Job Details

Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Position Number: 9736101
Location: Boulder, United States
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Requisition Number: 73872
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 16-Aug-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Department of Earth Science (formerly Geological Sciences) at CU Boulder encourages applications for a Finance and Accounting Senior Professional! This position serves as a financial and administrative resource for the department, providing advanced guidance on a broad range of financial, accounting, and human resources functions that support faculty, staff, students, and research personnel. This position independently manages complex financial transactions and funding portfolios, including research grants, contracts, and other funding sources, and regularly interprets and applies university, state, federal, and sponsor regulations to ensure full compliance across diverse and often unique funding scenarios.

In addition to preparing and reviewing complex financial reports and analyzing budget forecasts, the Finance and Accounting Senior Professional advises department leadership on financial planning and resource allocation, often identifying issues and proposing solutions to non-standard or sensitive financial situations. The position serves as a primary departmental resource on research and lab financial operations.

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 University of Colorado at Boulder is ideally suited to the study of geological sciences. At the junction of the high plains and the Rocky Mountains, the Boulder area represents a natural outdoor laboratory where you can study geological features of all ages in diverse settings and observe Earth processes firsthand.

The department has research laboratories for studying rock and mineral deformation, soils, sedimentation, geo-microbial processes, petrology, isotope geochemistry, and mineralogy. Beyond the department, researchers also have access to a wide variety of shared analytical facilities across the CU Boulder campus. The department is affiliated with several research centers and institutes (INSTAAR, CSDMS, CIRES, LASP) and offers a diverse set of resources for teaching and research.

The Department of Geological Sciences recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in maintaining academic excellence and an intellectually and culturally enriching environment. We appreciate that diversity extends to different races and ethnicities, gender identities, nationalities, disabilities, and body types. As such, we expect all members of our Department to respect each other and to work to combat systemic racism and other biases. The Department is actively working on initiatives to further support a welcoming and inclusive climate and to increase the diversity of our students, faculty, and staff.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Grant, Contract, and Fund Account Management:

Financial Management

Independently manage, analyze, and monitor a broad range of financial activities across research and lab funds.
Evaluate complex funding scenarios to ensure compliance with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) principles, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and University policies.

Policy Interpretation and Compliance Expert

Apply advanced understanding of financial, regulatory, and sponsor requirements to ensure department-wide adherence to fiscal guidelines.
Serve as a primary resource for interpreting policies and resolving compliance-related questions for faculty, staff, and administrators operating in research and lab spaces.

Process Development and Continuous Improvement

Lead the development, refinement, and implementation of internal accounting processes, adapting departmental procedures to meet evolving program, sponsor, and institutional requirements.
Proactively identify procedural gaps, recommend improvements, and guide adoption of new practices.

Post-Award Grant and Contract Administration

Independently be responsible for post-award management of sponsored projects, including subcontracts, collaborating directly with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), the Campus Controller's Office, and external sponsors to resolve complex post-award issues and ensure successful award administration.
Proposal and Pre-Award Support:
Serve as a key advisor during proposal development and pre-award activities, providing guidance on budget preparation, proposal requirements, and regulatory considerations.
Coordinate with campus offices to ensure submission of compliant proposals.

Advanced Financial Reporting and Strategic Analysis

Prepare and present comprehensive financial reports for department leadership, faculty, and Principal Investigators.
Analyze financial data to forecast trends, identify risks, and make recommendations to inform financial decision-making and resource planning.

Departmental Collaboration

Serve as a key departmental liaison, regularly collaborating with university-wide offices such as OCG, Campus Controller's Office, Procurement Service Center, Human Resources, and Technology Transfer Office.
Apply working knowledge of university-wide policies to support departmental needs.

Problem Solving and Independent Judgment

Resolve complex and non-standard financial, contractual, and administrative challenges.
Analyze unique financial scenarios, assess potential risks, and exercise independent judgment to develop solutions that balance compliance, operational needs, and funding requirements.

Resource Liaison and Advisor Role

Act as a resource and advisor to faculty, administrators, and less experienced staff, providing guidance on financial processes, systems, and policy interpretation.
Frequently consulted to resolve complex or sensitive financial and operational questions.

Communication of Complex Financial Concepts

Routinely communicate complex financial, regulatory, and procedural information to a diverse audience, including department leadership, faculty, administrative staff, and external partners.
Translate complex data into actionable insights to support informed decision-making.

Research Administration:

Hiring and Compliance Oversight

Independently manage and be responsible for the hiring process for undergraduate and graduate research assistants, visiting scholars, and research faculty.
Provide expert guidance on best practices and policy interpretation to ensure compliance with university, state, and federal regulations, serving as a key resource to department faculty and staff throughout the hiring process.

