Senior Grant Accountant

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Grant Accountant at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement, based in our Northbrook, IL office.

The Senior Grant Accountant is responsible for proper, timely, and accurate recording and reporting of grants and contracts. This position must possess knowledge of fund/grant accounting and generally accepted accounting principles. The senior grant accountant must keep informed of federal, state, and sponsor guidelines, regulations, and circulars to effectively manage restricted accounts and resolve complex accounting and financial reporting issues. Requirements also include experience with financial analysis, cost/budget projections, program expense, review reports, budget reviews, cost share documentation and invoice preparation.

Underwriters Laboratories

At UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement (UL), we wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure, and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion, and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!

As the Senior Grant Accountant, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL Operations as you:

• Implement and maintain technical grant accounting concepts while adhering to internal policies and applicable accounting standards.
• Responsible for monitoring and managing grant activity for compliance with federal rules and regulations. Works collaboratively with the Research Institutes and pre-award stakeholders and directs necessary actions to achieve compliance in regard to grant expenditures.
• Investigate federal, state, and sponsor accounting guidelines and provide interpretations and recommendations for compliance. Must be very familiar with uniform guidance in reference to circular Single Audits, Audits of Federal Expenditures. Resource to Research staff on technical matters relating to financials, by keeping up to date with generally accepted accounting principles (FASB, GAAP, etc.) and OMB circulars.
• Perform grant-related post-award accounting functions, including budget and expense analysis, periodic invoicing, financial reporting, labor distribution changes and associated communications with customers, reconciliations, and re-budgeting of awards. Resolves issues with sponsor to allow timely payment of invoices. Manages accounts receivable for subcontract awards and problematic sponsors.
• Performs grant closeout functions required by sponsors including reconciliations, financial status reports, final invoices, purchase order liquidations and final reporting; reviews general ledger transactions to ensure accuracy and complete journal entries.
• Manages federal (Uniform Guidance), state and agency audits with outside personnel. Ensures the timely and accurate completion of audits and inquiries by outside agencies.
• Analyze current accounting processes and internal controls to provide recommendations for process improvement. Assist with drafting and revising procedures.
• Manage and monitor activity on grants made by the Research Institutes to an external grantee, including reviewing financial reports and other deliverables with Research Project Sponsor and Research Institute Leader.
• Work together with colleagues in other areas of the organization to achieve common goals.
• Assist internal and external customers with grant accounting support.
• Generate ad-hoc reports, analyses, and reconciliations by request.
• Perform other duties as directed.

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Intermediate to advanced skills in Excel with knowledge of how to use VLOOKUP, SUMIF and pivot tables, at a minimum.
• Detailed understanding of relevant grant accountant standards affecting nonprofit organizations.
• General knowledge of all other accounting procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for collaborating with internal and external contacts.
• Analytical skills used in identifying discrepancies, explaining fluctuations, isolating root causes, and developing solutions.
• Organization skills and attention to detail for producing quality work papers to be reviewed by internal management and external auditors.
• Responsiveness and ability to prioritize tasks to complete deliverables by assigned due dates.
• Must work well both individually and as a member of a team

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• University Degree in Accounting or Business Administration with five years of progressive grant accounting experience.
• Grant accounting experience with a mid-size to large organization or corporation is a plus.
• Workday experience is a plus.

UL has COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety of our employees, customers, and clients. Effective November 1, 2021, the company mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment (except where prohibited by law), subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

• Mission: For UL, corporate and social responsibility isn’t new. Making the world a safer, more secure, and sustainable place has been our business model for the last 128 years and is deeply ingrained in everything we do.
• People: Ask any UL employee what they love most about working here, and you’ll almost always hear, “the people.” Going beyond what is possible is the standard at UL. We’re able to deliver the best because we employ the best.
• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here as we eagerly anticipate the next innovation that our customers create. We’re inspired to take on the challenge that will transform how people live, work and play. And as a global company, in many roles, you will get international experience working with colleagues around the world.
• Grow & achieve: We learn, work, and grow together with targeted development, reward, and recognition programs as well as our very own UL University that offers extensive training programs for employees at all stages, including a technical training track for applicable roles.
• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Additionally, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you can work with your manager on flexible working arrangements. We also provide employees with paid time off including vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer time off.

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, UL Solutions, advances our shared public safety mission. We fund our work through grants, the licensing of standards documents and the business activities of UL Solutions, which conducts testing, verification, and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools for customers around the world. To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.