Director of Accounting, Grants & Contracts

About the role

This position is a senior finance leadership role responsible for managing the full lifecycle of philanthropic, foundation, and government funding. You’ll oversee how restricted funds are budgeted, tracked, reported, and maintained in compliance with applicable requirements. The role serves as a key connection between Finance and Development, translating complex funding agreements into practical budgets and processes. You’ll bring particular expertise in federal grant compliance, including the requirements established under 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance). A major focus will be modernizing grant administration by replacing spreadsheet-based processes with scalable systems and automated workflows. You’ll work independently on complex financial challenges while partnering with stakeholders across the organization. This remote position offers the opportunity to build and strengthen a critical function while supporting sustainable management of a growing funding portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Own the full post-award lifecycle for federal, state, and private foundation grants and contracts, including award setup, cost reimbursement, drawdowns, invoicing, financial reporting, and closeout.
• Manage the financial administration of restricted funding and ensure accurate budgeting, forecasting, tracking, reporting, and compliance throughout the grant lifecycle.
• Interpret grant agreements, funding restrictions, fiscal requirements, and reporting obligations, translating them into clear financial guidance and actionable processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal requirements, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), as well as relevant state, foundation, and other funder requirements.
• Serve as a primary Finance partner to Development and fundraising teams, collaborating on proposal budgets and helping translate funder requirements into practical organizational guidance.
• Support indirect cost rate negotiations and apply appropriate indirect cost allocation methodologies across funded programs.
• Lead the identification, evaluation, selection, and implementation of a grants management system to replace manual, spreadsheet-based tracking.
• Design and standardize scalable financial processes and automated workflows that improve visibility, accuracy, efficiency, and accountability.
• Establish effective systems for forecasting, monitoring, reporting, and closing grants across the organization.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and communicate complex financial and compliance topics in a clear, accessible manner.
• Use financial systems and data tools to improve reporting, strengthen controls, and support informed organizational decision-making.
• Take ownership of ambiguous and complex financial challenges, balancing competing priorities while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA certification is preferred.
• At least 8 years of nonprofit accounting and finance experience, including substantial experience managing multi-year, multi-funder, and federal or state grants and contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing the post-award lifecycle of grants and contracts, including financial reporting, invoicing, reimbursement processes, drawdowns, and closeout.
• Deep knowledge of grant agreements, fiscal tracking, funder reporting, and federal grant compliance, particularly 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
• Experience with indirect cost rate negotiations and nonprofit indirect cost allocation methodologies.
• Proven ability to independently build effective partnerships with Development, fundraising, and other non-finance teams and lead proposal budget development.
• Demonstrated experience selecting or implementing grants management or financial systems, or transforming manual, spreadsheet-based processes into scalable and automated workflows.
• Strong technical proficiency with financial systems and data tools; experience with platforms such as Sage Intacct, Salesforce, or Rippling is valuable.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and nonprofit revenue recognition principles.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem