Research Accounting Manager

Colorado School of Mines; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 86,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible health and dental care options

Generous sick/vacation time

Fully vested retirement plan

Tuition benefits

Free RTD Ecopass

Discount programs

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Denver seeks a Research Accounting Manager responsible for managing research grant expense and supervising staff. The role entails extensive collaboration with faculty on financial administration, setting up awards, preparing reports, and training accountants. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree, 7+ years in sponsored research accounting, and supervisory experience. Salary range is $86,000 - $96,000, with a variety of benefits including health options and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of Sponsored Research accounting experience.
• Supervisory experience or demonstration of lead role in lieu of experience.

Responsibilities

• Set-up new awards, modify existing accounts in financial system.
• Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets.
• Provide training to new and existing Research Accountants.
• Prepare and submit required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes.
• Supervise the Research Accountants to meet reporting deadlines.

Skills

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

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Effective oral and written communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or equivalent

Job description

Research Accounting Manager

Position of Research Accounting Manager responsible for the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration (ORA). Key member of research team, resource to faculty and administrators in financial administration of sponsored research awards.

Responsibilities

• Set-up new awards, modify existing accounts in financial system and ORA’s enterprise project tracking system.
• Recognize gaps, develop best practices, improve SOPs as new policies and terms arise.
• Provide training to new and existing Research Accountants.
• Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets, balances and expenses pre- and post-expenditure.
• Work with other ORA staff to review deficit spending requests (At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine acceptable risk.
• Review, approve and perform salary redistributions and journal entries as needed.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies or errors found in research accounts.
• Approve faculty requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending (when allowed).
• Assist Property Manager to ensure equipment is titled, accounted, and tagged properly.
• Develop and update ad-hoc reports using data from Workday, Cognos or other database applications.
• Serve as subject expert on financial monitoring of awards and provide training to staff.
• Generate and analyze ad-hoc financial reporting to leadership and make recommendations.
• Perform quality control reports to identify financial errors and resolve issues.

Award Reporting

• Prepare and accurately submit required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes.
• Prepare and accurately submit required non-financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes.
• Utilize School systems (Workday, Cognos, ORA’s project software) to extract data for required reporting.
• Serve as subject expert on financial and non-financial reporting and provide training.
• Recognize gaps and improve business practices and SOPs.
• Perform quality control reports to identify outstanding and upcoming sponsor reports.
• Supervise the Research Accountants to meet reporting deadlines.

Award Closeout

• Determine and perform all closeout actions required by sponsoring agency and School policy and procedures.
• Maintain detailed tracking of closeout activities.
• Track all outstanding accounts receivable actions to coordinate financial closeout between grant sub-ledger and General Ledger.
• Perform final expense review and account reconciliation.
• Serve as subject expert of award closeout and provide training.
• Recognize gaps and improve SOPs relevant to award closeouts.
• Perform managerial review of all award closeouts.

Leadership and Staff Authority

• Act as reviewer of award setups, pull quality control report to review setups performed by Research Accountants, resolve issues.
• Pull quality control reports to ensure final sponsor reports are complete and timeliness.
• Act as approver for journal vouchers & salary redistribution performed by Post Award team at ORA.
• Lead staff training on policies & procedural changes that impact Sponsored Awards.
• Formulate and update Post Award business practices.
• Provide direct supervision to the Research Accountant unit, including documentation for corrective actions, signature on performance plans and appraisals.
• Start hiring process, interview applicants, recommend hire, promotion, or transfer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or equivalent.
• 7+ years of Sponsored Research accounting experience.
• Supervisory experience or demonstration of lead role in lieu of experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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 and ability to work effectively with a diverse community and meet multiple deadlines.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills including independent judgment.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Salary and Benefits

$86,000 - $96,000. Mines takes into consideration candidate’s education, training, and experience, position scope and complexity, discretion required, work location, and external market when determining salary level.

Benefits include:

• 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 with generous employer contribution.
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50% discount for dependents).
• Free RTD Ecopass.
• Discount programs through the State of Colorado, free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, and access to the state‑of‑the‑art Recreation Center (fitness classes, swimming pool, more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal and demographic information, veteran status). Upload a resume or CV.

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process.

This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

Successful completion of a Background Investigation is required for this position.

For the full ad and to apply, visit: https://mines.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Mines_Careers/details/Research-Accounting-Manager_JR107558

Employment Details

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Finance and Accounting / Auditing
• Industry: Higher Education

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