Finance and Grants Administrator

Job Title: Finance and Grants Administrator

Reports To: Managing Director (a CPA licensed in NYS)

Classification:  Exempt Position Type:  FT – Remote 

Salary Range:  $79-$91k DOE

About NNSC

The National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) at John Center College of Criminal Justice is a center within the Research Foundation of CUNY that develops, takes to scale, and supports cities in implementing evidence-based approaches to violence prevention that enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of public safety systems. Beginning with a focus on neighborhood-based gun violence more than twenty years ago, NNSC has applied an action-research process to effectively address a range of seemingly intractable public safety problems in dozens of cities in the U.S. and in international contexts.

At NNSC, we aim to improve public safety, minimize arrest and incarceration, enhance police legitimacy, and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities it serves. We are committed to an inclusive workforce that fully represents many different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints. We believe that great ideas and practices come from a mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. Our work originated over twenty-five years ago and with the help of our staff, external partners, and people from communities domestic and International, we can continue the work to prevent violence, minimize arrest and incarceration, and increase trust between law enforcement and the public.

About the Role

The Finance and Grants Administrator is responsible for financial systems, processes, administration, and internal controls and for the lifecycle of grants. The role’s primary goal is to ensure the day-to-day business and financial operations of the organization run effectively and efficiently and in a manner consistent with best practices.

What You’ll Do

• Administer all aspects of NNSC’s finance department, particularly focused on grants administration.
• Assist in managing the financial aspects of NNSC and share responsibility for compliance issues. Document and address issues that require attention and further discussion.
• Support NNSC’s budget creation, budget projections, and analysis of expenditures.
• Assist with tracking grant prospects, grants applications, legal processing of grant, and entering grant into the NNSC and RF systems.
• Review terms and conditions of award notices with PI and assists in establishment of oversight procedures and controls.
• Create accurate and timely grant budgets, reports, and invoices to promote effective grants/contracts management.
• Review financial transactions on sponsored projects to ensure that they are timely, available, allowable, appropriate, and accurate.

• Ensure all revenue and deposits are assigned to the proper project and coded appropriately.
• Process expenses, determine the allowability and allocability of charges, verifies availability of funds and obtains proper authorizations in an accurate and timely manner. Including, but not limited to:

• Coordinate payroll process including allocating staff to appropriate grants, calculating any needed forward funding, and processing PAFs and timesheets in a timely fashion. Reconcile annual leave on a monthly basis.
• Coordinate travel reimbursement process from reviewing submitted travel documents, processing, and ensuring payment.
• Monitor P-card purchases and process reconciliation.
• Monitor monthly expenditures to ensure the award is being performed in a timely manner and will not have a deficit.
• Reconcile NNSC financial systems with RFCUNY for grants, payments, and payroll on a bi-weekly basis. Ensure proper internal controls and document retention.
• Report financial position to executive team on a monthly basis.
• Ensure compliance with all governmental regulations and policies, and all grant terms and conditions and other requirements.
  • Remain current with relevant sponsor and RFCUNY policies, procedures and with appropriate accounting regulations.
  • Seeks the advice and approval from supervisor or OAR for guidance on proper procedures and resolution of compliance issues.
  • Monitor and correct any errors in a timely fashion.
  • All instances of possible fraud must be reported to the Office of Advancement of Research at John Jay College.

What You’ll Need

• Knowledge of the generally accepted accounting principles, GASB, FASB, CUNY and State of New York Financial and auditing principles and practices as well as the state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures related to accounting and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of university and governmental accounting, financing, auditing and expenditure control systems and procedures.
• Experience with applicable accounting, finance, or grant administration (3-5 years) and experience with RFCUNY or similar University sponsored program (2-3 years preferred);
• Experience implementing projects effectively and efficiently, both independently and collaboratively with a team while observing schedules, budgets, and policies;
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to understand and share policies, data, and recommendations clearly and to prepare meaningful and informative special and regular financial and statistical reports;
• High level of integrity and ability to exercise sound judgment in analyzing facts and arriving at conclusions;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the staff, college community, RFCUNY, vendors and partner organizations. Excellent customer service experience with strong organizational skills and a high attention to accuracy and detail
• Commitment to building an anti-racist organization.
• Ability to keep accurate records and maintain appropriate documentation;
• Ability to respond to infrequent, but urgent situations with calm and clarity; ability to manage multiple tasks;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ZOOM. Experience with one or more accounting software programs required.
• Commitment to building an anti-racist organization.
• Ability to focus on work priorities and maintain self-care and work life balance.

Education Requirement

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Public Administration, Finance, or directly related field or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
• Or, possess 7 years of appropriate experience that demonstrates acquired knowledge or equivalent to a major in one of the above fields.
• Or, possess a combination of education and experience that provide you with the knowledge equivalent to a major in one of the above fields

Location and Travel Requirements

This role will be remote, but will involve some amount of internal and external in-person meetings, in compliance with CDC and NNSC Travel Guidelines.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibilities

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Americans with Disabilities Act/Protected Veterans Status/E-Verify Employer.

NNSC Careers Page 

Please submit a resume and letter of interest @ How to Apply 

Letter of interest should describe your interest. Emailed applications will NOT be considered.

 Our generous benefits package includes:

• Insurance: Health, dental, vision, retirement, EAP, transit, parking, FSA, and life insurance.

• Time Off: 15 paid holidays, 15 Annual leave, 4 personal days, 20 sick days.

• Retirement: 8% employer contribution after 1 year of employment; employees are vested in the employer contribution after 3 years of employment; no employee contribution required.

• CUNY Tuition Reimbursement. Eligibility after 1 year. 

Other Benefits

• Summer Fridays

• Condensed Work-Week 

• Free New York Times and Wall Street Journal

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY) is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Americans with Disabilities Act/Protected Veterans Status/E-Verify Employer.