Finance and Accounting Professional

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Transit pass

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder seeks a Finance and Accounting Professional to provide financial management and professional accounting support to the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Responsibilities include procurement, travel, journal entries, and grant administration in a hybrid on-campus role with emphasis on compliance and process improvement.

The role requires strong administrative and fiscal skills, experience with GASB principles, and collaboration with campus offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field and 1+ year of accounting experience in a complex environment.
• Understanding of internal controls and GAAP guidelines.
• Experience with budget management and fund accounting in higher education is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis and management of general, auxiliary, gift, and plant funds.
• Prepare monthly and year-end financial reports and journal entries.
• Collaborate with Grants Administrator to monitor sponsored project awards.
• Manage procurement, travel, and reimbursable transactions.
• Support payroll and cost transfers as needed.
• Assist with process improvements across department operations.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organization

Time management

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

PeopleSoft ERP

Database administration

Job description

Job Summary

The Finance and Accounting Professional provides financialmanagement and professional accounting support to the Department ofEcology and Evolutionary Biology. This role is responsible forprocurement, travel, accounting programs and all related financialprocesses while ensuring compliance with state fiscal rules andsponsor, campus and departmental rules and regulations. This rolewill also collaborate with the Grants Administrator to monitor andmanage grant awards. Key responsibilities include monthly and year-end reconciliation ofall department accounts, acting as department expense approver, andimplementing journal entry corrections. This position is taskedwith researching, creating, implementing, and educating the unit onprocess improvements to streamline departmental fiscal operations.This position requires strong administrative and fiscal skills, theability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities, andfamiliarity with State of Colorado and University of Coloradofiscal policies. Also required are strong communication andcollaboration skills. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology has 44 tenureand teaching track faculty members, 20+ research faculty members, 8staff members, and 85+ graduate students. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

EBIO's

EBIO's disciplinary strengths include ecology, evolution, genetics, behavior, biology education research and systematics. Our research programs have relevance for global change, conservationbiology, the spread of diseases, and revealing fundamentalmechanisms underlying the structural and functional adaptations oforganizations.

Research Areas

Our faculty specialize in many fields ofEcology and Evolutionary Biology. Interested in learning more? Visit the various research interests of our faculty.

In the Field

Our faculty, students and researchers travel the world to conduct research in ecology and evolution. Learn moreabout their experiences and stories in our In the Fieldarticles.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Contract & Fund Account Management

• Lead the oversight and analysis of all assigned general,auxiliary, gift and plant funds; ensure compliance with GASBprinciples, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and Universitypolicies.
• Maintain tracking documents and files for all assigned funds.Evaluate and make recommendations to the Finance and BusinessOperations Manager on closing and opening departmentspeedtypes.
• Closely collaborate with the Graduate Program Coordinator/EBIOStaff in reviewing and administering research, fellowship, andother types of graduate student awards from all sources, includingEBIO, Grad School, other units on campus and non-universitysponsors. Ensure that tuition, insurance, and fees are managedcorrectly according to award allowability.
• Manage and evaluate faculty startup and retention accounts,ensuring they are funded and spent according to their agreementterms.
• Maintain close administrative and fiscal relationship with thedepartment and outside units, in particular the Office of Contractsand Grants, Campus Controller’s Office, Procurement Service Center,Fiscal Service Center, and the Office of InformationTechnology.
• Evaluate changing university, campus, college, and divisionbusiness procedures and policies and adjust or create departmentalprocesses.
• Solve complex and sensitive financial challenges usingprofessional theories, innovative solutions, and risk mitigationstrategies.
• Engage in process improvement in all fiscal departmentaloperations, including procurement. As needed, create, implement,and evaluate processes and procedures to meet the department’sfiscal needs within the university system.

