Senior Grants Accountant
- Sponsored Grant Support
- Staff, full-time (32+ hours per week)
Title: Senior Grants Accountant
Position Number: 998695
Unit/Department: Sponsored Grant Support
FTE: 100%
Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate
Department Summary:
The Office of Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance (SPARC) provides Drake University’s faculty, staff and students with comprehensive guidance and support in their pursuit and conduct of research and scholarly activities.
SPARC works collaboratively with the research community to assist them in advancing Drake’s mission of teaching, research and scholarship and provides them with the highest customer service and technical expertise.
SPARC provides assistance in five primary areas: Pre-Award, Post-Award, Research Compliance, and Research/Grant training.
Job Summary:
The Senior Grants Accountant is responsible for all post-award financial administration of grants and contracts for the university. The position must maintain a working knowledge of government regulations for grants and will work closely with faculty to ensure compliance to those regulations.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with foundations and/or federal grant agencies
• Experience working in higher education
• Experience in accounting or grant accounting
• Excellent interpersonal skills, customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to manage numerous simultaneous projects
Preferred Qualifications:
• Degree in Finance or Accounting
• Workday experience
Job Duties:
- 30% - Responsible for all post-award financial administration of grants and contracts. Maintains a working knowledge of ever-changing government cost principals and administrative regulations for grants, assuring compliance and accountability with federal, state, and private grant regulations and policies of Drake University.
- 15% - Consults with Principal Investigators on post-award issues such as applicable regulations, equipment purchases, subcontract administration, extensions, re-budgeting, F&A, and cost share requirements.
- 10% - Reviews all contracts, awards, budgets, and agreements for grants.
- 10% - Ensures that all financial reports are prepared and submitted to management and governmental (sponsoring) agencies as required, including external invoicing, cash draws, Audit Schedules, and required reports.
- 10% - Supervises and coordinates duties with Grants Accountant.
- 5% - Train Principal Investigators and/or their staff in post-award grant procedures and Federal, State and Private Granting regulations.
- 5% - Establishes general ledger numbers and budgets. Monitors all post-award expenses and income, including in-kind/match, personnel, and equipment inventory.
- 5% - Calculates Facilities & Administration (indirect) cost rate and Benefits Rate for submission to the federal government.
- 5% - Provides oversight to ensure compliance with time and effort reporting.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our Drake Benefits Guide 2026. One of our popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. Tuition Benefits
Special Instructions to Applicants:
For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.
If you have any questions about this job positing or the application process, please email lori.byrd@drake.edu
Review of Applications Begins:
A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant’s references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
ABOUT DRAKE
Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University’s core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.
STRONG COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
At Drake University, we don’t just accept differences—we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our students, our employees, and our community. As reflected in our Core Values, we embrace a diverse and inclusive community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Drake University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (p: 515.271.3133; e: jobs@drake.edu) and let us know how we can assist you.
