Accounting Specialist, Social Work Office of Research and Public Service - UTK

Job Description

This is an accounting position for the TCSEPP project, a $5M state funded grant undergoing an expansion across the state and expected to grow to $25M over 5 years. This position will cover the East TN region and serve as the accounting specialist among the East regions, acting as the subject matter expert in certain areas and implementing new procedures and policies in these regions.

The role includes managing petty cash funds at banks across the state and helping set standard procedural steps, guiding a large remote group of program staff to ensure efficient financial processing and compliance. It is also important in implementing a novel University of Tennessee System process for purchasing and reconciling individual assistance costs that total millions, among other financial processing tasks.

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

Responsibilities

Financial Tasks:

• Process petty cash reimbursements ensuring supporting documentation, compliance and accurate accounting codes.
• Process vendor setup for new vendors.
• Process invoices ensuring supporting documentation, compliance and accurate accounting codes.
• Perform monthly procurement card reconciliations ensuring supporting documentation (i.e., summary page, approved order request form & receipt) is attached and account/GL codes are accurate.
• Ordering and delivery of supplies.
• Process internal transfers.
• Complete prior approved entertainment requests.
• Support individual assistance cost submissions including receipts, summary page, assessing allowability and ensuring appropriate account coding. Onboarding new accounting and program staff in the process.

• Contract Management Tasks:
• Creates contracts and non-compete justifications for purchases as requested by PIs. Compares requests to approved budgets for grants and contracts and recommends appropriate action to PIs for compliance. Resolve traveler compliance and software questions.
• Requests vendor numbers and completes application setup requirements including completion and review of the worker's classification questionnaire.
• Ensures all information, terms and conditions and pricing are included and properly approved prior to submission to the Treasurer's Office, including related contract amendments.
• Provides related guidance to associates performing purchasing tasks.

• Travel & Gift Cards:
• Provides standard guidance for travel requests and expense reports.
• Resolves traveler compliance and software questions.
• Trains all new project hires on travel policies, procedures and software.
• Processes gift card requests for approval.
• Purchasing requisitions for gift card requests.
• Purchasing gift cards.

• Other Financial Support:
• Assists with sourcing including researching registered vendors, historical purchases, products and pricing.
• Maintains financial documents according to business office procedures.
• Documents procedures with flow charts, checklists, how-to guides, and procedures for cross training to ensure continuity.
• Participates in the continuation of developing systems to expand across the state.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education and/or
  
  Experience:
  
  Associate degree or 2 years of progressively responsible accounting and administrative experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles (GAAP).
• Excellent communication, customer service and organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently.
• Ability to prioritize a heavy workload.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team environment.
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Preferred Qualifications
• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field.
• Experience:
  
  Experience in academic environment.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  Knowledge of UT fiscal policies and procedures.

Work Location

• Location:
  
  Knoxville, TN.
• Position requires in-person reporting to UT Social Work offices in Knoxville, TN. There is the ability to work from home two days a week after training is completed.

Compensation…