Accounting Specialist

University of Northern Colorado; Greeley (CO); On-site; USD 48,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

UNC Career Hub

Job summary

The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO, invites applications for an Accounting Specialist in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Reporting to the Business Operations Manager, you will handle FOAP management, travel and purchasing processes, and financial reporting to support academic, clinical, and research missions.

You will ensure compliance with university policies, state regulations, and audits, using Banner and related systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Record, track, and analyze financial transactions using Banner and budgeting tools.
• Monitor, reconcile, and produce regular financial reports for COM funds.
• Process journal entries, labor redistributions, and budget adjustments.
• Support routine purchasing and procurement transactions per policy.
• Assist with year-end closing activities and reporting.
• Prepare historical and ad hoc financial reports for leadership.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related discipline

Tools

Banner

Budgeting tools

Document management systems

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Accounting Specialist

COMPENSATION RANGE:48,000.00 - 53,560.00 USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION:Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT:Dean Col Osteopathic Med Office

TARGET HIRE DATE:11/1/2026

BENEFITS:UNC’s Career Hub

Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; UNC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.

Position Summary

The Accounting Specialist is a key support position within the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and plays a critical role in ensuring the effective fiscal operations of the college. Reporting to the Business Operations Manager, this position exists to provide accurate, timely, and compliant accounting and purchasing support that enables the COM to fulfill its academic, clinical, research, and accreditation-related missions.

The Accounting Specialist supports faculty, staff, and students by coordinating and processing a wide range of financial transactions, while serving as a liaison between the College of Osteopathic Medicine and central administrative offices such as General Accounting, Budget, Purchasing & Contracts, and Accounts Payable. This role is essential to maintaining sound financial stewardship in a complex environment that includes instructional programs, clinical activities, faculty practice plans, student-related expenses, grants, and strategic initiatives associated with launching and sustaining a medical school.

This position is responsible for processing and monitoring transactions related to travel, procurement cards, reallocations, fund approvals, purchase orders, check/ACH requests, invoices, journal entries, and deposits, in accordance with university policies, state regulations, and medical education requirements. The Accounting Specialist must be proficient in the financial systems used by the university (such as Banner, budget and reporting tools, and document management systems) and use this knowledge to resolve issues, ensure compliance, and support financial reporting and audits.

In addition to transaction processing, the Accounting Specialist contributes to the overall fiscal health of the College of Osteopathic Medicine by reviewing account activity, identifying discrepancies or trends, and providing analysis to support decision-making. The position supports the Business Operations Manager by helping assess how resources are allocated and spent, identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, and ensuring that funds are used effectively to support students, faculty, and the long-term sustainability of the College.

Job Duties

Fund/Account (FOAP) Management, Monitoring, and Reconciliation – 35%

• Record, track, and analyze financial transactions using Banner, budgeting tools, spreadsheets, and other accounting systems.
• Monitor, reconcile, and produce regular financial reports for College of Osteopathic Medicine funds, which may include state appropriations, clinical and programmatic funds, grants and research-related funds, faculty development funds, departmental cash funds, and Foundation-supported accounts.
• Process journal entries, labor redistributions, and budget adjustments as necessary to ensure accurate accounting and proper fund management.
• Processes and supports routine purchasing and procurement transactions in accordance with university policy; does not exercise final purchasing or contracting authority.
• Support fiscal year-end closing activities, including reviewing and closing purchase orders, reconciling expenditures, and ensuring compliance with university deadlines.
• Prepare historical and ad hoc financial reports for the Business Operations Manager, Dean, and College leadership to support budgeting, forecasting, accreditation planning, and strategic decision-making.
• Maintain working knowledge of all financial systems used by the university, including those related to accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, and budgeting, in order to identify and resolve discrepancies and improve efficiency.

