Finance and Accounting Specialist

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder’s Education Abroad unit is hiring a Finance and Accounting Specialist to support financial operations, scholarship administration, insurance management, and program budgeting for CU Boulder students. You will work closely with the Associate Director of Finance and the broader EA team to ensure compliant, efficient processes.

Responsibilities include reviewing scholarship applications, monitoring budgets, coordinating with Financial Aid, processing reimbursements,

Responsibilities

• reviewing scholarship applications
• monitoring scholarship budgets
• coordinating with Financial Aid
• processing reimbursements
• assisting with contracts and purchases
• strengthening internal controls and processes

Job description

Job Summary

Education Abroad welcomes applications for a Finance andAccountingSpecialist! This role contributes to the financial health andstrategic success of Education Abroad (EA) by supporting financialoperations, scholarship administration, insurance management, andprogram budgeting. Working closely with the Associate Director ofFinance and the broader EA team, this position serves as a memberof the Finance Team and collaborates with the Assistant Director,Director of Scholarships to ensure effective, compliant, andstudent-focused scholarship processes. Key responsibilities includereviewing scholarship applications, monitoring scholarship budgets,coordinating with Financial Aid, managing international insuranceenrollments, developing program budgets, and assisting withcontracts and financial operations. The position also helpsstrengthen internal processes and supports the delivery ofhigh-quality global learning opportunities for CU Boulderstudents.

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

Education Abroad is a unit in the Office of Global Affairswhich reports to Strategic Initiatives in the Office of theChancellor at the University of Colorado Boulder. The mission ofEducation Abroad is to develop, operate, and maintain acomprehensive portfolio of education abroad programs for CU Boulderstudents and academic units, including study abroad, internationalstudent exchanges, international internships, faculty-led GlobalSeminars, faculty-led Global Intensives, CU in D.C. programs, andinternational research and service learning. The unit isresponsible for health and safety and risk mitigation for studentsparticipating in CU Boulder-sponsored programs and supports campuscompliance with University policies governing international traveland programs.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Program Budgeting and Financial Operations

• Serve as an active member of the Finance team, to help improvefinancial systems, workflows, and internal controls throughproactive problem-solving and continuous improvement efforts.
• Gather and review program fees from Education Abroad providersand partners.
• Create program budgets, including estimated out of pocketexpenses, for cost of attendance and student planningpurposes.
• Publish student budgets with payment and withdrawal scheduleson the Education Abroad website and maintain updates as programsare added, removed, or updated.
• Share program budgets with the Office of Financial Aid on anongoing basis to support the calculation of financial aideligibility and award packages for Education Abroad students.
• Process billing to students’ bursar accounts for programapplication fees and deposits.
• Assist the Finance team with provider contract updates,collection of tax forms (e.g., W-8BEN-E) from foreign providers,and coordinating agreements as needed.
• Review and process expense reimbursement requests andprocurement card reports, ensuring documentation is complete andcompliant with policies.
• Collect and evaluate receipts, ensure correct fundingallocation, and proper workflow for approvals.
• Review and follow up on outstanding expenses to ensure timelyprocessing of expense and reimbursement reports.
• Create and handle purchase order requisitions, ensuringappropriate documentation.
• Provide procurement support, evaluate purchase requests, anddecide on most appropriate purchase methods.
• Process journal entries, ensuring validity and all necessarydocumentation is included.
• Purchase office and operating supplies, monitor inventory,place orders through CU Marketplace, and distribute supplies.
• Support fiscal year-end financial processes.

Scholarship Administration and Analysis

• Assist Scholarship Director in administering scholarships,ensuring alignment with institutional policies and fundingguidelines while adhering to budget allocations.
• Actively participate in the Scholarship team, including regularmeetings and collaborative planning.
• Review scholarship applications with a focus on financial needand eligibility to support award decisions.
• Collaborate with staff in Financial Aid, as needed, to obtainfinancial aid information.
• Assist with awarding scholarships in Terra Dotta (TD), ensuringaccuracy of data entry and clear, timely communication to studentsabout their award(s).
• Prepare and distribute scholarship rosters to the Office ofFinancial Aid in accordance with established timelines andprocedures.
• Carefully track status changes in TD to ensure appropriateadjustments; consult with the Scholarship Director and update theOffice of Financial Aid as