Grant Accountant II

San Francisco Estuary Institute

San Francisco Estuary Institute

Accounting & Finance

San Francisco, CA, USA

USD 85k-89k / year

Posted on Apr 24, 2026

Grant Accountant II

  • Location: Richmond, California

  • Program: Operations

  • Type: Full-time

  • Experience Level: Some Experience

  • Position Type: Permanent

  • Salary: $85,000 - $89,000. See details below.

Position Description

  • Posted: April 23, 2026

  • First review of applications: May 11, 2026

  • Application closing date: 4 weeks from first review date

SFEI is looking for a Grant Accountant to join our Grants and Contract team within the Operations department. We are looking for a detail-oriented Grant Accountant to oversee the financial management, compliance reporting, and reconciliation of various grants, including federal, state, and foundation funding. This role requires strong attention to accuracy and adherence to regulations, ensuring that all grant-related financial activities align with organizational policies and funding requirements.

SFEI has $50M in government funded grants and contracts. We partner with federal, state, and local government agencies to provide essential data and knowledge to improve water quality and protect human and ecological health. We also have a growing development program that includes grants with philanthropic entities and non-governmental funders.

The Grant Accountant will be responsible for processing accounting and financial transactions related to contract and grant management and maintaining contract and grant records in compliance with institutional and funder policies. The scope of responsibilities for this position will focus mainly on post-award financial management of a variety of funding sources.

Primary position responsibilities will include:

  • Setup, monitor, and close out projects in compliance with requirements

  • Track project expenses and prepare financial reports for funders

  • Reconcile grant accounts with the general ledger

  • Ensure compliance with federal (e.g., Uniform Guidance), state, or private regulations and support the general and single audit

  • Complex reporting and financial research

  • Analyzing data for reporting using pivot tables, vlookup, xlookup and other functions

  • Implementing general ledger reconciliation and verification process

  • Reconnaissance and problem solving on project budget and accounting issues

  • Reviewing weekly cash receipts in accounting system, as needed

  • Issuing and filing annual 1099 forms for subcontractors

  • Under supervision, preparing federal 425 forms

  • Under supervision, preparing the federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) rate and reconciliation

  • Work with program staff to manage funder requirements and financial reporting

  • Proactively applying effective interpersonal skills and available technology to facilitate and expedite the integration, communication, and coordination of all information and activities related to administration of contracts and grants

  • May assist with upgrade of existing accounting software

  • Other organizational financial and general accounting responsibilities, as needed

We will consider a fully remote work schedule, though hybrid (2-3 days in the office) is preferred

If you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this, or one of our other roles.

Qualifications

Required Skills

  • Ability to independently gather required information to organize and perform accounting and financial analysis assignments

  • Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting

  • General understanding of grant administration guidelines for Federal and non-Federal funders

  • Demonstrated competence in the use of accounting software including data retrieval and data analysis

  • Proficiency in Google Sheets (VLOOKUP, pivot tables)

  • Ability to manage a significant volume of transactions

  • Strong interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills; service orientation; attention to detail

  • Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal, and reporting principles

  • Demonstrated knowledge of effective grant funding processes, procedures, and techniques

Preferred Skills

  • Some foundation grant reporting experience may be helpful

Required Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field

  • Minimum 5 years of accounting/financial work experience, preferably in a non-profit environment

Salary & Benefits Highlights

  • This will be a Grant Accountant position. The anticipated salary range for full time employment is $85,000 to $89,000 for this position (Bay Area salary ranges are listed; note that salary ranges for other locations are 10-15% lower depending on location and are based on locational salary data). Salary ranges take into account many factors for making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, education, internal salary structure, and organizational needs. We expect to offer starting salaries at or near the lower end of the salary range.

  • Matching contributions to retirement plan (immediate vesting) (403B)

  • Medical Insurance: health, vision, dental with employer and employee contributions

  • 12 paid holidays

  • Vacation days starting at 3 weeks accrual/year

  • Hybrid workplace

About SFEI

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has a more than 30-year track record of providing robust and innovative science to decision-makers, policy-makers, practitioners, and community members to measurably improve the health and resiliency of Bay-Delta ecosystems. As a boundary organization, SFEI operates at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Our mission is to deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities.

SFEI employs an interdisciplinary staff of more than 90. Our operations and IT staff are the backbone of our organization and keep everything running smoothly. SFEI has three major programs: Clean Water, Environmental Informatics, and Resilient Landscapes. Our program staff represent numerous scientific and technological fields, including chemistry, modeling, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape planning, historical ecology, geomorphology, geospatial analysis, and web development.

For more information on our mission, values, programs, and staff, visit the San Francisco Estuary Institute website.

Employment Considerations

San Francisco Estuary Institute is committed to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, family or parental status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Accommodations Statement

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website or application portal as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact us at 510-746-7355 or admin@sfei.org.

Other Key Information

Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position.

In the spirit of a fair hiring process, no phone calls or emails please.

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