Fund Approval and Financial Transactions – 30%

• Serve as a primary fund approver for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, verifying FOAP availability, appropriateness of expenses, and compliance with university, state, and College policies.
• Guide and assist faculty, staff, and student-facing programs in understanding and following fiscal policies, procedures, and timelines.
• Review procurement card (p-card) transactions and supporting documentation after departmental review to ensure purchases fall within approved scope and policy.
• Process and track travel-related transactions, including candidate recruitment, student activities, clinical travel, and accreditation-related travel reimbursements.
• Process reimbursement requests, invoices, check/ACH requests, deposits, cash advances, petty cash, purchase orders, and electronic internal orders.
• Assist with capital asset purchases, inventory tracking, and property control activities related to instructional, clinical, or research operations within the College.
• Process financial transactions related to student awards, gifts, incentives, prizes, and honoraria in compliance with policy.

Contract, Agreement, and Purchasing Coordination – 15%

• Serve as the initial point of contact within the College of Osteopathic Medicine for contracts, MOUs, affiliation agreements, clinical agreements, vendor agreements, sales-related documents, and intergovernmental agreements.
• Coordinate with Purchasing & Contracts and other central offices to ensure agreements are properly reviewed, executed, and compliant with university requirements.
• Advise faculty and staff on procurement options, including determining whether purchases require competitive solicitation, are covered under existing university contracts, or may be purchased at the department level.
• Assist College leadership and program staff with purchasing strategies related to instructional materials, simulation equipment, clinical resources, and professional services.

Forms, Documentation, and Process Oversight – 10%

• Review and manage accounting and purchasing forms to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance prior to submission.
• Determine appropriate corrective actions for purchasing issues, including whether purchase orders should be reopened, amended, or replaced with new requisitions.
• Maintain approval queues and ensure timely processing of transactions.
• Help faculty and staff understand financial authority levels, approval limitations, and documentation requirements

Training, Collaboration, and Special Assignments – 10%

• Provide training, guidance, and updates to College faculty and staff when accounting or purchasing processes change.
• Serve as a resource to new employees, including faculty, chairs, directors, and administrators, to support understanding of financial reporting, compliance, and university expectations.
• Collaborate with the Business Operations Manager during chart of accounts changes, reorganization, or expansion of programs to request new funds or orgs and realign expenses and revenue.
• Coordinate with central accounting teams and other college/unit accounting staff to align practices, share best practices, and support consistent application of fiscal policy.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s academic, clinical, and strategic objectives.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required. Preferred fields of study include Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related discipline that provides a foundation in accounting principles, financial analysis, and fiscal management.Additional appropriate experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• A minimum of two (2) years of professional accounting or financial support experience is required.Qualifying experience should include responsibility for functions such as fund or account management,budget monitoring, purchasing or procurement processes, reconciliation, transaction processing, andapplication of fiscal policies and procedures.
• Equivalent experience may be substituted for the educational requirement. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of four (4) years of progressive accounting or financial management experience may be accepted. Qualifying experience should include hands‑on responsibility for accounting functions such as fund management, budget monitoring, purchasing, reconciliation, and compliance within a higher education, governmental, healthcare, or similarly regulated environment
• Experience in a higher education, governmental, healthcare, or similarly regulated environment is Preferred.

Benefits

Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses ofUNCEmployees who are employed at 0.5FTEor above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.

About UNC

The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC’s commitment to education began in 1889 andcontinues to be a transformational force for our students. Recognizedas a top university for socialmobility,UNC isproud tobeaHispanicServing Institutionandto serve more than44%ofourundergraduateswhoarethefirst in theirfamily to attend college.UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC’s Career Hub,tolearn more about UNC’s strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!

EEO Statement

The University of Northern Colorado offers an educational and workingenvironment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the UNCcommunity. In accordance with federal and state law, UNC prohibits unlawfuldiscrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, national origin,religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, geneticinformation, and/or veteran status. UNC also prohibits discrimination based ongender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who opposea discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for,assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating todiscrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally protected expression will not beconsidered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is theresponsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure UNC’scompliance with this policy.

ADA Accommodations

The University of Northern Colorado is committedto providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If yourequire reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewingor otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please directyour inquiries to 970-351-2718 or [e-mail].

Background Check

Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment hasbeen made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.

This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.

Clery Act

In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.