Senior Grant & Gift Manager
Senior Grant & Gift Manager
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August 18, 2026
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The Senior Grant & Gift Manager at Carthage College oversees the financial
administration, accounting, compliance, reporting, and stewardship of
restricted grants, gifts, endowments, pledges, and other donor-restricted
funds. As the College's subject matter expert for grant and gift accounting,
this position ensures compliance with federal, state, sponsor, donor, and
institutional requirements.
Working collaboratively with Institutional Advancement, Student Accounts,
Financial Aid, the Office of Sponsored Services, Human Resources, and other
campus departments, the Senior Grant & Gift Manager manages the full lifecycle
of grants and restricted gifts, from proposal development through financial
reporting and closeout.
This position plays a key role in safeguarding donor intent, maintaining
strong internal controls, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and
supporting institutional decision-making through financial analysis. A strong
knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Uniform
Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), nonprofit and higher education accounting, and
fund accounting principles is essential.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Grant Accounting and Financial Management:
Manage the financial administration of federal, state, local, corporate,
and private foundation grants throughout the post-award lifecycle.
Establish and monitor grant budgets to ensure compliance with sponsor
requirements and institutional policies.
Collaborate with faculty and staff during proposal development by
reviewing grant budgets and sponsor financial requirements.
Prepare grant financial reports, sponsor billings, reimbursement requests,
drawdowns, and grant closeout documentation.
Monitor grant expenditures, labor and fringe allocations, indirect costs,
and budget variances, providing financial guidance to principal
investigators and department leadership.
Review monthly grant activity, prepare Budget versus Actual (BvA)
reports, and assist with grant forecasting and budget revisions.
Maintain grant receivables, deferred revenue, sponsor payments, and
related reconciliations.
2. Gift and Endowment Accounting:
Manage the accounting and financial administration of restricted and
unrestricted gifts, pledges, endowments, charitable gift annuities, and
donor-designated funds.
Record and reconcile gifts, pledges, stock gifts, investment activity, and
related journal entries in collaboration with Institutional Advancement.
Review gift fund assignments, donor restrictions, and revenue
classifications to ensure compliance with donor intent and institutional
policies.
Prepare and reconcile pledge activity, receivables, collections, and
related accounting records.
Record and reconcile endowment investment activity, including fair market
value adjustments, investment allocations, spending distributions, cash
draws, and related general ledger accounts.
Maintain endowment schedules, investment records, and supporting
documentation to ensure accurate financial reporting.
3. Compliance and Regulatory Reporting:
Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), GAAP, sponsor
regulations, donor restrictions, and College policies.
Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for the annual financial
statement audit, Single Audit, and other regulatory reporting.
Monitor grant compliance, including allowable costs, effort reporting,
cost sharing, matching requirements, and reporting deadlines.
Prepare journal entries related to net asset releases, indirect cost
recoveries, capital gifts, Perkins funds, and charitable gift annuities.
Assist with IRS Form 990 and other required federal and state reporting.
4. Financial Reporting and Analysis:
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for grants,
gifts, endowments, and restricted funds.
Analyze financial activity, budget variances, and compliance issues, and
prepare forecasts in collaboration with Institutional Advancement and
campus leadership.
Update grant budgets and financial forecasts based on current and
projected activity.
Prepare supporting schedules and management reports for auditors and
external stakeholders, and develop financial dashboards to support
decision-making.
5. Internal Controls and Process Improvement:
Maintain and strengthen internal controls over grant, gift, pledge,
endowment, and restricted fund accounting.
Review accounting activity, coding, and restricted funds to ensure
compliance with donor, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
Develop and maintain accounting procedures, schedules, and supporting
documentation for grants, gifts, endowments, and restricted funds.
Recommend process improvements that enhance efficiency, compliance,
reporting accuracy, and stewardship.
6. Campus Collaboration and Training:
Serve as the College's primary financial resource for grant, gift, pledge,
and endowment accounting. C
Collaborate with Institutional Advancement, principal investigators, Human
Resources, Finance, and other campus departments to support grant and gift
administration, donor compliance, and financial reporting.
Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on grant compliance,
budgeting, donor restrictions, and financial reporting requirements.
7. Other Duties as Assigned:
Assist with annual budget preparation for grant-funded and restricted
activities.
Support special financial projects, strategic initiatives, and
institutional committees related to grants, research administration,
compliance, and financial management.
Assist with fiscal year-end closing, audit preparation, and work
additional hours during peak periods as needed.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a
related field is required.
Minimum of five years of progressive experience in grant, fund, nonprofit,
or higher education accounting, including administration of federally
funded grants and knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
Strong knowledge of GAAP, fund accounting, and higher education or
nonprofit accounting practices, with advanced proficiency in Microsoft
Excel and accounting software.
Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving, communication, and
project management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively
across campus and with external funding agencies.
Experience with restricted gift, endowment, and pledge accounting, Workday
Financial Management or a comparable ERP system, and CPA certification are
preferred.
About Carthage
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan in the thriving Chicago-Milwaukee
corridor, Carthage College blends the best liberal arts traditions with
desirable degree programs, transformative learning opportunities, and personal
attention from dedicated faculty and staff. Our beautiful campus, an 80-acre
arboretum with stunning lake views, is home to 2,600 undergraduate students
and 200 graduate students. Founded in 1847, Carthage is consistently named a
Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review and a Most Innovative School
by U.S. News & World Report. All Carthage employees play a vital part in the
success of our students, as we work together to create an environment where
all can achieve their true potential. Grow with Carthage.
Carthage College is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) dedicated to the
goal of building a culturally diverse community. We welcome applications from
a broad spectrum of people, including members of ethnic minorities, women,
veterans, and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will
receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion,
sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin,
protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.
