Job Details

Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Position Number: 9736087
Location: Boulder, United States
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Requisition Number: 73880
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 16-Aug-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Senior Finance and Accounting Professional serves as a departmental lead for financial management, bringing advanced expertise in accounting and fiscal administration to the Department of Biochemistry. This position manages highly complex, sensitive, and non-standard financial matters across diverse research grants, contracts, auxiliary funds, and departmental accounts.

As a senior-level resource, this position not only ensures compliance with GASB principles, state fiscal rules, and University of Colorado policies, but also provides strategic guidance, advanced problem-solving, and mentorship to less senior staff. The Senior Finance and Accounting Professional collaborates closely with faculty, Principal Investigators, department leadership, and campus partners to safeguard fiscal integrity, enhance processes, and anticipate risks while advancing the Department's research and academic mission.

This role requires exceptional judgment, analytical acumen, and the ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly to diverse audiences.

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

The Biochemistry Department is renowned for its research. The faculty include a Nobel Laureate, 5 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 3 Howard Hughes Investigators, and many other esteemed scientists who have established themselves as research leaders. In 2022, the Biochemistry Department had external awards of $39,797,430 and during from 2010-2016 the department published over 800 articles in scholarly journals. Overwhelmingly, these papers include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduates as coauthors.

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 Department Chair and Manager of Finance and Operations for large and complex proposals to ensure awareness for unit planning purposes.
Provide detailed financial information to the Department Chair and Manager of Finance and Operations regarding 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 Pl and key research personnel when new awards are processing.
Communicate with the Pl on a regular basis to ensure the financial aspects of the award are proactively managed.
Maintain knowledge of OCG and CCO/RFS workflow for project set-up.
Design, refine, and implement internal accounting procedures to meet evolving contract and grant requirements.
Perform sophisticated post-award management, including subcontracts, indirect cost verification, corrective transfers, and grant closeouts using advanced discretion.
Reconcile and forecast project expenditures and to avoid overspending. Communicate critical financial data to PIs, other research personnel, Department Chair, and the Manager of Finance and Operations.

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.
Mentor and guide junior staff by providing training, onboarding, and support in resolving complex fiscal scenarios.
Serve as a senior liaison with campus units; Maintain close administrative and fiscal relationship 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 leadership for department events and conferences, partnering with the Events Administrator to ensure fiscal integrity.
Solve complex and sensitive financial challenges using advanced professional theories, innovative solutions, and risk mitigation strategies.
Lead and initiate projects that enhance departmental resources and shared documentation, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and alignment with standard methodologies.
Work with core research facility personnel to set rates each year and adjust during the year as needed.
Prepare a detailed end of fiscal year summary of expenses, fees, and other cost for core research facilities.

Reconciling, Analyzing, Reporting and Projecting

Develop and present advanced financial reports to senior leadership (Department Chair, Manager of Finance and Operations, Principal Investigators) with actionable insights.
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 Finance system).
Work with the Department Chair to maintain a multiyear budget projection for the Department administrative and donation speedtypes.
After each end of month finance close, perform an analysis of all Departmental accounts to ensure that deficits do not occur.

Purchasing Support

Oversee procurement requests for budget availability and sponsor allowability; this includes capital equipment and high-value purchases.
Lead process improvement initiatives in partnership with the Biochemistry Research Support Specialist 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.

Personnel & Payroll Support

Advise faculty on budget forecasting for personnel to ensure sponsor allowability and budget alignment.
Provide accurate Speedtypes 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, reviewing and signing off 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.
Provide support to Graduate Program Coordinator to coordinate tuition remission waivers for graduate students through the HR Service Center (HRSC).
In close partnership with CCO and the Graduate School, complete a detailed review of fellowship awards when received by Graduate Research Assistants. Ensure that tuition, insurance, and fees are managed correctly according to award allowability.
Establish standard methodologies to improve hiring and payroll efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

Summer Research Support

Oversee faculty summer research payroll in partnership with the Manager of Finance and Operations and Principal Investigators, ensuring compliance with sponsor and University standards.

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,SRAI, funding agencies, OCG, CCO, or senior finance managers, etc.

What You Should Know

Hybrid Schedule: 2 days a week on campus per campus and college policies and guidelines.
Standard Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday.
Employee may be expected to be on campus Monday-Friday during onboarding, training, and/or professional development events/meetings.

What We Can Offer

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

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. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the Bachelor's Degree requirement.
3 years of experience providing professional-level financial management and administrative support.

What You Will Need

Outstanding customer service skills.
Ability to have a positive and productive impact across the Department and serve as a primary resource to customers, the faculty and Principal Investigators (PIs, and administrative staff.
Ability to serve as a subject matter expert and as an advanced / lead Professional Finance and Accounting capacity for the Department of Biochemistry (Research, Finance and Administrative Operations), while simultaneously mentoring and coaching junior Finance and Accounting Professionals.
Regularly relied upon as a resource, guide or advisor to junior finance/accounting.
Potential to assume expanded leadership roles.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team and within other collaborative work situations.
Work effectively and cooperatively with Faculty, Principal Investigators and staff, as well as other campus departments and personnel (such as Office of Grants and Contracts (OGC), Campus Controller's Office (CCO) and Procurement Service Center (PSC).
Ability to work effectively and in collaboration with Department of Biochemistry administrative staff (academic program, communications, human resources, event management, and building management), campus partners, and external partners.
Excellent oral and oral communication skills to relay accurate, timely and helpful information to all constituents.
Defines and solves advanced problems with non-standard solutions.
Communication of complex concepts as a regular and primary requirement.
Excellent ability to apply professional theory and practice with a deep and in-depth understanding of the professional field to address the full scope of complex and non-standard assignments and problems.
Demonstrated ability to solve a diversity of problems that are non-standard, complex, and sensitive in nature.
Ability to use independent judgment to determine appropriate course of action for the full range of assignments that regularly includes complex and non-standard situations.
Works independently.
Requires minimal supervision and review of work product.
Willingness to work interactively in a team, strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills.
Ability to handle multiple, complex assignments.
Ability to successfully adapt to changing situations and priorities, and work on special projects as assigned.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to the highest degree of professional standards while working with sensitive information.
High level of proficiency in data analytics.
Advanced proficiency in MS Office software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), database administration, and willingness to learn new software and processes including:
ISSS visa policies
Export Controls
CU Travel Policies
CU Procurement
CU Systems (HCM, Marketplace, FIN, Cognos, SIS, Concur, InfoEd and other CU systems)

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time. Please apply by August 16, 2026 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Finance-and-Accounting-Senior-Professional/73880