Senior Grant and Finance Professional

University of Colorado

Boulder (CO)

Hybrid

USD 68,000 - 72,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder seeks a Senior Grant and Accounting Professional to manage a complex portfolio of sponsored projects, grants, contracts, gifts, and departmental funds. You will ensure compliance with GASB, state rules, sponsor regulations, and CU policies while advising faculty on fiscal and grant management strategies.

You will collaborate with OCG and department leadership on post-award accounting, cost sharing, and internal controls, supporting efficient, compliant financial

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
3+ years of experience in financial management.
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
Master's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Advise faculty on budget forecasting for personnel to ensure sponsor allowability and budget alignment.
Prepare summer faculty salary contracts.
Oversee all hiring paperwork for undergraduate researchers and Graduate Research Assistants.
Develop and present financial reports to senior leadership with actionable insights; proactively resolve complex situations.
Design, refine, and implement tracking tools to reconcile and forecast project expenditures.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Writing

Organizational skills

Time management

Problem solving

Independent work

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Database administration

Job description

Requisition Number: 76000

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 22-Nov-2026

Date Posted: 05-Nov-2026

Job Summary

The Senior Grant and Accounting Professional provides advanced financial management, research administration, and professional accounting support to the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO). This position independently manages a complex portfolio of sponsored projects, grants, contracts, gifts, and departmental funds, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, sponsor requirements, GASB accounting principles, State of Colorado fiscal rules, and University of Colorado policies. The incumbent serves as a key resource to faculty, principal investigators, and department leadership by providing financial analysis, interpreting policies and regulations, monitoring expenditures, and advising on fiscal and grant management strategies.

The position is responsible for grant and fund accounting, personnel and payroll transactions for undergraduate researchers and graduate students, and purchasing activities in partnership with the department's Accounting and Finance Professional. Responsibilities also include developing financial reports and forecasts, identifying and resolving complex fiscal issues, and implementing process improvements and internal controls to support compliance, operational efficiency, and informed decision-making. The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology includes 44 tenure- and teaching-track faculty members, more than 20 research faculty members, 8 staff members, and more than 85 graduate students.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

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

Research Areas: Our faculty specialize in many fields of Ecology 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 more about their experiences and stories in our In the Field articles.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Pre-Award Financial and Administrative Duties

In partnership with OCG, advise faculty on proposals and awards, including budgets, forms, and regulatory requirements; proactively identify potential issues and recommend solutions.
If requested by the PI, draft the budget justifications for proposals.
Communicate proactively with the Finance and Business Operations Manager for large and complex proposals to ensure awareness for unit planning purposes.
With support from the Finance and Business Operations Manager, provide financial information and review for proposal cost share requests.

Post-Award Financial and Administrative Duties

Lead the oversight and analysis of all assigned research funds; ensure full compliance with GASB principles, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and University policies.
Maintain an awareness and understanding of award terms and conditions within the assigned research portfolio.
Prepare and convene project kick-off meetings with the PI and key research personnel when new awards are being processed.
Communicate with the PI regularly to ensure the financial aspects of the award are proactively managed.
Maintain knowledge of OCG and CCO/RFS workflow for project set-up.
In collaboration with the Finance and Business Operations Manager, support processing and tracking of cost share disbursements.
Design, refine, and implement internal accounting procedures to meet evolving contract and grant requirements.
Perform sophisticated post-award management, including subcontracts, indirect cost verification, and corrective transfers using advanced discretion.
Analyze departmental and campus tools available for financial tracking. Design, refine, and implement tracking tools and procedures to reconcile and forecast project expenditures and to avoid overspending.
Track all sponsored project expenditures. Communicate critical financial data to PIs, other research personnel, and the Finance and Business Operations Manager.

