Asset Accountant

City and County of Denver; United States; Hybrid; USD 713,000 - 891,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

medical

vision and dental

free RTD pass

tuition reimbursement

life and supplemental insurance plans

retirement plans

LTD plan

Job summary

Metropolitan State University of Denver seeks a Fixed Asset Accountant to manage asset tracking, depreciation, and compliance with GAAP and GASB standards using Workday and Excel.

The role reconciles fixed asset purchases, conducts annual inventory, analyzes lease classifications, and ensures debt obligations are recorded and reported accurately, supporting campus financial operations. This hybrid role collaborates with Budget Office and Facilities on a Colorado campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or related field.
• Experience in a fast-paced environment requiring strong organizational skills and deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Experience using an integrated financial system similar to Workday.
• 2+ years of professional accounting experience including journal entries and reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Draw funds from the State for State-funded capital projects using CORE and Workday.
• Record draws and reconcile project balances in CORE.
• Approve invoices and purchase orders for capital projects, bonds, and leases with correct worktags.

Skills

Journal entries

reconciliations

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business

Tools

Workday

Excel

Job description

Position Summary

This position exists to monitor, record, track, depreciate, and safeguard the University’s fixed assets. It is responsible for proposing University policy regarding fixed asset procurement and tracking. Using Workday and Excel, this position reviews and reconciles all fixed asset purchases, and conducts annual inventory. Additionally, it is responsible for analyzing lease agreements and making the determination of operating leases vs. capital leases by applying GAAP and GASB standards. The Fixed Asset Accountant is also responsible for reviewing, reconciling and ensuring compliance with all debt obligations.

Duties & Responsibilities

25%: Draw funds from the State for State-funded capital projects

• Draw funds from the State for State-funded capital projects by working in the State’s financial system CORE and in Workday.
• Record draws from State and reconcile projects balances to CORE .
• Monitor state financial reports such as the OSC-011, 019 Approve invoices and purchase order documents for capital projects, bonds and leases, ensuring the correct worktags are used, and the payments are in alignment with the respective projects.
• Record all necessary entries to the fixed assets system and general ledger for the plant funds.
• Ensure all bond payments for principal and interest are made in a timely manner, and submits requests for bond subsidies from the federal government.
• Request and post all internal transfers as they relate to the bond payments.
• Process accruals for bond interest (and subsidies) and fund transfers to cover all bond payments.
• Make determinations of what is a GASB 87 or 96 lease or a short term lease, calculate present values, as well as track according to procedures in alignment with all leases according to GASB 87 & 96.

20%: Compliance

• Develop policies and procedures governing the acquisition of assets using fiscal rules, GASB, GAAP, and knowledge of Workday Systems.
• Propose all policies that govern the plant fund and depreciation of assets.
• Ensure compliance with the inventory process by University’s personnel and departments.
• Monitors hedging derivative instruments and process payments should they,become necessary, and review circumstances that could constitute a termination of the University’s swap agreement and propose related entries or disclosures.
• Maintain continuing disclosure compliance leveraging DacBond when appropriate.
• Monitor private business use of tax-exempt bond-financed facilities to ensure tax-exempt status is maintained.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the Budget Office as it pertains to Bond subsidy calculations.
• Act as initial contact with bond counsel for completion of working drafts for new issuance of bonds.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on tax exempt bonds and the federal sequestration by staying current on related IRS rules and federal legislation.
• Initiate/coordinate arbitrage calculations on time and in compliance with bond requirements.
• Write and implement new procedures as necessary for additional bonds.
• Maintain overall compliance with bond issuance.

