Financial and Accounting Analyst
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
ID: 7264353
Posted: July 19, 2024
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Job Description
Description of Work Unit
Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.
Colorado State University (CSU) is a tier one Carnegie research institution and a recognized leader in infectious disease research. The Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (DMIP) is a large academic and research department in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) at CSU. Currently, MIP has 90+ faculty and 495+ total employees. The DMIP financial support team manages $23-$26M in research activity each year plus $9.4 M in appropriated funds, as well as cash funded activities. This position will be in-person, with an opportunity for remote work 0-2 days per week. CSU offers employee benefits including but not limited to:
Full-time administrative professional employees accrue nearly five weeks of paid annual leave and 15 days of paid sick leave every year.
CSU offers comprehensive health benefits and insurance plans to our employees and their families. For more information see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/fap-insplans-ancillary.html.
CSU is not a social security employer. Administrative Professionals participate in a defined contribution plan (DCP) for retirement savings. CSU will automatically contribute an amount equal to 12% of the pre-tax monthly salary and employees contribute an additional 8%. For more information, please see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/mandatory-retirement-plans.html.
CSU offers 9 credits of higher education per fiscal year for a full-time employee. For more information regarding the employee study privilege, please go to http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/study-privilege.html. For a full list of CSU benefits and additional information, please see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits. Fort Collins is consistently ranked as one of the “Best Places to Live in America,” with nearly 50 similar designations from numerous magazines and polls since 2005 (see: http://www.fcgov.com/visitor/fcfacts.php).
Position Summary
The Financial and Accounting Analyst provides professional, comprehensive guidance in developing and executing fiscal strategies, policies and procedures in support of the overall strategic missions of CSU, CVMBS, and DMIP including the department programs, pre and post-award contract and grant activities, etc. Specifically this involves budget development and implementation; oversight, guidance and direction for fiscal operations and management; and extensive knowledge of compliance requirements for federal OMB Uniform Guidance, university and state fiscal rules, sponsor requirements, donor intentions and other rules and regulations as applicable.
The position works in conjunction with the DMIP accounting and administrative team, and reports to the Financial & Accounting Manager. DMIP’s mission is to develop strong knowledge and understanding of the oversight environment and to assist with the development of best practices which enable effective, accurate management of the financial policies, processes, and activities. Effective communication skills are required to articulate financial management plans, policies, and practices to the faculty, staff, and other personnel. Successful execution requires extensive communication, coordination, and collaboration across many levels of the University.
Required Job Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field at time of hire and at least one year of related experience.
Proficiency working with the Microsoft Office Suite.
Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel including calculations, formulas, and formatting.
Demonstrated attention to detail, and effective communication skills both verbal and written based on application materials submitted.
Experience working in a team environment.
Preferred Job Qualifications
Financial working knowledge or grant management within an institution of higher education.
Experience managing multiple, complex, changing projects and deadlines; identifying applicable action points and affected parties; and initiating subsequent, relevant responses.
Experience interpreting and ensuring compliance with regulatory policy, including Uniform Guidance, OMB Circulars, and Federal Cost Accounting Standards.
Experience with Kuali Financial and Research Systems.
Experience with iLabs billing and equipment scheduling system.
Experience calculating billing rates applying Federal Cost Accounting Standards.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category Financial and Research Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
This position manages accounting operations which include appropriated funds, intramural and extramural research funds, indirect cost returns and other fund sources.
Forecasts future commitments and spend rates to minimize over-expenditures, and advises PIs on account status, projections, and spending plans keeping them apprised of University, State, and Federal rules and regulations.
For sponsored projects, develop progress and final project reports as required. Ensure all projects close on time and within budget.
Reconcile and analyze financial transactions for authenticity and allowability, evaluate and justify expenditure re-distributions and contact appropriate entities to initiate corrections. •Reconcile account activity to the Kuali Financial System (KFS), the system of record.
