.

7. Promotes University compliance with federal and state law and regulations by maintaining a current working knowledge of federal and state regulations relevant to grants and contracts and communicating regulatory information to appropriate University administrators, staff, and faculty.

8. Supports compliance with regulations by developing and providing training content and educational materials for training of primary investigators.

9. Develops efficient processes by working closely with the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs.

11. Oversees the accounting performed for the Missouri State University Foundation.

12. Prepares audit work papers for internal, external, and agency auditors by researching and analyzing financial activity of externally sponsored grants and contracts.

13. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

14. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Chief Financial Officer.

15. Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Financial Services by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned, maintaining high levels of accuracy, maintaining a professional demeanor and appropriate levels of confidentiality, and providing excellent customer service.

SUPERVISION

The Assistant Director, Grants and Foundation Accounting is supervised by the Chief Financial Officer and supervises Grants and Foundation accounting professionals, clerical staff, students, and temporary employees.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED FEBRUARY 2012

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 5 - 3300 Points: Knowledge of the principles and methods of an administrative, managerial, or professional field such as accounting or auditing, financial management, information technology, business administration, human resources, engineering, law, social sciences, communications, education, or medicine. Knowledge permits employee to supervise projects and/or departments using standard methods to improve administrative and/or line operations. Knowledge also permits employee to plan steps and carry out multi-phase projects requiring problem definition and modified techniques, to coordinate work with others, and to modify methods and procedures to solve a wide variety of problems. Knowledge at this level requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree with substantial related work experience, including up to two years of administrative or supervisory experience. Alternatively, this level may require a professional or clinical degree beyond the Bachelor's degree with moderate related work experience; knowledge requirements include significant levels of related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 3 - 270 Points: Supervision of a limited number of (a) operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees who do not exercise a full range of supervisory responsibilities over other full-time employees, (b) a very small number of professional employees, or an equivalent combination of (a) and (b). The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including performance reviews of subordinates. The incumbent is generally responsible for training, planning, and directing the work of permanent employees, and provides major input into hiring decisions. Supervisory responsibilities consume moderate amounts of work time and may include general work planning tasks.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 4 - 850 Points: The employee operates under administrative supervision and makes decisions based on broadly-stated University objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are expressed in terms of project or program outcomes and deadlines with few comprehensive guidelines. Decisions are based on inadequate guidelines that require considerable interpretation and force the employee to plan all phases of the assignment. Assignments may be unrelated in function and the work requires many different processes and methods and a great deal of analysis to identify the nature and extent of problems. The work may require the employee to develop new methods and to deal with many variables, including some that are unclear or conflicting. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing large and/or complex programs, projects, or departments in which the work cuts across functional lines or requires dealing with unprecedented issues.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 4 - 1500 Points: Work involves the primary accountability for a smaller department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University. Work activities have a direct and substantial impact on the department. While work activities do have some effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center, departments, programs, or processes at this level represent a relatively minor function within the cost center. Employees in jobs at this level may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising the primary control over a relatively small budget.