Senior Accountant - CSU Pueblo

Colorado State University - Pueblo; Pueblo (CO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University Pueblo is seeking a Senior Accountant to join the financial leadership team. The role focuses on strengthening financial stewardship, compliance, and long-term sustainability for the CSU Pueblo campus.

You will work closely with the CSU Pueblo Controller and system leadership to improve processes, strengthen controls, and provide transparent reporting. The position offers opportunities to lead accounting initiatives, enhance infrastructure, and contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience.
• Experience performing complex reconciliations, financial analysis, or financial reporting responsibilities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Analyze and resolve complex accounting issues and account variances.
• Assist in the preparation of audited financial statements, footnotes, schedules, and audit workpapers.
• Support implementation of accounting standards and reporting requirements.
• Provide guidance on accounting policies, financial controls, and compliance requirements.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaborative work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

KFS (Kuali Financial System)

Banner

Job description

Job Description

Colorado State University System invites applications for a SeniorAccountant to join a growing financial leadership team committed tostrengthening CSU Pueblo’s university's financial stewardship,compliance, and long-term sustainability. The position is a CSUsystem role that will be assigned to support the CSU Pueblocampus. The Senior Accountant will play a key role in enhancing the CSUPueblo’s financial operations, supporting significant accountingand audit initiatives, strengthening internal controls, and helpingbuild the financial infrastructure necessary to support CSUPueblo's continued growth and success. The position works closelywith the CSU Pueblo Controller, Vice President for Finance andAdministration, and CSU System leadership to improve businessprocesses, implement best practices, and ensure accurate andtransparent financial reporting. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experiencedaccounting professional to expand their leadershipresponsibilities, gain broad exposure to higher education finance,and contribute to institution-wide initiatives with visibleimpact.

Why Join CSU?

• Strengthen accounting operations and financial reporting.
• Support implementation of audit recommendations and complianceinitiatives.
• Improve business processes and internal controls.
• Enhance financial transparency and decision support foruniversity leadership.
• Develop scalable and sustainable accounting practices thatsupport the university's long-term success.

The position provides opportunities to work across virtually everyarea of university finance, including financial reporting, accountsreceivable, compliance, audits, training, internal controls, andprocess improvement.

Essential Job Duties

Financial Close, Reporting, and Analysis

• Coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closeactivities.
• Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations,and supporting documentation.
• Analyze and resolve complex accounting issues and accountvariances.
• Assist in the preparation of audited financial statements,footnotes, schedules, state reporting exhibits, and auditworkpapers.
• Support implementation of accounting standards and reportingrequirements.

Institutional Accounting Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert on accounting policies,financial controls, and compliance requirements.
• Interpret and apply University, State, Federal, and applicableaccounting standards.
• Provide guidance to departments on complex financialtransactions and reporting requirements.
• Recommend improvements to accounting policies and businessprocesses.

Audit, Compliance, and Internal Controls

• Support external audits and audit-related initiatives.
• Evaluate and strengthen internal controls and financialprocesses.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement,standardization, and automation.
• Coordinate corrective actions and implementation of financialbest practices.

Campus Partnership and Financial Stewardship

• Collaborate with departments across the university to improvefinancial management and reporting.
• Deliver training and develop guidance materials related toaccounting practices and financial systems.
• Assist leadership in evaluating financial risks and identifyingsolutions to complex operational challenges.

Leadership and Team Development

• Provide supervision, coaching, and mentoring for assignedaccounting staff.
• Support workload planning, coverage strategies, andprofessional development efforts.
• Serve as a trusted resource and leader within the financeorganization.

Supervision

• Provide direct supervision and support for assigned accountingpersonnel (e.g., OFM/Athletics Accountant, General Accountant, A/Rteam), including performance reviews and coverage planning.

Conditions of Employment

• The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work inthe U.S. by the proposed start date.
• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a relatedfield.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible professionalaccounting experience.
• Experience performing complex reconciliations, financialanalysis, or financial reporting responsibilities.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communicationskills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively while managingmultiple priorities and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education accounting
• Governmental accounting
• Not-for-profit accounting
• Public sector finance
• External audit experience
• Financial statement preparation
• GASB reporting
• Federal and state compliance reporting
• Internal controls and audit coordination
• ERP systems such as Kuali Financial System (KFS), Banner, orsimilar enterprise systems
• Process improvement, automation, business intelligence, orreporting tools.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CMA, CGFM, or relatedcredentials are highly valued.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an accounting professional who wants toexpand their impact beyond day-to-day close activities. They aremotivated by institutional impact, continuous improvement, andhelping an organization strengthen its financial foundation. Theyenjoy solving complex problems, building relationships across aninstitution, and contributing to initiatives that improveoperations, compliance, and financial sustainability.

Salary Range

$80,000 - $110,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thrivingcommunity that’s transforming lives and improving the humancondition through world-class teaching, research, and service. Witha robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus onwork-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make alasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.
• Explorethe additional perks of working at CSU here.
• For thetotal value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use ourcompensation calculator.
• Lastly,click here for more information about why Fort Collins isconsistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work,and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers andstudents. To support this environment and comply with applicablelaws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for thefinalist before a final offer. The type of background checkconducted varies by position and can include, but is not limitedto, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history,financial history, and/or education verification. Background checkswill also be conducted when required by law or contract and when,in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudentto do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employmentopportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibitsdiscrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race,color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status,genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, genderidentity or expression, or any other characteristic protected byfederal, state or local laws.