Account Reconciliation and Financial Analysis

Conduct comprehensive monthly reconciliations and financial reviews for assigned accounts.
Exercise independent judgment to analyze discrepancies, recommend and process cost transfers, correct errors, and ensure expenditures align with sponsor, department, and university requirements.
Serve as the primary point of contact for resolving account-related inquiries and providing financial guidance to faculty and administrative staff.

Payroll Oversight and Process Leadership

Independently manage and maintain payroll funding entries for research personnel, developing and implementing internal processes, due dates, and protocols to ensure accurate and timely payroll activity.
Coordinate directly with faculty and PIs to secure necessary funding documentation, resolve discrepancies, and ensure compliance with departmental and university payroll standards.

International Research Personnel Coordination

Partner with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to ensure international scholars are properly onboarded.
Provide expert-level support in navigating visa requirements, immigration documentation, and compliance matters, proactively advising faculty and departmental leadership on evolving international employment regulations.

Proactive Fund Management and Strategic Resource Allocation

Continuously monitor fund balances and proactively assess the need for adjustments to funding sources for research personnel.
Independently evaluate funding availability, recommend funding reallocations, and ensure appropriate financial resources are secured prior to authorizing new research hires.
Act as a resource to faculty and leadership in financial decision-making related to research funding.

Departmental Representation and Engagement

Represent the department in campus-wide discussions related to research administration and research personnel, collaborating with campus partners to resolve complex administrative or compliance issues impacting research operations.

Complex Problem Solving and Risk Management

Regularly analyze and resolve complex or non-standard personnel and financial situations, exercising independent judgment to balance department needs with compliance requirements and funding constraints.
Anticipate potential risks and recommend process improvements to minimize compliance issues.

Communication of Complex Financial and Administrative Concepts

Routinely translate complex financial, regulatory, and administrative information into clear guidance for faculty, staff, and other partners.
Serve as a departmental resource for policy interpretation, system navigation, and procedural guidance across multiple administrative areas.

Resource Liaison and Advisor Role

Serve as a resource and advisor to faculty, leadership, and less experienced administrative staff, providing guidance on complex research administration processes, financial compliance, and personnel management.

Research-Related Procurement Administration

Procurement Oversight and Compliance Leadership: Serve as a resource to research and lab faculty, staff, and administrators on procurement policies, ensuring compliance while supporting departmental goals and research objectives.
Budget Monitoring and Resource Management: Proactively oversee budget pools for procurement and travel expenditures, regularly evaluating funding availability, identifying potential shortfalls, and recommending adjustments to avoid over-expenditures and ensure optimal resource utilization
Research-Related Travel and Expense Administration: Provide expert guidance to faculty, PIs, and staff, ensuring adherence to university-wide policies, federal guidelines, sponsor-specific rules, and department standards.
Policy Interpretation and Collaboration: Serve as a key departmental representative in discussions with campus partners (Procurement Service Center, Controller's Office, Sponsored Projects, etc.), interpreting policies and resolving complex procurement and financial matters that impact sponsored research operations.

Administrative Support

Internal Shared Document System: Support and collaborate in the enhancement of the department's shared internal documents, ensuring they remain up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with the latest standard processes.
Communication and Partner Support: Communicate complex administrative processes, system requirements, and policy interpretations to faculty, staff, and students. Serve as an advisor to less experienced staff on administrative procedures, documentation standards, and university policies.

Other/Projects

Other duties as assigned that support the department's finance and accounting operations.

What You Should Know

Hybrid Schedule: At least 3 days a week on campus per campus and college policies and guidelines.
This can be subject to change based on the business needs of the department.
Standard Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Monday - Friday
Employees may be expected to be on campus Monday-Friday during onboarding, training, and/or professional development events/meetings.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary for this position is $67,600-$72,000. Onboarding assistance may be available.

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 from an accredited college or university.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
3+ years of related experience in administration, business, finances, or a related field.

What You Will Need

Outstanding customer service skills.
Ability to have a positive product impact across the Department and serve as a primary resource to the faculty and Principal Investigators (PIs), and administrative staff.
Ability to serve as a subject matter expert and as an advanced/lead professional in finance and accounting capacity for the department.
Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage several priorities and due dates.
Written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex policies and procedures.
High degree of professionalism and ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.
Demonstrated ability to proactively analyze issues to foresee possible problems or concerns that may arise and to develop proactive solutions and initiate related action.
Ability to work effectively and in collaboration with department administrative staff, campus partners, and external partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook), 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, 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/73872