Staff Accountant

Staff Accountant - Grants & Research Finance

📍 San Diego, CA (Hybrid) 💲 $33.65-$36.06/hr 📅 6-Month Contract

Make an Impact Through Meaningful Research

Are you an accountant who enjoys more than just debits and credits? Do you want your work to directly support groundbreaking research and scientific innovation? We're seeking a Staff Accountant to join a mission-driven research organization supporting federally funded and privately sponsored research programs. This role is ideal for someone with strong accounting fundamentals who wants exposure to grant accounting, nonprofit finance, research funding, compliance, and audit support. This is an excellent opportunity to grow your accounting career while contributing to work that advances science, healthcare, and research initiatives.

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Why This Opportunity Stands Out

Gain hands-on experience with federal and private grant accounting Expand your knowledge of nonprofit and research finance Exposure to NIH, NSF, and other sponsored research awards Hybrid work environment Opportunity to work alongside scientists, researchers, and finance professionals Meaningful work supporting innovative research programs

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What You'll Do

- Support month-end close activities, journal entries, and account reconciliations
- Maintain general ledger accounts and ensure financial records are accurate and audit-ready
- Perform balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expense analysis, and bank reconciliations
- Assist with grant and sponsored project accounting, including tracking revenues and expenditures
- Prepare financial reports for research grants and sponsored projects
- Support payroll allocations and effort reporting activities
- Process subrecipient invoices and ensure compliance with grant requirements
- Assist with annual audits, compliance reviews, and Form 990 preparation
- Help maintain documentation related to federal grants and indirect cost allocations
- Partner with researchers, lab administrators, and project stakeholders to provide financial insights and support

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What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
- 2-4 years of accounting experience
- Experience with: General ledger accounting
- Journal entries
- Reconciliations
- Month-end close
- Financial reporting

- Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

- Nonprofit accounting experience
- Grant accounting experience
- Research, higher education, healthcare, or life sciences industry exposure
- Familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)
- Experience with QuickBooks
- Audit support experience
- Knowledge of NIH, NSF, or other federally funded programs

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Ideal Backgrounds

- Staff Accountant
- Grant Accountant
- Nonprofit Accountant
- Research Accountant
- Project Accountant
- Financial Analyst (Nonprofit or Grant-Funded Organizations)

Experience from nonprofit organizations, universities, research institutions, healthcare organizations, or life sciences companies is highly desirable.

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Join a Mission-Driven Team

If you're looking for an opportunity that combines accounting, compliance, and financial analysis while supporting impactful scientific research, this role offers a unique chance to build specialized experience in one of the most meaningful areas of accounting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $33.65 - $36.06/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in San Diego,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.