Reconciling, Analyzing, Reporting and Projecting

• Review and provide monthly financial reports for accountholders of all assigned funds. Provide actionable insights andproactively reach out for support in resolving complexsituations.
• Compile and evaluate information requested by the EBIO Financeand Business Operations Manager, Chair, Executive Committee, BudgetCommittee, College of Arts & Sciences, or others.
• Analyze spending and process budget transactions for departmentcourse speed types and other accounts as assigned.
• Process expense, cash and budget transfers (Journal Entries) asneeded. Gather all required documentation and maintain tracking andfiling of all JE paperwork.
• Maintain documentation in the appropriate locations in thedepartmental FileShare.
• Collaborate with the Finance and Business Operations Manager inperforming fiscal year end tasks.

Procurement

• Serve as the Approving Official for all procurement, travel,and personal reimbursement expense reports. Provide fiscaloversight for all expenses, to ensure compliance with approvedbudgets, policies, procedures, rules and regulations. This includescapital equipment and high-value purchases.
• Manage all Marketplace transactions and processes, includingapprovals, purchase orders, supply and services receiving, supplierset up, and payment vouchers.
• Ensure correct account code assignments for all expenses.
• Serve as the departmental approver for travelauthorizations.
• Create reconciliation reports for departmental FedEx shippingaccount.
• Manage the cardholder roster, including new cardholderrequests, compliance reviews, and card revocation as needed.
• Administer computer purchases through the Faculty ComputerPurchase Program (FCPP).
• Process scope of work contracts, wire transfers, personalreimbursements, honorarium, and other procurement and financialtasks, as needed.
• Assist with financial transactions, including resolving issuesrelated to speedtypes and coordinating with appropriate campuspartners to ensure accuracy and compliance.

HR Support

• Closely collaborate with all other staff members to ensureavailable budget and fiscal approval for all employee hiring onnon-sponsored project speedtypes.
• Provide financial data support for payroll expenses transfers(PETs), as needed.

Grant Support

• Closely collaborate with the Grants Administrator to ensureavailable budget and sponsor allowability on all sponsored projectexpenses submitted for approval, including travel.
• Support process improvement initiatives to drive efficiency andstandard methodologies across procurement and reimbursementfunctions.
• Provide procurement expertise for complex problem solving.

Administrative Support

• Support project initiatives, including renovation/capitalprojects, that enhance departmental resources and shareddocumentation, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and alignment withstandard methodologies.
• Provide financial administrative and other support fordepartment events, including winter and spring recognitionceremonies.
• Assist with general office functions, communications anddocumentation, ensuring alignment with university policies andprocedures.

Collaboration and Professional Development

• Back up other team members.
• Participate in campus initiatives or working groups, attendcampus and off-campus trainings pertaining to account managementand procurement, provided by PSC, CCO, senior finance managers,etc.

Other/Projects

• Other duties as assigned by the EBIO Finance and BusinessOperations Manager.

What You Should Know

• This is a hybrid work opportunity requiring a minimum of 3 daysper week on campus after the initial training period.
• Onboarding assistance may be available for this position

What We Can Offer

• The salary for this position is $58,200.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America’s BestLarge Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be impactful. Be strategic. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in accounting,finance, or related field.
• 1+ year of progressively responsible experience in accounting,finance, and/or business administration in a complex environmentthat includes budgetary responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of internalaccounting control principles, as well as generally acceptedaccounting principles (GAAP).

What You Will Need

• Willingness to work interactively in a team.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and trustingworking relationships with faculty, administrators, and staff.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong organizational, planning and time managementskills.
• Ability to handle multiple, complex assignments and problemsolve.
• Ability to work independently to identify and address problemsand issues.
• Excellent computer skills: Microsoft suite, Google suite,database administration and willingness to learn new software.

What We Would Like You to Have

• 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in accounting,finance, and/or business administration in a complex environmentthat includes budgetary responsibilities.
• Experience with research and contract accounting andmanagement.
• Experience working with PeopleSoft HR and Finance or similardatabases.
• Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, and fiscal principlesand practices in a higher education environment, includingbudgeting and fund accounting.
• Strong knowledge of accounting and budgeting in all funds(general, auxiliary, gift, grant, and plant) as well as anunderstanding of the CU Foundation accounting system.