Grants Accountant

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) is the collective spirit and unifying voice of our nation's tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). AIHEC supports American Indian and Alaska Native higher education through dedicated research and programmatic initiatives designed to strengthen Native languages, cultures, and Tribal communities. By leveraging its unique position, AIHEC serves as a collaborative partner, providing essential services to member institutions and emerging TCUs. AIHEC administers federal and private grant funding that supports TCUs and Native students nationwide, and produces the Tribal College Journal (TCJ), a premier national publication sharing insights on American Indian education. 

Position Summary
The Grants Accountant is responsible for the financial administration of a diverse portfolio of federal and private grants and cooperative agreements. This role ensures accurate financial reporting, compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and other applicable federal regulations, and effective stewardship of resources that directly support TCUs and Native student success. The Grants Accountant works closely with program staff, senior finance leadership, and external auditors to safeguard the integrity of AIHEC's grant-funded operations. 

This position reports to the Accounting Manager. 

Key Responsibilities

Grants Financial Management
• Maintain accurate accounting records for a portfolio of federal, state, and private grants and cooperative agreements.
• Prepare and submit timely and accurate federal financial reports (e.g., SF-425) and other funder-required financial deliverables.
• Monitor grant budgets, expenditures, and drawdowns; identify and communicate variances or risk of over/under-spending.
• Lead month-end close activities for grant-related accounts, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.

Compliance & Internal Controls
• Ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), OMB circulars, and specific federal awarding agency requirements.
• Support subrecipient monitoring activities, including risk assessments, budget reviews, and desk reviews of subrecipient financial reports.
• Assist in maintaining and updating internal control policies and procedures related to grants management.
• Support preparation for and response to the annual Single Audit (Uniform Guidance audit), including compiling documentation and drafting management responses to findings.

Reporting & Analysis
• Prepare grant-related schedules and support for the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).
• Assist with indirect cost rate calculations and application, including NICRA compliance.
• Support the preparation of internal financial reports and dashboards for program and executive leadership.
• Prepare and manage program billing and reporting deliverables for grants and contracts, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Assist with organization-wide financial statement preparation as needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with program staff to ensure grant spending aligns with approved budgets and grant terms.
• Coordinate with the procurement function to ensure grant-funded purchases meet federal procurement standards.
• Support new grant setup, budget modifications, and no-cost extension requests.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of experience in nonprofit or governmental grants accounting.
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) and federal grant compliance requirements.
• Experience with financial reporting for federal awards (e.g., SF-425, SEFA).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Concur, and ADP, along with advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with program billing and reporting for grants and contracts.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a nonprofit environment and understanding nonprofit operations.

Preferred
• Experience working with or supporting Tribal Colleges and Universities, Tribal organizations, or Native-serving nonprofits.
• Familiarity with subrecipient monitoring processes and Single Audit preparation.
• Experience with indirect cost rate agreements (NICRAs).
• Experience in a small nonprofit environment requiring cross-functional flexibility.

Core Competencies
• Financial Acumen: Applies strong technical accounting and grants management knowledge to safeguard organizational resources.
• Analytical & Problem Solving: Interprets financial data, identifies issues, and implements solutions.
• Organization & Time Management: Balances multiple grant deadlines and reporting cycles effectively.
• Compliance & Accuracy: Ensures adherence to federal regulations, funder requirements, and internal policies.
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrates respect for and understanding of Indigenous communities and values.
• Communication & Collaboration: Builds trust and communicates effectively with program staff, leadership, and auditors.

Job Location & Travel
• This position operates in a hybrid work environment. Required onsite at the organization's headquarters in Alexandria, VA, two (2) days per week, with the remaining three (3) days per week working remotely.

Compensation & Benefits
• Salary range: $90,000–$110,000
• 401(k) with 6% matching
• Premium medical insurance for employees and dependents paid for by the organization
• Dental, vision, life, accident, hospital indemnity, and disability insurances offered at low cost
• Holidays and Paid time off

Physical Requirements
• Ability to perform sedentary work for extended periods.
• Frequent use of a computer, including repetitive hand, wrist, and finger movements.
• Ability to prepare and analyze documents, enter data, and use standard office equipment.
• Ability to maintain close visual acuity for reading, reviewing documents, and working on a computer monitor for extended periods.

Important Notes
You must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work. Final employment offers are contingent upon a Final Candidate’s successful completion of a Background Verification, and a determination by AIHEC that the information derived from the Background Verification does not disqualify the individual under FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Agency). 

Accessibility 
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Commonwealth of Virginia where the agency is headquartered, it is the absolute pleasure of AIHEC to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for AIHEC. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of the hiring process.