Entry Level Contract Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA (NOW HIRING)

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Job Posting Title:
Finance Coordinator
Position Type:
Professional / Unclassified
Department:
LSUAM Science - GG - Administration (Charlotte Renea Smith (00001682))
Work Location:
E0238 Howe Russell Kniffen East Geoscience Complex
Pay Grade:
Professional
Job Description:
The Geology and Geophysics Department seeks a full-time, entry-level Grants Coordinator to manage post-award grants and contracts and serve as the primary liaison with university offices. Responsibilities include reconciling accounts, monitoring grant activity, guiding faculty on compliance, preparing journal entries, advising on payroll adjustments, and managing foundation and professorship accounts. The role ensures accurate financial oversight and keeps faculty and staff informed of university policies related to budgets, overhead, and other regulations. Ideal for a detail-oriented professional looking to support research administration in a dynamic academic environment.
Duties Include:
45% Finance: Reconcile professorship accounts, ensuring accurate year-end budgets, appropriate spending, and compliance. Execute budget and expenditure transfers and provide monthly reconciliations to account holders. Coordinate and lead account authority holder meetings to review financial performance and spending appropriations. Confirm account balances for honorific salary payments on professorship accounts and advise faculty on spending allocations. Reconcile faculty-awarded state-appropriated research support funds to ensure accurate tracking and compliance. Process internal and external invoices for recharge centers and maintain the master database. Assist with vendor enrollments for external clients and communicate with accounting personnel at external clients to secure payments. Process journal entries for internal invoices. Deposit cash, checks, and money orders via the CARD system for external invoices as well as departmental reimbursements.
40% Post-Award Administration: Advise Principal Investigators (PIs) on funding agency policies, ensuring compliance with budgets, reporting, and regulations. Manage all stages of the award lifecycle, from account setup and modifications to invoicing, subcontract management, and award closeout. Execute budget and expenditure transfers, no-cost extensions, and monitor payroll and effort for audit readiness. Reconcile cost-shared accounts and maintain accurate expenditure records, providing monthly financial summaries to PIs. Identify and resolve budgetary issues, including spending appropriations, offering actionable recommendations. Support timely and accurate quarterly, annual, and final reporting to funding agencies. Coordinate and lead PI meetings to review financial status and guide spending decisions.
10% Other Duties and Special Projects: Provide support for additional duties and special projects as assigned by the Assistant to the Chair/Business Manager and Chair to meet departmental needs. Serve as backup for the Assistant to the Chair/Business Manager as needed.
5% Grants/Contracts Liaison: Serve as the primary post-award contact for the Dean's Office and respond to inquiries from central administrative offices, the Chair, the CCM, and Principal Investigators (PIs) regarding grants and contracts. Participate in campus and college work groups, meetings, and trainings as needed to ensure effective communication and compliance across all stakeholders.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with related experience in accounting, finance, grants, or related field. LSU is dedicated to fostering an environment where our employees feel appreciated for their skills and individuality. If a candidate does not meet the minimum qualifications as listed but has substantial experience in the key job responsibilities, we encourage them to apply.
Advanced in the following job competencies required:
Effective Oral, Written, and Non-Verbal Communication, Service to Customer and Institution, Delivery Results, Decision Making and Problem Solving, Prioritize and Multi-task, Mathematical reasoning, Attention to detail, Collaboration, Ethics/Integrity and Attendance.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field with 1 year Professional work experience; experience in grants administration, accounting, finance, or related field.
This position regularly engages in financial matters and must undergo a credit check per FASOP HR-04.
Additional Job Description:
Special Instructions:
Please submit a current cv and contact information of 3 references. An official transcript showing highest degree obtained will be needed prior to hire. For questions or concerns regarding the position, please contact Charlotte Smith at cmoore1@lsu.edu.
Posting Date:
April 27, 2026
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
August 25, 2026
Additional Position Information:
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University's partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
Essential Position (Y/N):
LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university's ability to employ individuals in certain positions.
HCM Contact Information:
For questions or concerns related to updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email HR@lsu.edu. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact the department using the information provided in the Special Instructions section of this job posting.