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Requisition ID:  116733

Sr. Sponsored Project Accountant

We are seeking a Sr. Sponsored Project Accountant. 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.


Job Scope/Complexity

  • Requires advanced, in-depth knowledge and understanding of a wide range of grants and contracts. Serves as the subject matter expert for grants management accounting at the university.
  • Independently manages the full life cycle of complex research awards from NIH and other federal agencies, i.e. P50 (program projects). Complex research awards are large collaborative grants that include several sub-grants within a larger grant. Sub-grants may be assigned across departments, requiring collaboration with multiple departments across the university. Complex awards require advanced level reviews and reporting, including more complex analysis and problem solving to ensure accuracy and conformance with uniform accounting principles and practices.
  • Assigned most complex departments which are more challenging due to higher volume of research awards, and/or more complex awards. Requires working with multiple levels within the department.
  • Independently interacts with department administrators, external agencies, and senior management. Engages strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain customer service relationships through positive interactions.
  • May represent the department at university wide meetings. Communicates effectively at all levels.


Specific Duties and 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. Develop reports as needed.
  • 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.
  • Advise departments on compliance issues and the interpretation of applicable regulations (e.g. effort, cost allocations, allowability, etc.


Mentoring Sponsored Projects Accountants

  • Guide and support newly hired staff by teaching, advising and counseling on sponsored projects processes in order to promote professional development for all staff members.
  • Training user community on Sponsored processes.
  • Develop course materials to be used in the training of Sponsored Projects processes by the user community.
  • Train the user community on Sponsored Projects processes utilizing the SAP training client.
  • Train and advise staff on best practices, policies and procedures.
  • Assist in developing policies, processes, and procedures to ensure consistent operations.


Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA’s)

  • Advanced knowledge of grants and contracts and Federal regulations.
  • Advanced knowledge of the laws and regulations that apply to an accounting function and are required to ensure compliance.
  • Strong ability to understand the University’s accounting system, particularly with the grants managements features preferred.
  • Advanced knowledge in the use of financial software applications, relational 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 format data and/or reports.
  • Ability to exercise independent judgment in the processing and resolution of non-routine, highly complex 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.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or related field.
  • Three years related experience. If bachelor's degree is in unrelated field, four years of progressively responsible experience is required.
  • Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

 

 

Classified Title: Sr. Sponsored Project Accountant 
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PD  
Starting Salary Range: $62,900 - $110,100 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/JH at Keswick 
Department name: ​​​​​​​Sponsored Projects Shared Services-Other  
Personnel area: University Administration 

 

 

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
Hybrid: On-site 1-2 days a week

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