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

This is an accounting position for TCSEPP project (https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/index.php/programs/childsupport/) which is a $5M state funded grant and undergoing an unprecedented expansion across the entire state expected to grow to $25M over 5 years. This position will serve as an accounting specialist among the West regions' being the subject matter expert in certain areas and will implement new procedures/policies in these regions. This position will be responsible for managing petty cash funds at banks across the state. This position will help set standard procedural steps, constantly guiding a large remote group of program staff along the right path to ensure efficient financial processing and compliance. This position will also be vitally important in implementing a novel University of Tennessee System process for purchasing and reconciling individual assistance costs that total in the millions among other financial processing tasks.

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

 

 

Financial Tasks: process petty cash, set up and establish new vendors, process invoices and back up documentation, monthly procurement card reconciliations, ordering of supplies, processing internal transfers, entertainment requests and onboard new program staff in financial policies and procedures.

Contract Management Tasks: create contracts and ono-compete justifications for purchases, compare requests with grant budgets, request vendor numbers and vendor set up in UT system, ensure all contract information is correct and properly submitted to the Treasurer’s Office.

Bank Management Tasks: Manager petty cash accounts at various banks across the State, monitor bank balances, ensure appropriate documentation for banking and petty cash items, G/L coding for cash outflow, reconciling cash outflows/inflows/bank balances and general ledger, process new accounts and monitor limits.

Gift Card Tasks: Process gift card requests, purchase requisitions for gift card requests, purchasing, distributing, tracking and storing gift cards

Travel Tasks: Provide standard guidance for travel requests and expense reports, coordinate travel requests and train new staff on travel policies, procedure and software.

Required Qualifications

• Education: 
  • Associate’s degree (can be substituted with 2 years progressively responsible accounting and administrative experience)
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Knowledge of basic accounting principles (GAAP)
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize a heavy task load with time-sensitive deadlines
  • Excellent communication, customer service and organization skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: 
  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or related field
• Experience: 
  • Experience in an academic environment
  • Experience with UT fiscal policies and procedures
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Knowledge of state and federal contract and financial requirements
  • Working knowledge of UT fiscal and HR policies and procedures

 

Work Location 

• Position is hybrid and requires in person reporting to office in Jackson, TN at least 3 days a week

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range:  MR 06
• Anticipated hiring range:  $50K-$52K
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

 

Application Instructions

Interested individuals should provide (1) a cover letter addressing professional experience relevant to each required and preferred qualification, (2) a resume, and (3) complete contact information for 3 professional references.

 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for