Grant Accountant I

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The Harris Center") is on the hunt for a dedicated Grant Accountant I. Able to prepare basic financial statements. Responsibilities include grant billing and general accounting. Reports organization's finances to management and regulatory bodies. Familiar with concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular funding stream, and with grant compliance and reporting. Knowledgeable about Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Relies on professional judgment and experience to plan and accomplish goals. Serves as liaison between funding stream on behalf of agency. Works under minimal supervision with moderate latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment

Your Role in Action:

What qualifications you will need:

• Prepares and assists with grant billing.
• Prepares routine monthly journal entries for assigned accounts and ensures that all account activity is recorded accurately and timely.
• Prepares account reconciliations and accrual entries thoroughly and timely. Reviews entries, verifies amounts and compares balances for reasonableness for deviation from source documents. Proposes with correcting entries as needed.
• Prepare financial and program required reports and schedules. Collect necessary data, supporting documentation and statistics.
• Verify that the financial budget for assigned programs is current and accurate.
• Maintain complete and accurate files, including supporting documentation, for all reports, journal entries and analysis.
• Files all required grant reporting and billing by grant deadlines. Meets all grant reporting requirements.
• Prepares assigned routine monthly journal entries for assigned accounts and ensures that all account activity recorded accurately and timely with no more than 3 exceptions per quarter.
• Performs analysis of general ledger accounts. Reviews entries and compares balances as to reasonableness, and interpret trends or deviations from expected results. Completes by assigned date with no more than 3 exceptions per quarter.
• Prepare financial reports and associated schedules based on funding stream and collect necessary data, supporting documentation and statistics as date assigned with no more than 1 exception per quarter.
• Prepare account reconciliations and accrual entries thoroughly and timely. Reviews entries, verifies amounts and compares balances for reasonableness for deviation from source documents. Proposes correcting entries as needed with no more than 3 exceptions per quarter.
• Maintain complete and accurate files, including supporting documentation, for all reports, journal entries and analysis. Files are maintained in complete order with no more than 2 exceptions per quarter.
• Performs work on special projects and demonstrates the application of appropriate accounting theory and critical thinking skills. Completes with no more than 1 exception per quarter.
• Cooperates with internal and external auditors in conducting audits and explaining accounting practices, funding stream requirements, and preparing requested schedules and providing explanation to questions. Response must be timely and completed in a 1 to 2 day turnaround with 3 exceptions per evaluation period
• Review of expenses and revenues incurred/received to ensure compliance with GAAP and program requirements.
• Performs work on special projects and demonstrates the application of appropriate accounting theory and critical thinking skills.
• Cooperates with internal and external auditors in conducting audits and explaining accounting practices, program requirements, and preparing requested schedules and providing explanation to questions.
• Communicates regularly with various internal and external personnel to facilitate collection and analysis of financial data.
• Answers questions posed by agency personnel and recommends procedures to address issues.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting required

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of nonprofit, grant, or governmental experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Grant reporting and compliance.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and automated accounting systems and accounting methods.
• Must possess good interpersonal, communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze and consolidate accounting data.
• Ability to work accurately and timely with numerical detail.
• Ability to interpret and apply accounting theory.
• Be able to prioritize multiple competing deadlines.
• Be able to interact effectively with individuals throughout the organization.
• Must have ability for problem-solving.
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality.

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching - a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What else you should know:

• Your Workweek: Monday through Friday, 8-5pm allowing for flexible scheduling
• Your workplace: Embrace the excitement of a field-based role at The Harris Center, offering you the chance to occasionally touch base at our Southwest location (9401 Southwest Freeway) in Houston, TX.
• This posting is associated with position #1325.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.