Accountant I

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What We Offer:

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Benefits.

What You Will Do:

This position will be responsible for providing support in all aspects of the accounting and monitoring of compliance with grants, including; assisting the development office with grant applications, setting up grants in the accounting system once they are awarded, tracking grants after they have been awarded, coordinating the reporting and compliance of such with fiscal officers, verifying reporting requirements with respect to grants are maintained and providing support for the grant through all award years and serving as the main contact for faculty and funders involved in grants. This position is expected to support all technical aspects of submissions, awards and will be a crucial link in connecting proposal development and award administration.

Handles all aspects of grant award administration including; supporting the grant principal investigator in subcontractor bids and agreement, finalizing/submitting all documentation to the funding agency (including applications, certifications and assurances, programmatic and fiscal reports, awards and amendments, grants account analysis, reconciliations, invoicing, A/R, and close-out packages).
• Maintains all proposal, award files, coordinating contact with external funding sources to obtain necessary pre and post award information.
• Connects with internal departments to efficiently handle the day-to-day activities of the grant department, assuring that the office maintains accurate and detailed accounting records for each grant and reviewing the financial contract compliance requirements/reporting for all Federal, State and foundation grants.
• Provides support to the development office on proposals, including reviewing applications to determine accuracy and completeness.
• Performs general account reconciliations for accounting department and assists with various general accounting functions, including cash folders, bank reconciliations, and disbursement activity.
• All other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Minimum 1-3 years of experience working in accounting/finance role or closely related field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.)
• Clerical/Technical Skills: Possesses the technical skills and knowledge required to perform essential tasks in an efficient and effective manner. Demonstrates the willingness and ability to train or coach others in the technical arena
• Decision Quality: Gathers enough information to allow a trustworthy assessment of risks and benefits of alternative approaches in any decision. Stays focused on objectives and considers both the short-term and longer-term impact of decisions and keeps objectives in mind throughout the process.
• Time Management: Prioritizes tasks and manages time to ensure that deadlines are met. Plans his or her time and sticks to those plans. Prevents or manages interruptions until the highest priority tasks are accomplished
• Relationship Building: Builds rapport and develops alliances with a broad range of people. Adjusts communication style to meet the needs of individuals at various organizational levels and to meet the needs of clients. Forms alliances by demonstrating concern and respect for others, as well as by highlighting common interests and aspirations. Leave others feeling that he/she will be a trusted ally and is careful to act in ways that reinforce that trust over time.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.