Working with the PIs, initiate annual staffing sheets, monitor and implement staffing re-distributions as needed throughout the year. Advise PIs when staffing patterns shift and redistributions are required.
Provide accurate, timely and meaningful reports to PIs, account holders (“account supervisors”) and others both in standard, periodic formats, and/or customized reports as requested.
Act as liaison between departmental personnel and Sponsored Programs, Business and Financial Services and/or the CVMBS College Office regarding accounting and finance, budgets, staffing, sponsored projects, purchasing, contracting, and other issues as identified.
Review and approve financial transactions and balances; assure accurate time and effort allocations; complete account reconciliations; and identify / correct errors while implementing effective means to avoid future recurrences.
Manage and track start-up accounts for new faculty to ensure funds are expended in a timely and appropriate fashion.
Other duties as assigned.
Percentage Of Time 50
Job Duty Category Grant Facilitation (Pre-Award Support)
Duty/Responsibility
Identify and interpret funding solicitation and associated University, State, and Federal guidelines.
Provide guidance to PIs regarding the development and preparation of grant proposal budgets and associated forms.
Research and calculate salary amounts/fringe rates based on employee type, verify tuition rates, review proposal budgets/budget justifications to ensure expenses are categorized appropriately and justified adequately, understand indirect cost percentages based on funding agency guidelines, enter budget data into Kuali Research System.
Advise faculty on the maximization of funding available for project completion.
Coordinate the proposal process to facilitate completion of documents required in a timely fashion to meet internal and external proposal deadlines.
Percentage Of Time 40
Job Duty Category Other Financial Duties and Support
Duty/Responsibility
Calculate internal and external billing rates for recharge centers (21) and general operations (22) activities, including oversight for monthly billing processes.
Participate in the implementation of iLabs software for DMIP Cores and Recharge Centers, including providing guidance and training for users.
Act as a resource for individuals using DMIP Cores in iLabs, including users and CSU fiscal officers campus-wide.
Assist with other accounting and support duties as needed.
Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.
Colorado State University (CSU) is a tier one Carnegie research institution and a recognized leader in infectious disease research. The Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (DMIP) is a large academic and research department in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) at CSU. Currently, MIP has 90+ faculty and 495+ total employees. The DMIP financial support team manages $23-$26M in research activity each year plus $9.4 M in appropriated funds, as well as cash funded activities. This position will be in-person, with an opportunity for remote work 0-2 days per week. CSU offers employee benefits including but not limited to:
Full-time administrative professional employees accrue nearly five weeks of paid annual leave and 15 days of paid sick leave every year.
CSU offers comprehensive health benefits and insurance plans to our employees and their families. For more information see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/fap-insplans-ancillary.html.
CSU is not a social security employer. Administrative Professionals participate in a defined contribution plan (DCP) for retirement savings. CSU will automatically contribute an amount equal to 12% of the pre-tax monthly salary and employees contribute an additional 8%. For more information, please see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/mandatory-retirement-plans.html.
CSU offers 9 credits of higher education per fiscal year for a full-time employee. For more information regarding the employee study privilege, please go to http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits/study-privilege.html. For a full list of CSU benefits and additional information, please see: http://www.hrs.colostate.edu/benefits. Fort Collins is consistently ranked as one of the “Best Places to Live in America,” with nearly 50 similar designations from numerous magazines and polls since 2005 (see: http://www.fcgov.com/visitor/fcfacts.php).
Position Summary
The Financial and Accounting Analyst provides professional, comprehensive guidance in developing and executing fiscal strategies, policies and procedures in support of the overall strategic missions of CSU, CVMBS, and DMIP including the department programs, pre and post-award contract and grant activities, etc. Specifically this involves budget development and implementation; oversight, guidance and direction for fiscal operations and management; and extensive knowledge of compliance requirements for federal OMB Uniform Guidance, university and state fiscal rules, sponsor requirements, donor intentions and other rules and regulations as applicable.
