Research Accountant III

Colorado School of Mines; Colorado; Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental care options

Generous paid holidays

Fully vested retirement plan

Tuition benefits

RTD Ecopass

Employee discounts

On-campus daycare

Job summary

Colorado School of Mines is seeking an Accountant III – Research to lead the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration. You will set up new awards, monitor budgets, prepare financial reports, and support post-award activities across a high-volume portfolio.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field and 5+ years of sponsored research accounting experience, with strong quantitative and regulatory skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or the equivalent in experience.
• Five or more years of Sponsored Research accounting experience.
• Ability to lead strategic initiatives and improve standard practices.
• Working knowledge of federal and other pertinent external research regulations.

Responsibilities

• Set up new research accounts and amend existing accounts in Mines’ financial system and ORA’s enterprise project tracking system.
• Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets, balances and expenses.
• Prepare and accurately submit required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes.
• Closeout actions including final expense review and account reconciliation.

Skills

Sponsored Research accounting

High-volume portfolio management

Regulatory interpretation

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business

Tools

Banner

Cognos

ORA project software

Job description

Accountant III – Research

Bring your Research Accounting skills to Colorado School of Mines! Colorado School of Mines is seeing our next Accountant III – Research, to lead the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration (ORA). The person in this role is a key member of the research team and serves as a resource to faculty and administrators in the financial administration of sponsored research awards. Essential duties include the set‑up of new awards in the financial system, expense and account monitoring, financial reporting, financial closeout and other post‑award financial analysis and support for sponsored awards. The Accountant III – Research interprets federal, state and Mines’ terms and advises Mines’ research community on their application. This position requires critical thinking skills to apply regulatory interpretation to sponsored activity. The Accountant III is also responsible for independently compiling, analyzing, and presenting financial data. Additionally, this team member works with campus constituents including faculty and staff to manage and reconcile sponsored activity. This position requires regular campus presence in Golden, Colorado. Currently this position is hybrid, with at least two days per week in the office.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create new research accounts and amend existing accounts in Mines’ financial system and ORA’s enterprise project tracking system, utilizing information obtained from the legal agreement, proposal documents and other project related documents.
• Recognize gaps and develop, improve best practices and standard operating procedure as new policies, terms, clause arise to better perform award setup.
• Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets, balances and expenses.
• This includes deficit monitoring and expense review both pre-expenditure and post-expenditure.
• Work with the broader ORA team to review deficit spending requests (currently, At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to Mines is acceptable under current policy and practices.
• Review, approve, and perform salary redistributions and journal entries as needed to ensure proper expenditure accounting.
• Identify, investigate and resolve discrepancies or errors found within research accounts and coordinate with faculty members, ORA staff members, other departments and/or project sponsor, as applicable.
• When allowed under the terms and conditions of the agreement, the Research Accountant will approve faculty requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending.
• Assist the Property Manager in the Controller’s Office to ensure all equipment is titled, accounted and tagged properly within School systems and per regulations.
• Develop and/or update ad-hoc reports using data from Banner, Cognos or other database applications for tracking, diagnostic and financial analysis of sponsored activity.
• Develop templates to improve and expedite financial administration of awards (i.e., tuition proportionate to salary calculation, re-budgeting, closeout workbook, etc.)
• Serve as subject expert on the financial monitoring of awards and provide training to staff on their applications, including financial and non-financial reporting.
• Prepare and accurately submit required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes.
• Analyze the financial statements, supporting documentation and other necessary information for each research account to ensure accurate financial reports are submitted.
• Prepare and accurately submit required non‑financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This includes Property Reports, Patent Reports, Cost Share reports, etc. Utilize School systems, such as Banner, Cognos and ORA’s project software, to extract data needed for required reporting. Successfully navigate sponsor reporting systems to submit required reports.
• Determines and performs all closeout actions required by sponsoring agency and School policy and procedures, including, but not limited to: Maintain a detailed tracking of closeout activities Track all outstanding accounts receivable actions to successfully coordinate the process of financial closeout between the grant sub‑ledger and the school’s General Ledger Perform final expense review and account reconciliation Serve as subject expert of award closeout and provide training to staff. Act as reviewer of award setups. Pull quality control reports to ensure accuracy. Act as approver for journal vouchers & salary redistribution performed by the Post Award team at ORA. Lead and provide staff training on policies & procedural changes that impact Sponsored Awards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or the equivalent in experience.
• Five or more years of Sponsored Research accounting experience.
• Demonstrate ability to serve as a subject expert in various topics related to research accounting & other post award administration responsibilities.
• Experience with a high-volume portfolio with a variety of different sponsors.
• Demonstrate ability to lead strategic initiatives, recognize opportunities for development and improve standard practices.
• Working knowledge of federal and other pertinent external research regulations.
• Ability to use spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, and enterprise financial systems.
• Demonstrated customer service skills, the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and ability to meet multiple deadlines.
• Analyzation and problem‑solving skills including the ability to use independent judgment.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education, and/or government accounting experience.
• Uniform Guidance knowledge GASB knowledge and experience.

Salary and Benefits

$75,000 - $85,000 Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass
• All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center.
• We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center.

About Mines & Golden, CO

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025). Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds. At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size. That size – roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact. Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally‑renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few. And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission‑driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience? Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at [e-mail] or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation may be required for this position.

Equal Opportunity Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.

Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service.

Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures and programs and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting We are pleased that you have interest in exploring career opportunities at Mines.

Founded in 1874, Mines has an international reputation for excellence in engineering and applied sciences. We are committed to serving the people of Colorado, our nation and the global community in the development and stewardship of the Earth’s resources.

WHY CHOOSE MINES? Mines is consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States and ranks number one as the best public school in the state for best value colleges.

Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver. The campus location offers a small-town ambiance with close proximity to all that the Denver metropolitan area has to offer with an abundance of cultural events, museums, theaters and sporting venues.

An arid climate and an average 300 days of sunshine per year make the area an ideal place to live, work and play.

We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community – offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. Come explore the possibilities!