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Grant Accounting Services for NIH, DOE and NSF Award Recipients

Stay compliant with NIH, DOE, and NSF requirements with accounting processes that help you track costs accurately, meet reporting deadlines and prepare for audits with confidence.

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Stay Compliant With Federal Grant Requirements While Maintaining Accurate, Audit-ready Accounting

When you receive funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Energy (DOE) or National Science Foundation (NSF), your accounting responsibilities become significantly more complex. These awards introduce strict financial management, reporting and compliance requirements that extend well beyond traditional accounting. You need to track costs accurately, support allowable expenses, and maintain the controls and visibility required to operate effectively.

Cherry Bekaert helps organizations navigate the complexities of federal grant accounting while strengthening compliance and financial oversight. Our experienced federal grant and contract advisors bring specialized knowledge of agency requirements, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 31 cost principles, and compliance expectations to help optimize accounting processes, maintain compliance and support accurate reporting across your organization.

Get Guidance on Your Federal Grant Accounting Challenges

Connect with a Cherry Bekaert advisor to discuss your grant accounting, compliance and reporting needs. 

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Strengthen Grant Compliance, Reporting and Financial Visibility

Your Accounting Must Align With NIH, DOE And NSF Requirements

Federal grant funding is not “free money.” Each agency imposes specific accounting, reporting and compliance obligations that must be followed throughout the life of the award.

  • NIH awards require compliance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement
  • NSF awards require adherence to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG)*
  • Many grants require alignment with FAR Part 31 and 2 CFR 200 cost principles

*NSF is currently transitioning from the PAPPG to a new Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA). Organizations should continue following current NSF grant guidance until final implementation details are issued. 

Properly Account for Grant Costs and Avoid Disallowed Expenses

Most NIH, DOE and NSF grants are cost-reimbursable, meaning you are responsible for accurately tracking and supporting all project-related costs.

This includes:

  • Identifying allowable vs. unallowable costs
  • Tracking direct and indirect costs at the project level
  • Maintaining documentation to support all costs charged to the grant
  • Applying consistent cost treatment across your accounting system

If costs are not properly managed, you risk disallowed costs, repayment obligations and increased scrutiny. Cherry Bekaert’s federal grant advisors can help you implement processes that improve cost accuracy, strengthen documentation and reduce compliance risk.

Meet Financial Reporting Requirements Without Disruption

Federal grants require timely, accurate and complete reporting.

  • NIH requires Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) tied to funding and expenditures
  • NSF requires annual, final and project outcome reports with defined timelines

Missed deadlines or inaccurate reporting can delay funding, trigger oversight or impact future awards. We can help you establish repeatable reporting processes so you can meet requirements consistently and maintain alignment between your accounting system and submitted reports.

Prepare for Audits and Strengthen Compliance Readiness

Grant recipients may be subject to audits based on funding levels and agency requirements, including Uniform Guidance (Single) Audits under 2 CFR 200. Even outside of formal audits, agencies may review cost classifications, reporting accuracy and internal controls.

Our federal grant advisors help you take a proactive approach by:

  • Strengthening internal controls
  • Improving cost documentation and consistency
  • Aligning your accounting system with federal expectations

Gain Better Visibility Into Grant Performance and Financial Outcomes

Strong grant accounting not only supports compliance, it also provides insight into how your funding is being used.

With the right processes, you can:

  • Track project-level costs and spending
  • Monitor financial performance across grants
  • Improve planning and funding utilization
  • Make more informed, data-driven decisions

Cherry Bekaert helps you move from reactive compliance to a more structured, insight-driven approach to managing your grants.

Your Accounting Must Align With NIH, DOE And NSF Requirements

Federal grant funding is not “free money.” Each agency imposes specific accounting, reporting and compliance obligations that must be followed throughout the life of the award.

  • NIH awards require compliance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement
  • NSF awards require adherence to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG)*
  • Many grants require alignment with FAR Part 31 and 2 CFR 200 cost principles

*NSF is currently transitioning from the PAPPG to a new Guidance on Financial Assistance (GFA). Organizations should continue following current NSF grant guidance until final implementation details are issued. 

Properly Account for Grant Costs and Avoid Disallowed Expenses

Most NIH, DOE and NSF grants are cost-reimbursable, meaning you are responsible for accurately tracking and supporting all project-related costs.

This includes:

  • Identifying allowable vs. unallowable costs
  • Tracking direct and indirect costs at the project level
  • Maintaining documentation to support all costs charged to the grant
  • Applying consistent cost treatment across your accounting system

If costs are not properly managed, you risk disallowed costs, repayment obligations and increased scrutiny. Cherry Bekaert’s federal grant advisors can help you implement processes that improve cost accuracy, strengthen documentation and reduce compliance risk.

