Location: CCS District Office Spokane

Department: District Budget/Finance Office

Salary Range: $4,865 - $6,539

Starting salary for this position is: $4,865 (Monthly)

Employees hired at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee hired at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range. Each salary step advancement will be approximately a 5% increase.

About Us 

We are a community college district comprised of two accredited colleges, Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). In addition to serving a large urban and suburban population in greater Spokane, the district provides educational services to rural communities throughout a 12,302 square-mile region in Eastern Washington. This region includes all of Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry, and Pend Oreille Counties, as well as portions of Lincoln County.

Both colleges of CCS are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and governed by the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on 09/30/2024. The application process will not be available after this time. To ensure consideration make sure your application is completed and submitted as soon as possible. Applications will only be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.

About the Grant & Contract Accountant (Budget Analyst 3)

Under general direction of the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Accounting and Budget, this position is responsible for managing the fiscal aspects of grants or contracts ensuring compliance with all state, federal and contract guidelines and terms. Responsibilities include:  monitoring and billing on a monthly or quarterly basis; communicating with CCS personnel and others regarding grant/contract status; answering questions; researching discrepancies and checking for reasonableness and allowability; keeping necessary personnel apprised of possible problems or contingencies; reviewing time and effort reports; analyzing and preparing periodic and annual financial reports; coordinating fiscal procedures with the institutions’ administrators, supervisors and program coordinators; providing information for audits or program reviews; and closing out the grant or contract.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor financial activity; bill on a monthly or quarterly basis; track time and effort reports; prepare budgetary projections; and close out the grant or contract ensuring compliance with all state, federal and contract guidelines and terms and provide documentation for audits or program review. *
• Research discrepancies and check for reasonableness within the grants and contracts keeping necessary personnel apprised of all issues. *
• Analyze and prepare periodic and annual financial reports. *
• Responsible for internal management financial reporting, reconciliation, and analysis to meet internal and external financial statement reporting requirements; ensure proper accounting techniques and controls are used. Prepare year-end procedures and guidelines including schedules as required for annual financial statement audit preparation. *
• Prepare and review:  unemployment compensation, Department of Personnel (DOP), classified bargaining, district office transfers of payroll and self-support journal vouchers. *
• Prepare reports for management to include Indirect Recap, Operating Fee, and Grants and Contract Cumulative Activity Reports. *
• Prepare monthly or quarterly miscellaneous billings. *
• Provide interface between district fiscal systems, and business processes and procedures and unit activities. *
• Communicate with and provide specialized financial accounting and reporting as required to district, state, and federal entities in accordance with their specific requirements related to assigned grants, contracts and project and related activities. *
• Oversee the accounting operations and reporting processes used in department activities involving interdepartmental charges; ensure consistency with district accounting policy, student account processes, or unique requirements of project or special activities. *
• Maintain required electronic and manual filing systems. *
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions. *.
• Comply with district policies, procedures and directives, state and federal regulations, orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements *.
• Support and advance the CCS strategic plan, and perform related duties as required. *
• Assist in other areas within the business office as requested. *

* Indicates this is an “essential duty.”

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Instills Trust
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness
• Self-Development
• Nimble Learning
• Situational Adaptability

Learn more about our competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, which includes 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or financial analysis. Or an equivalent mix of education and experience that demonstrates the candidate meets all competency requirements for this position.
• One or more years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional accountant or which includes budgeting and fiscal accounting and reporting experience.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting principles (GAAP); auditing principles, procedures, and practices; management of financial records and reports; recognized methods used in effecting internal control; and methods of accounting systems design.
• Ability to demonstrate high skill levels in automated spreadsheets and other tools for accounting, financial analysis, and reporting, and to analyze complex financial and statistical data and determine their significance.
• Ability to extract data from complex accounting, reporting and other systems and use automated spreadsheets and other tools for financial analysis.
• Ability to analyze complex financial and statistical data and determine their significance. Experience in forecasting and analysis.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate fiscal and/or accounting activities and internal controls.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and recommendations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with individuals and groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with district administrators, faculty and staff.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
• Knowledge of State of Washington budgeting and accounting policies and regulations and an understanding of federal cost principles and Online Budgeting and Invoicing System and online Grant Management System; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Payment Management System. Experience in higher education, governmental or non-profit accounting.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Finance ERP Systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in an office environment.
• Work is sedentary.
• Frequent use of computers.
• Visual focus and strain.
• Work involves constant interruptions and requirement to answer on demand questions by phone, in person, or electronically.
• Frequent repetitive hand/wrist motions and finger manipulation.
• Frequent oral and auditory communication with others.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Full-time schedule (12-months, 40-hours a week).
• This position is overtime eligible.
• 6-month probationary period.
• Criminal background check required.
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement. Membership is optional.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Community Colleges of Spokane maintains a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.  

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Once an applicant is chosen for a position, they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Benefits Information

Medical, dental, life and long term disability insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board; WA State Retirement Plan; vacation and sick leave begin to accrue at the rate of one (1) day per month, upon employment. (For positions that are less than full time, leave accruals will be prorated to the percentage of the position.) This position is designated a bargaining unit position and union membership is not a condition of employment. Leave accruals and usage are governed by the WFSE collective bargaining agreement.

Public Employees Benefits Board

Additional benefits information

Required Application Materials

To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet required competencies and submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

• Cover letter - addressing your qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
  
• Resume.
  
• References – the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references.

For questions regarding a job application or the hiring process, or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact HR at CCS.Recruiter@ccs.spokane.edu.

Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Equity Statement

CCS believes that access to high-quality education in a safe and inclusive environment is the right of all individuals and imperative for the continued advancement of a strong democracy and workforce. We also believe higher education institutions have an obligation to work toward and demonstrate progress in ensuring equity amongst their students, faculty, and staff. Equity is grounded in the principle of fairness. In higher education, equity refers to ensuring that each student receives what they need to be successful through the intentional design of the college experience.

Native Land Acknowledgement

We are honored to acknowledge that the Community Colleges of Spokane, and our main campuses for Spokane Falls and Spokane Community College, are located on the traditional and sacred homelands of the Spokane Tribe. We also provide services in a region that includes the traditional and sacred homelands of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Tribe and Nez Perce Tribe.
 
We pay our respect to tribal elders both past and present as well as to all Indigenous people today. This land holds their cultural DNA, and we are honored and grateful to be here on their traditional lands. We give thanks to the legacy of the original people and their descendants and pledge to honor their stewardship and values.

Equal Opportunity Institution

Community Colleges of Spokane does not discriminate in its programs, activities and employment on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, parental status or families with children, status as a mother breastfeeding their child, AIDS/HIV or hepatitis C, honorably discharged veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected category. 

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access, Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity compliance, and/or grievances to:
Fred Davis | Chief Human Resources Officer
Community Colleges of Spokane
P.O. Box 6000, MS1004
Spokane, WA. 99217-6000
509-434-5040