Accounting Specialist, Oak Ridge Innovation Institute-UTK

Reporting to the Senior Business Services Manager for the University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), the Accounting Specialist position is responsible for managing and monitoring departmental accounts, preparing budgets, and ensuring compliance with University of Tennessee policies and procedures. Key responsibilities include reconciling ledgers (including grant and contract accounts), analyzing budgets and expenditures, preparing financial projections, and compiling reports on account statuses. The role also involves administrative tasks such as inventory management, effort certification monitoring, and serving as a point of contact for funding-related inquiries.

This position requires strong knowledge of accounting principles, proficiency in financial systems, and the ability to problem-solve proactively. Additionally, the Accounting Specialist supports compliance efforts by documenting departmental accounting practices and implementing corrective actions when necessary. 

Financial & Compliance:

• Reconcile department ledgers, including grant and contract accounts.
• Ensure documentation meets standards of UT policies and procedures.
• Assist with UTB-Student contract accounts, monitor expenditures to ensure they are in compliance with the agreements, as well as, ensuring that  adequate funding is available from the sponsor. 
• Assist with determining when communication to the sponsor regarding increased funding is needed and initiate the request. 
• Analyze budgets and expenditures regularly to be proactive in finding and resolving issues in a timely manner.
• Communicate with administrative specialist regarding any pay funding changes 
• Prepare projections for departmental and contract funding.
• Compile reports on the status of each account.
• Track funding changes and update departmental statistics related to project funding. 
• Routinely review transactions in DASH for accuracy
• Process journal entries or non-labor cost transfers as needed
• Prepare Schedules of Final Charges (SFCs) for grant and contract accounts.
• Assist with documenting departmental accounting practices, developing new or updating existing practices and implementing when needed. 

Other Administrative Duties:

• Serve as contact for ORNL Joint and UT Joint faculty regarding contract and funding questions. 

• Assist with equipment inventory as needed

• Assist with space inventory as needed

• Reviews funding changes at the direction of faculty to properly record cost on sponsor awards.

• Monitors / reviews effort certification.

Required Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma 

• Experience: 2 years of office experience in a position requiring accounting skills 

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles 

  • Strong computer skills in full Microsoft office suite including excel.

  • Ability to multi-task, work independently, prioritize, problem solve, and understand relationship in financial matters. 

  • Strong communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or equivalent 

• Experience: 3-4 years of accounting experience and 1-2 years in an academic setting working with budgets, ledgers, or grants. 

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of and the skills to utilize the university systems such as Banner, ARGOS, ASTRA, Cayuse, and UT Marketplace. 

  • Knowledge of UT policies and procedures

  • Knowledge of uniform guidance. 

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN 
• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR06
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before January 5, 2026. <