Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Finance and Accounting Senior Professional

Requisition Number: 71434

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 04-May-2026

Date Posted: 20-Apr-2026

Job Summary

The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department 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, gift funds, 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, analyzing budget forecasts, and reconciling expenditures, 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, regularly consulted by faculty, staff, and less experienced colleagues for policy interpretation, system navigation, and resolution of complicated fiscal and personnel matters.

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 Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) provides a world-class, interdisciplinary research and educational environment to examine the dynamical, physical, and chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere and ocean. A major theme is the establishment of a physical basis for observing, modeling, and understanding climate and global change. The University of Colorado Boulder is located in a region having the greatest concentration of geophysical researchers in the nation and perhaps the world. The proximity of ATOC to this atmospheric and oceanic science excellence is the foundation of our unique philosophy and vision, which elevates our department to one of worldwide prominence. The guiding principle of ATOC is to be the focal point for atmospheric and oceanic science education and research training in this geographic region of world-renowned excellence. The University of Colorado, Boulder was ranked number one in atmospheric science in Shanghai Ranking's 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Grant, Contract, and Fund Account Management:

• Financial Management: Independently handle, analyze, and monitor a full range of financial activities across research, general, auxiliary, gift, royalty, and plant 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: 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.
• 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 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.

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
• Employee 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 range for this position is $67,600-$70,000.

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

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the degree requirement.
• 3+ years of related experience in administration, business, finance, or a related field.

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple 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 so as to foresee possible problems or concerns that may arise and to develop proactive solutions and initiate related action.
• Ability to establish/maintain positive and cooperative working relationships within the department and with outside units.
• Proficiency with CU systems (PeopleSoft Finance and HR, Concur and Cognos reporting), including those used for sponsored grant management, is a plus. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook).

What We Would Like You to Have

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in accounting, finance, business or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in administration, business, finance, or a related field.
• Advanced skills in spreadsheet and word-processing software.
• Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, and fiscal principles and practices in a complex organizational environment, including budgeting and fund accounting.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.
2. 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 May 4th, 2026 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.