Grant Accountant in Washington, District of Columbia at American Farmland Trust

Who We Are
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and helped thousands of farm families make a go of it (primarily through programs that increase farm viability and/or enhance farmland access). Long a pioneering leader, AFT is now riding a new wave of growth, driven by agriculture’s most pressing needs and opportunities.

Job purpose

Reporting directly to the Grants Finance Manager (or designee), the Grant Accountant is responsible for maintaining financial, accounting, and grant support services to meet the needs of the organization and its funders. This position performs accounting and financial functions for programs funded by federal and non-federal grants, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely reporting across AFT's diverse grant portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare grant invoices and submit billings to funders in a timely manner, including preparing applicable forms (eg. SF-270) and compiling needed support documentation.
• Prepare accurate and timely grant financial reports for submission to funders, including preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports using SF-425 or other applicable templates.
• Prepare financial reports on grants for internal management; communicate monthly financial results to program staff, informing them of the financial position of each project and current award balance.
• Interpret grant agreements, terms, and conditions to ensure expenditures align with funding guidelines and allowable expense requirements; stay abreast of U.S. Government (USG) grant management policies and their applicability.
• Attend award kick-off meetings; ensure all award-related documents are saved, updated in accounting system, and reflected accurately in the grants tracking log with complete reporting information.
• Coordinate with senior finance colleagues to process journal entries, labor distribution changes, reconciliations, and grant closeout functions; track and monitor match (cost-share) fund requirements and progress on a monthly basis.
• Work closely with program divisions, budget managers, and the finance team to support proper and timely expenditure of grant funds in compliance with applicable guidelines and budget deadlines.
• Compile year-end reports and work papers to support the annual audit and any grant-specific audits; manage grant-related accounting issues with timely resolution and appropriate escalation to the Grants Finance Manager.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to request other or different duties be performed as assigned.