Senior Grants Accountant

Welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) !

The Senior Grants Accountant provides seasoned experience and service to university departments. The primary function of this position is the post-award financial function. Including, but not limited to, verification of account setup up including budget and financial aspects, ensuring expenditures are allowable, budget adjustments are within awarding agency guidelines, all expenses are invoiced, and payments received, maintaining accurate financial data, financial reports are timely and accurate, effort reporting, and project closeout. The projects are to be managed in accordance with federal, state, and funding agency regulations as well as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs policies and procedures. This position must exhibit complete ownership for assigned accounts within their portfolio, and recommend improvements to systems, policies, and procedures.

Who We Are:

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado  system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here: https://hr.uccs.edu/work-at-uccs .

Job Duties:

• Set up new projects within the PeopleSoft grants module to include verifying the appropriate budget lines used in PeopleSoft for sponsored projects by analyzing the terms and conditions of the approved agreement or contract.
• Perform updates and maintenance of project information regarding sponsored projects in PeopleSoft.
• Prepare sponsored projects monthly billing, ensuring billing meets the sponsor’s requirements in delivery, attachments, and approved expenditures.
• Determines the accounting process and billing guidelines to be used for Federal agencies, State of Colorado Departments, and other sponsoring agencies. The design of special forms or schedules may be required using Excel or Word.
• Assembles and displays information to invoice and reports costs to the sponsors. The process often involves working with the principal investigator and the department administrator on special billing conditions and supplementary information requested.
• Determines if expenditures posted to a project are allowable billed costs under the terms of the agreement subject to the 2 CFR Part 200, Cost Principles. Also determines what action to take if questioned costs are discovered. This requires working with the principal investigator, the department administrator and sponsor, as appropriate.
• Determines and assigns attributes such as funding source, revenue type, expense purpose, cost center, billing types, and others based on knowledge of how these codes will affect reporting, billing, and monitoring of the grants or contracts.
• Responsible for the bad debt collection on old projects and minimize any current bad debt by monitoring the aging report and sending out late notices in accordance with Sponsored Projects Accounting procedures. Corresponds with the sponsor when delinquent payments are greater than 60 days past due.
• Establish and monitor any cost sharing or matching in PeopleSoft based on the requirements of the sponsored project.
• Accumulates data and prepares a variety of financial reports to sponsors. This includes the preparation of specialized financial status reports submitted to Federal, State, local agencies, and private sponsors. Must be competent in using the electronic reporting systems unique to the various agencies and must compile statistical data and financial information from system-generated and ad hoc reports, as required by Federal, State, local, and other sponsoring organizations.
• Perform project close-out procedures by analyzing financial data to ensure the project has conformed to terms and conditions of the award and is not in an overrun situation. If corrections are necessary, responsible for notifying individuals of needed corrections that are allowable within the terms and conditions, then monitors for correctness.
• Communicate and follow-up with departments and/or faculty members on outstanding issues that pertain to the FFR submission or invoice and closing process. Maintain documentation on correspondence with departments and sponsoring agencies.
• This position contributes to educating new PI’s, research administrators, and any other interested parties in sponsored project rules and regulations. Training includes and is not limited to the 2 CFR Part 200, and the university’s policies and procedures.
• Approves journal entries, requisitions, capital equipment purchases, and PET’s related to sponsored projects.
• The person in this position is responsible for auditing compliance including monitoring and auditing projects for compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 and the sponsor’s restrictions. Also includes auditing for allowable and nonallowable expenditures, applicable State and Federal rules and University of Colorado policies, accounting procedures, and other specific requirements for the project.
• Maintains detailed files.
• Responds to university-wide inquiries regarding specific expenditures, interpretation of financial reports, effort reporting, including other questions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the regulatory and legal framework and vast compliance rules affecting federal and non-federal sponsored research agreements.
• Interpret external agency guidelines and provide advice to administrators and faculty regarding the allowability and allocability of direct costs to grants, contracts, and sub-agreements.
• Collaborates with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity on extensions, contract specifics, and is the Sponsored Projects Accounting representative for monthly research administration meetings, performs other duties, as required.

Job Competencies:
The accounting duties of this position include analysis and judgment that require sound knowledge and application of principles, concepts, and practices of various accounting fields such as financial accounting, accounting informational systems, and cost accounting. In addition, the duties require a thorough understanding of higher education accounting principles and how they apply to the various fund groups, as well as generally accepted accounting principles, Federal regulations, Colorado State statutes, and the university’s own fiscal policies and procedures.

• Comprehensive knowledge and analysis of 2 CFR Part 200 is critical.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks/requests/assignments and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to function effectively under tight deadlines and high volume.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to coordinate and direct others on projects.
• Ability to develop a high degree of skill in working independently and successfully handling complex, difficult, and ambiguous situations.
• Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders.
• Knowledge of financial systems.
• Excellent customer service skills.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Work Location: On-Site, Hybrid and Fully Remote options available.

This position has been determined to be exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $60,000 - $75,000 per year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits , some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee
• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance
• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (14.67 hours of vacation and 10 hours of sick accrued per month, prorated if part-time)
• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%
• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent
• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment
• Off Campus Housing Resources

Tentative Search Timeline:

• This posting will remain open until filled.
• The potential employee start date is to 3/1/2024.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living, and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check. 

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Please note that while the position details both required qualifications as well as preferred qualifications below, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting or related field.(Substitution:3 years of professional-level accounting or finance work experience may substitute for a non-accounting bachelor's degree.)
• 2 or more years of professional accounting experience with generally accepted accounting principles.

Preferred Requirements:

• Master's degree in finance, accounting, or related field.
• 3+ years of post-award finance and compliance experience with sponsored projects within a university or non-profit environment.
• Experience utilizing the People Soft grant module.
• Comprehensive knowledge, and analysis of 2 CCFR Part 200
• Proficient in PeopleSoft query.
• Proficient in Excel. 

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit. Employee is occasionally required to move. Tasks may involve looking at a computer screen continuously for long periods of time.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environmental demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, and physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, and physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.