Accounting Specialist: Social Work Office of Research & Public Service - UTK

Support a Mission. Strengthen our Team. Make an Impact.

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is seeking an Accounting Specialist to support the financial and administrative operations of the Tennessee Child Support Employment and Parenting Program (TCSEPP). This role is ideal for a detail-driven, service-minded professional who enjoys solving problems, keeping processes moving, and helping teams stay compliant, organized, and audit-ready.

As an Accounting Specialist, you’ll be a key partner to program staff—helping facilitate the financial processes that support TCSEPP’s work with non-custodial parents as they overcome barriers to employment, pay child support, and strengthen bonds with their children. You will process, review, document, and follow through on a wide range of non-labor financial transactions, ensuring each item is accurate, properly coded, fully documented, and compliant with University, SWORPS, sponsor, grant/contract, and project-specific requirements.

In addition to transaction support, you’ll serve as a practical resource to staff by answering questions, reinforcing expectations, and contributing to improvements in procedures, job aids, and training materials.) If you take pride in strong follow-through, sound judgment, and helping others navigate financial processes with confidence, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

The Accounting Specialist will:

• Process day-to-day financial transactions and ensure everything is accurate, properly approved, coded correctly, and compliant.
• Fix problems and missing documentation by coordinating with staff, vendors, and University offices.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready records and provide documentation needed for sponsor invoicing, monitoring, audits, and closeout.
• Support purchasing and vendor and help prepare related contract paperwork so submissions are complete and ready for review.
• Handle travel and University card activity, review transactions, complete the first review/approval, resolve issues, and route items for final review.
• Manage petty cash and gift cards with strong documentation and internal controls; resolve or escalate discrepancies as needed.
• Help staff understand and follow fiscal processes by answering questions, supporting onboarding/training, and communicating approved process updates.
• Improve how work gets done by spotting recurring issues and recommending updates

Required Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field.

  • In lieu of a degree, an additional two years of progressively responsible accounting/administrative experience may be accepted.

• Experience: Two years of progressively responsible accounting and administrative experience

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of basic accounting principles and financial transaction processing.

  • Skill in communicating fiscal policies, procedures, and financial-process requirements clearly and professionally to employees with varying levels of financial knowledge.

  • Skill in providing responsive customer service and practical training, demonstrations, walkthroughs, or process guidance to staff.

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive deadlines while working independently and collaboratively.

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn University financial and procurement systems.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or related field

• Experience: Experience in an academic environment. Knowledge of UT fiscal policies and procedures.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of State and Federal contract and financial requirements.

  • Working knowledge of UT fiscal and HR policies and procedures.

  • Knowledge of financial applications such as DASH or other enterprise financial systems.

  • Knowledge of sponsored-project financial documentation and audit-readiness practices.

Work Location

• Location: This position is based in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement consisting of up to two days of working at home per week.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: 06
• Anticipated hiring range salary will align with qualifications and experience; anticipated hiring range between $50,000 - $54,000. You can see UT Market Ranges here
• UT has a full benefits package including comprehensive heath insurances, strong retirements options including employer matching, generous time off including the week between Christmas and New Years, tuition waivers and hundreds of additional discounts and benefits. Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.

Interested individuals should provide the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division

Since 1975, the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) has served as the community outreach arm of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Social Work — partnering with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Tennessee and beyond. Our mission is to build partnerships that leverage applied research, technology, and human connection to improve lives, guided by a vision of thriving communities with improved outcomes for all.

Now celebrating 50 years of impact, SWORPS continues to be guided by five core values: Innovation, Access, Understanding, Collaboration, and Integrity. Joining SWORPS means becoming part of a mission-driven team that bridges communities and transforms lives — not just through our work with partner agencies, but through hands-on community engagement across the state.

Our team — proudly known as "SWORPees" — is organized into divisions focused on Applied Research & Evaluation, Field-Based Services, and Technology & Development, all supported by a dedicated business office that keeps our operations running smoothly.

Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/