Grant Administrator Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

About Us
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.
As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.
Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.
The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.
Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu .
Job Summary
The Grant & Contract Administrator provides post-award grants accounting and financial management support for departments, divisions, and colleges at Georgia College & State University. Working closely with principal investigators (PIs), departmental administrators, the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects, and Financial Services and Budget, this position ensures compliance with sponsor, university, and federal regulations, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
Responsibilities include monitoring grant financial compliance, performing award reconciliations, preparing invoices, drawing grant funds, calculating indirect costs, submitting required financial reports, and interpreting financial policies. The position also supports the development of standardized procedures, process improvements, and exceptional customer service while serving as the primary financial resource for post-award grant administration.
Responsibilities
Financial Award Setup - 15%
Review grant award notices, terms and conditions, and contractual agreements upon award acceptance to ensure financial compliance and accurate award setup.
Verify approved budgets, financial terms and conditions, invoicing/reimbursement requirements, and financial reporting obligations.
Confirm all required compliance approvals with the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects (OGSP) prior to authorizing expenditures.
Establish grant accounts in PeopleSoft (PSFIN/ERP) and assist with translating approved budgets into Georgia College & State University (GCSU) account codes.
Participate in award management meetings with OGSP staff and Principal Investigators to review award details, identify financial restrictions, and evaluate budget revisions.
Provide guidance on financial administration, including budget monitoring, account code usage, procurement requirements, PeopleSoft access and training, and invoicing and reporting timelines.
Post-Award Financial Management - 50%
Serve as the primary financial resource for Principal Investigators during the post-award phase by providing oversight of grant financial management, ensuring compliance, and maintaining accurate financial records.
Establish and maintain official financial files for all assigned grants.
Ensure compliance with sponsor requirements, University policies, and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), including the allowability and reasonableness of expenditures.
Review and approve grant-related financial transactions, including Personnel Action Forms (PAFs), MSS transactions, eProcurement requisitions, P-Card prior approvals, contract addenda, payment requests, and budget revisions.
Coordinate with the Budget Office to manage salary distributions, calculate salary savings, and process funding changes.
Monitor cost-sharing commitments, prior approvals, and budget modifications, ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements.
Monitor grant activity using PeopleSoft and reporting tools to analyze financial data, identify discrepancies, and support decision-making.
Perform monthly financial reconciliations, including reconciling revenues and expenditures, preparing sponsor invoices, drawing grant funds, calculating and posting indirect costs, preparing journal entries, and maintaining accurate project balances.
Prepare payroll documentation and other financial reports required by sponsors.
Track grant receivables, resolve account discrepancies, document cost transfers, and ensure timely reimbursement of grant expenditures.
Develop financial reports and queries to support grant monitoring, budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal year transitions.
Financial Reporting & Closeout - 10%
Collaborate with Principal Investigators to monitor the financial status of sponsored projects, ensure compliance with award requirements, and successfully complete financial reporting and award closeout.
Monitor project budgets, expenditures, indirect cost recovery, award end dates, and renewal deadlines.
Calculate, reconcile, and distribute indirect cost recoveries in accordance with approved rates and the University's distribution methodology.
Prepare and submit required financial reports to sponsors, including quarterly, annual, final, and other financial reports.
Ensure compliance with sponsor financial terms and conditions throughout the life of the award.
Manage the financial closeout process by reconciling revenues and expenditures, verifying indirect costs, returning unexpended funds when required, and transferring allowable residual balances in accordance with award terms.
Prepare and submit institutional grant reporting, including the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, and other required federal and institutional reports.
Faculty & Departmental Advising - 15%
Serve as the primary financial resource for Principal Investigators (PIs) and departments by providing guidance, training, and support throughout the post-award lifecycle.
Orient and advise PIs on post-award financial administration through workshops, individual consultations, and training sessions.
Develop training materials, reference guides, and other resources to support effective financial grant management.
Provide ongoing guidance on sponsor requirements, financial policies, compliance, budgeting, and grant administration from award acceptance through project closeout.
Serve as the primary financial point of contact for PIs, offering consultation on complex financial matters and resolving post-award issues.
Participate in professional development opportunities to maintain current knowledge of sponsor requirements, financial research administration, and applicable federal regulations.
Policy & Process Improvement - 5%
Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of post-award financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance with sponsor, University, Board of Regents (BOR), and federal requirements.
Assist in developing and revising policies and procedures related to sponsored project financial administration, including direct and indirect costs, cost sharing, budget revisions, program income, cost transfers, effort reporting, account overdrafts, record retention, and project transfers.
Remain current on applicable regulations and communicate policy changes and their impact to the University community.
Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen internal controls, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Collaborate with Human Resources, Financial Services, the Office of Grants and Sponsored Projects, and other campus partners to establish and maintain effective post-award financial processes.
Assist with monitoring effort commitments and the payroll certification process for sponsored projects.
Conduct periodic audits of grant accounts, communicate findings, and recommend corrective actions as needed.
Maintain financial records in accordance with sponsor, University, and Board of Regents (BOR) record retention requirements.
Other Duties As Assigned - 5%
Perform related duties in support of the University's research administration and financial operations.
Represent GCSU at professional conferences, workshops, and training to maintain current knowledge of research administration, sponsor requirements, and applicable regulations.
Support the implementation and maintenance of grant records within PeopleSoft Financials and future enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.
Required Experience
At least two years of professional experience in grants administration, sponsored programs, research administration, contract management, or a closely related field.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional Preferred Qualifications
Experience with post-award financial management and federal award compliance is strongly preferred.
Preferred Educational Qualifications
Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Preferred Experience
Demonstrated experience with federal award management and compliance under Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
Certified Research Administrator (CRA) credential, or active pursuit of certification through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC)
Proposed Salary
This position is a pay grade 10. The minimum salary is $60,868.00. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.
For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
- Ability to Interpret and Apply Regulations and Policy
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex federal and institutional regulations, and translate requirements into actionable guidance for principal investigators and departmental staff.
- Ability to Build Collaborative Working Relationships
- Ability to establish productive partnerships with PIs, departmental administrators, Business and Finance, and external sponsors; demonstrated skill in advising and training stakeholders in a higher education environment.
- Ability to Exercise Professional Judgment and Discretion
- Ability to assess compliance risk, identify issues proactively, and recommend appropriate courses of action; demonstrated commitment to integrity and institutional risk management.
KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of administrative and budget activities, processes, and procedures related to grants.
- Knowledge of federal regulations, funding policies, and applicable local, state, federal, and University regulations.
- Knowledge of Uniform Guidance regulations related to fiscal compliance.
SKILLS
Financial & Grant Accounting Skills
-Proficiency in post-award financial management, including award reconciliations, indirect cost calculations, invoicing, fund drawdowns, and financial reporting.
Regulatory Compliance Skills
- Skill in applying Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and sponsor/University requirements to grant transactions, cost sharing, and effort reporting.
Systems & Analytical Skills
- Proficiency with PeopleSoft (PSFIN/ERP) and financial reporting tools to monitor budgets, analyze data, and support decision-making.
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More d