Meet Financial Reporting Requirements Without Disruption

Federal grants require timely, accurate and complete reporting.

  • NIH requires Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) tied to funding and expenditures
  • NSF requires annual, final and project outcome reports with defined timelines

Missed deadlines or inaccurate reporting can delay funding, trigger oversight or impact future awards. We can help you establish repeatable reporting processes so you can meet requirements consistently and maintain alignment between your accounting system and submitted reports.

Prepare for Audits and Strengthen Compliance Readiness

Grant recipients may be subject to audits based on funding levels and agency requirements, including Uniform Guidance (Single) Audits under 2 CFR 200. Even outside of formal audits, agencies may review cost classifications, reporting accuracy and internal controls.

Our federal grant advisors help you take a proactive approach by:

  • Strengthening internal controls
  • Improving cost documentation and consistency
  • Aligning your accounting system with federal expectations

Gain Better Visibility Into Grant Performance and Financial Outcomes

Strong grant accounting not only supports compliance, it also provides insight into how your funding is being used.

With the right processes, you can:

  • Track project-level costs and spending
  • Monitor financial performance across grants
  • Improve planning and funding utilization
  • Make more informed, data-driven decisions

Cherry Bekaert helps you move from reactive compliance to a more structured, insight-driven approach to managing your grants.

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Complimentary DCAA Compliant - FAR Part 31 Accounting System Assessment

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Benefits of Using Cherry Bekaert for Your Federal Grant Accounting Needs

For organizations navigating the complexities of federal grants, Cherry Bekaert delivers more than accounting support. We provide access to experienced federal contract and grant advisors who understand your funding agencies, industry requirements and compliance expectations. With specialized knowledge spanning NIH, DOE and NSF funding environments, our team helps strengthen accounting processes, align with FAR-based cost principles and agency-specific guidance, and support accurate reporting across your organization. The result is greater confidence in compliance, improved financial oversight, and a stronger foundation for managing federal funding requirements.

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Ed Jameson

Government Contracting Leader

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Bryan Cohen

Outsourced Accounting Services

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

Brian LaCroix

Outsourced Accounting Services

Partner, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC

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Frequently Asked Questions About Federal Grant Accounting, Compliance and Reporting Requirements

Grant accounting is the process of tracking, managing and reporting costs associated with federal grants while complying with agency-specific requirements. Organizations receiving NIH, DOE, or NSF funding must maintain accounting practices that support accurate cost tracking, financial reporting and compliance with applicable federal requirements. 

Federal grants introduce specific financial management, reporting and compliance obligations that extend beyond traditional accounting practices. Recipients must track allowable costs, maintain supporting documentation and comply with agency requirements throughout the life of the award. 

Funding agencies maintain their own grant administration requirements and regulations. NIH awards require compliance with the NIH Grants Policy Statement, NSF awards require adherence to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), and many grants require alignment with FAR Part 31 and 2 CFR 200 cost principles. 

Federal grant recipients are responsible for identifying allowable versus unallowable costs and maintaining documentation to support expenses charged to the grant. Improper cost allocation or unsupported expenses can result in disallowed costs, repayment obligations and increased oversight. 

Many federal grants require organizations to align accounting practices with FAR Part 31 cost principles. These requirements influence how costs are classified, documented and consistently applied across the accounting system. 

Federal grant recipients are required to submit timely, accurate and complete financial reports. For example, NIH requires Federal Financial Reports (SF-425), while NSF requires annual, final and project outcome reports based on defined reporting timelines. 

Organizations can improve audit readiness by strengthening internal controls, improving cost documentation, maintaining accurate financial records and aligning accounting systems with federal requirements. Grant recipients may also be subject to Uniform Guidance (Single) Audits under 2 CFR 200 based on funding levels and agency requirements. 

When costs are not accurately tracked and documented, organizations may face disallowed costs, repayment obligations, funding delays and increased scrutiny from funding agencies. Maintaining consistent cost treatment and supporting documentation helps reduce compliance risk. 

Strong grant accounting practices provide greater visibility into project-level costs, spending and financial performance. This information can help organizations monitor funding utilization, improve planning and make more informed financial decisions. 

Cherry Bekaert's federal contract and grant advisors help organizations optimize accounting processes, maintain compliance, support accurate reporting, improve cost documentation and align accounting systems with federal grant requirements. Their experience spans NIH, DOE, and NSF funding environments as well as FAR Part 31 cost principles and related compliance requirements. 

Contact Our Federal Grant Consulting Team