Grant & Accounts Payable Analyst

About North Park University
Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world. Located for over 125 years on the land of the Miami and Potawatomi tribes in what is today Chicago’s northside, NPU has recently been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and is committed to serving diverse populations. Elevating North Park University’s core distinctives of Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, NPU values diversity among its Faculty and is committed to building a racially and culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages the nomination and candidacies of persons who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color regardless of gender.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Position Summary

The Grant & Accounts Payable Analyst is a hybrid Business Office role serving both academic grant administration and financial operations. Approximately 50% of the position supports the Seminary as the primary financial liaison for the Lilly Endowment–funded One Covenant Community Large-Scale Collaboration grant under the Pathways initiative. This includes close coordination with the One Covenant Community Project Lead and the Seminary Dean of Faculty. The remaining 50% of the role supports accounts payable and procurement operations, ensuring strong internal controls, compliance, and efficient financial processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Seminary Grant Specialist – Lilly Pathways Grant (50%)

• Serve as the primary Business Office contact for the Seminary on the One Covenant Community Pathways grant.
• Coordinate closely with the One Covenant Community Project Lead and Seminary Dean of Faculty on budgeting, forecasting, spending timelines, and financial compliance.
• Manage post-award financial oversight, including budget development, expenditure monitoring, and carryforward analysis.
• Prepare and submit required financial reports to the granting agency in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure all grant expenditures are allowable, reasonable, and compliant with grant terms, OMB Uniform Guidance, and university policies.
• Maintain complete grant fiscal records and documentation.
• Review and approve grant-related journal entries; assign account codes and monitor transactions.
• Attend grant and Seminary leadership meetings as the Business Office liaison.

Accounts Payable & Procurement Operations (50%)

• Oversee accounts payable operations, including invoice processing, vendor payments, and reconciliations.
• Provide functional oversight of the Accounts Payable Specialist.
• Manage wire transfers, ACH payments, and other disbursements.
• Administer and monitor purchasing cards (P-Cards), including compliance review and reconciliation.
• Support procurement and purchase order workflows in accordance with university policy.
• Reconcile assigned general ledger accounts and resolve discrepancies.
• Support internal and external audits related to payables, procurement, and grants.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of accounting experience in higher education, nonprofit, or fund accounting environments.
• Experience with grant accounting or post-award grant management preferred.
• Working knowledge of Colleague, SmartData, procurement systems, purchasing cards (P-Cards), and purchase order processes.
• Familiarity with federal grant regulations and OMB Uniform Guidance a plus.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated commitment to North Park University’s mission of Christian higher education and diversity.

Salary for this position is $60,000

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development