General/Ad Hoc Financial and Administrative Support

Lead the oversight and analysis of all assigned general, auxiliary, gift, royalty, and plant funds; ensure full compliance with GASB principles, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and University policies.
Maintain close administrative and fiscal relationships with the department and outside units, in particular the Office of Contracts and Grants, Campus Controller's Office, Procurement Service Center, Human Resources, and the Technology Transfer Office.
Provide financial, administrative, and other support for department events, including winter and spring recognition ceremonies.
Solve complex and sensitive financial challenges using advanced professional theories, innovative solutions, and risk mitigation strategies.
Support project initiatives that enhance departmental resources and shared documentation, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and alignment with standard methodologies.

Reconciling, Analyzing, Reporting and Projecting

Develop and present financial reports to senior leadership (Department Chair, Research Operations Manager, Principal Investigators) with actionable insights; proactively reach out for support in resolving complex situations.
Review funding level, remaining balance and end date. For sponsored projects, work with Pl, OCG and sponsors to process additional funding. For non-sponsored funds, work with other units as needed to process budget or cash transfers.
Reconcile past expenses by running reports in CU Data. Review each expense and analyze for appropriateness and allowability based on the approved budget, scope of the project, terms of the award, and all other applicable federal regulations and university policies. Ensure expenses hit the correct account code.
Process expense transfers (Journal Entries (JEs) as needed. Obtain copies of documentation for expenses that aren't available in Concur, CU Marketplace or Cognos (such as JEs in the Finance system) and save in the appropriate project folder on FileShare.
Collaborate with CCO grant accountants to close sponsored projects.

Purchasing Support

Oversee procurement requests for budget availability and sponsor allowability for all assigned accounts; this includes capital equipment and high-value purchases.
Support process improvement initiatives in partnership with EBIO Staff to drive efficiency and standard methodologies across procurement and reimbursement functions.
Ensure accurate documentation and authorization for expenditures and procurement card reports, conducting professional-level reviews for compliance with Federal, State, University, and Department policies.
Authorize and recommend cost transfers with comprehensive justification to correct errors, resolve deficits, and ensure expenditures align with proper accounts; proactively reach out for support for complex situations.
Process scope of work contracts, wire transfers, personal reimbursements, honoraria, and other procurement and financial tasks, as needed.

Personnel & Payroll Support

Advise faculty on budget forecasting for personnel to ensure sponsor allowability and budget alignment, including summer faculty salary.
Collaborate with EBIO HR staff to prepare summer faculty salary contracts.
Provide accurate speed types to support new hires. This includes checking the allowability of the hire, funding availability (including benefits, tuition, and overhead when applicable), and period of performance details, and reviewing and signing off on the hiring checklist.
Proactively connect with PIs and research staff to acquire funding assignments for the new month and salary projections for the coming 3 or more months.
Oversee all hiring paperwork for undergraduate researchers and Graduate Research Assistants, ensuring compliance with University processes. Ensure tuition remission waivers are properly encumbered and posted.
Closely collaborate with the Graduate Program Coordinator/EBIO Staff in reviewing research, fellowship, and other types of graduate student awards from all sources, including EBIO, Grad School, other units on campus and non-university sponsors. Analyze and incorporate financial impact on sponsored grants.
Support with best practice initiatives to improve hiring and payroll efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

Collaboration and Professional Development

Back up other team members
Participate in campus initiatives or working groups; attend training pertaining to award administration provided by NCURA, funding agencies, OCG, CCO, or senior finance managers, etc.

What You Should Know

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

What We Can Offer

The salary range for this position is $68,000 - $72,000.

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; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. 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 Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be dynamic. Be inventive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
3+ years of experience in financial management.

What You Will Need

Willingness to work interactively in a team
Ability to establish and maintain effective and trusting working relationships with faculty, administrators, and staff.
Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
Excellent writing skills
Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills
Ability to handle multiple, complex assignments and problem-solve
Ability to work independently to identify and address problems and issues
Excellent computer skills: Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, database administration and willingness to learn new software.

What We Would Like You to Have