The position works in conjunction with the DMIP accounting and administrative team, and reports to the Financial & Accounting Manager. DMIP’s mission is to develop strong knowledge and understanding of the oversight environment and to assist with the development of best practices which enable effective, accurate management of the financial policies, processes, and activities. Effective communication skills are required to articulate financial management plans, policies, and practices to the faculty, staff, and other personnel. Successful execution requires extensive communication, coordination, and collaboration across many levels of the University.
Required Job Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field at time of hire and at least one year of related experience.
Proficiency working with the Microsoft Office Suite.
Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel including calculations, formulas, and formatting.
Demonstrated attention to detail, and effective communication skills both verbal and written based on application materials submitted.
Experience working in a team environment.
Preferred Job Qualifications
Financial working knowledge or grant management within an institution of higher education.
Experience managing multiple, complex, changing projects and deadlines; identifying applicable action points and affected parties; and initiating subsequent, relevant responses.
Experience interpreting and ensuring compliance with regulatory policy, including Uniform Guidance, OMB Circulars, and Federal Cost Accounting Standards.
Experience with Kuali Financial and Research Systems.
Experience with iLabs billing and equipment scheduling system.
Experience calculating billing rates applying Federal Cost Accounting Standards.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category Financial and Research Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
This position manages accounting operations which include appropriated funds, intramural and extramural research funds, indirect cost returns and other fund sources.
Forecasts future commitments and spend rates to minimize over-expenditures, and advises PIs on account status, projections, and spending plans keeping them apprised of University, State, and Federal rules and regulations.
For sponsored projects, develop progress and final project reports as required. Ensure all projects close on time and within budget.
Reconcile and analyze financial transactions for authenticity and allowability, evaluate and justify expenditure re-distributions and contact appropriate entities to initiate corrections. •Reconcile account activity to the Kuali Financial System (KFS), the system of record.
Working with the PIs, initiate annual staffing sheets, monitor and implement staffing re-distributions as needed throughout the year. Advise PIs when staffing patterns shift and redistributions are required.
Provide accurate, timely and meaningful reports to PIs, account holders (“account supervisors”) and others both in standard, periodic formats, and/or customized reports as requested.
Act as liaison between departmental personnel and Sponsored Programs, Business and Financial Services and/or the CVMBS College Office regarding accounting and finance, budgets, staffing, sponsored projects, purchasing, contracting, and other issues as identified.
Review and approve financial transactions and balances; assure accurate time and effort allocations; complete account reconciliations; and identify / correct errors while implementing effective means to avoid future recurrences.
Manage and track start-up accounts for new faculty to ensure funds are expended in a timely and appropriate fashion.
Other duties as assigned.
Percentage Of Time 50
Job Duty Category Grant Facilitation (Pre-Award Support)
Duty/Responsibility
Identify and interpret funding solicitation and associated University, State, and Federal guidelines.
Provide guidance to PIs regarding the development and preparation of grant proposal budgets and associated forms.
Research and calculate salary amounts/fringe rates based on employee type, verify tuition rates, review proposal budgets/budget justifications to ensure expenses are categorized appropriately and justified adequately, understand indirect cost percentages based on funding agency guidelines, enter budget data into Kuali Research System.
Advise faculty on the maximization of funding available for project completion.
Coordinate the proposal process to facilitate completion of documents required in a timely fashion to meet internal and external proposal deadlines.
Percentage Of Time 40
Job Duty Category Other Financial Duties and Support
Duty/Responsibility
Calculate internal and external billing rates for recharge centers (21) and general operations (22) activities, including oversight for monthly billing processes.
Participate in the implementation of iLabs software for DMIP Cores and Recharge Centers, including providing guidance and training for users.
Act as a resource for individuals using DMIP Cores in iLabs, including users and CSU fiscal officers campus-wide.
Assist with other accounting and support duties as needed.