35%: Reconciliation

• Reconcile the cash account in the plant funds for all bond and capital projects monthly.
• Reconcile Construction in Progress and retainage accounts monthly to the trial balance.
• Reconcile and compare the capital expenditure subsidiary ledger accounts and the asset listing to the Plant Fund, general ledger account to analyze Plant Fund activity.
• Reconcile property tags to the general ledger every quarter, prepare the W2 financial exhibit every quarter.
• Performs bond related reconciliations to ensure all payments are made timely from the correct worktags, and all subsidies are received.
• Reconcile the Lease accounts for GASB 87 and 96 monthly; current and non-current liability, assets, interest and payments.
• Reconcile depreciation for all assets and leases quarterly.

15%: Create system reports

• Create system reports using Workday to gather information on university assets, leases and bonds to support daily responsibilities and reconciliations.
• Maintain existing reports and create new reports as needed in relation to life-to-date project financial transactions, ensuring information is shared with senior leaders and the Facilities department.
• Review and revise the annual inventory and send to University administrators so they may perform the annual physical inventory.
• This includes providing a list of all permanent property control tags using Workday.
• Classify and record additions, deletions, changes, and depreciation in the business asset module.
• Tag assets after they have been placed into service, and conduct quarterly spot checks of physical inventory.
• Maintain the depreciation schedules both in Workday and in Excel.

5%: Compute State exhibits

• Calculate and compose the State exhibits for fixed assets, leases and bonds along side the Fixed Asset Accountant and Jr Asset Accountant.
• Serve as back up to the Fixed Asset Accountant with respect to reconciliations, invoice approvals, journal entries, data extraction, inventory, AHEC workorders etc.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Explain regulations, computations, and procedures involved with the University’s plant fund, fixed assets, leases, and bonds and hedging instruments to auditors.

Position Competencies

Demonstrates values-based leadership by modeling CADRE values, building trust through self-awareness and emotional intelligence, seeking feedback, and navigating conflict productively. Ensures operational effectiveness by managing priorities, time, and resources responsibly, adhering to policies, delivering measurable results, and meeting performance expectations. Aligns individual work with team and departmental goals by contributing to shared priorities, seeking clarity, and adapting to change in support of the 2030 Strategic Plan. Practices collaboration by communicating clearly, checking for understanding, building strong relationships, and engaging diverse perspectives to achieve shared outcomes. Advances equity and belonging with awareness of culture and potential biases, listens openly to diverse perspectives, contributing to respectful and inclusive work relationships. Innovates by developing professional skills, staying informed on relevant trends, and identifying opportunities to improve processes and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, finance, or related field. Experience in a fast-paced environment that would have required exceptional organizational skills and managing multiple deadlines. Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Ability to interact with internal departments and external stakeholders. Experience using an integrated financial system similar to Workday. 2 Years Professional accounting experience which includes experience doing Journal entries, hands on experience doing journal entries. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel. 1 year Professional experience with reconciliations.

Preferred Qualifications

Technical experience working with the Workday Asset module or comparable system. Experience in Higher Education accounting. Professional Fixed Assets experience; including experience with construction in progress, capitalizing assets. Experience interpreting accounting standards and applying them in a professional setting.

Schedule Information

Full-time, 40 hours per week. Exempt. Days of the Week: Mon – Fri. Evenings and Weekend Work: As needed. Schedule: Hybrid schedule available upon completion of training. Must reside in the State of Colorado and be able to commute to campus as needed.

Our commitment to CADRE

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.

Salary for Announcement

Under Colorado law, MSU Denver is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The anticipated hiring range is $63,906 – $79,882. This position is paid monthly and is eligible for MSU Denver benefits.

Benefits

• medical
• vision and dental
• free RTD pass
• tuition reimbursement
• life and supplemental insurance plans
• retirement plans
• access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan

Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more. For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Thank you

Thank you for considering Metropolitan State University of Denver as an employer of choice. MSU Denver has transformed the lives of more than 90,000 people in Denver and Colorado through affordable degree programs, innovative public-private partnerships and a commitment to diversity. Learn about MSU Denver's facts, statistics, and C.A.D.R.E values. If you need another reason to choose MSU Denver, get to know our unbeatable benefits packet.