Research Accountant
Job no: 536790
Work type: Staff
Senior management: College of Engineering
Department: Civil & Environmental Engineering
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Business / Accounting / Finance, Administrative / Clerical
Job Description
The Research Accountant provides leadership for research administration and is primarily responsible for post-award sponsored research administration. This position will also be expected to provide pre-award sponsored research administration support as needed to assist the pre-award Grants Specialist during times of heavy volume or quick turn-around deadlines. Job duties include: assigning salaried personnel to sponsored research funding; tracking research converted appointments; managing summer research funding for Principal Investigators; projecting expenditures and rebudgeting projects as needed; preparing journal entries and personnel changes for sponsored projects; preparing financial reports for cost sharing and other sponsored research obligations; completing project transfers, no-cost time extensions, and letters of guarantee; overdraft monitoring and correction; and cost share tracking and documentation. This position works closely with the department's Grant Specialist to ensure proposal budgets are compliant with department policies. This position coordinates effort report certifications each semester and will resolve any issues raised. This position will assist the Graduate Student Coordinator in resolving sponsored funding issues for graduate students. The successful candidate will be proactive, collaborative, and adaptable in order to effectively manage a department with a diverse portfolio of sponsors and approximately 40 - 45 faculty members serving as active Principal Investigators.
Required Qualifications
-Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field or equivalent level of training and/or experience.
-Experience providing administrative support for research projects.
-Knowledge of federal and nonfederal regulations and guidelines in a university setting or in a similar agency with research funding.
-Experience in budgeting and the use of spreadsheets for financial tracking and analysis.
-Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Outlook).
Preferred Qualifications
-Experience with federal and nonfederal grants and/or contract regulations.
-Experience with Virginia Tech systems such as Banner, MicroStrategy financial reports, Award Management System, and Labor Redistribution system.
-Knowledge of university administrative, accounting practices, policies and procedures.
-Professional designations such as Certified Research Administrator (CRA); Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM).
Pay Band
4
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
$60,000 -$70,000 to commensurate with experience.
Hours per week
40
Review Date
July 20, 2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Joe Belcher at (bjoe@vt.edu) during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: June 23, 2026
Applications close:
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