New

Senior Grant and Finance Professional

University of Colorado
$68000.00-$72000.00
paid time off, tuition assistance
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Nov 06, 2026
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 Close All 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 Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field Master's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field 5+ years of experience in financial management 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 November 22, 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.