Job Summary
The Finance Program Manager provides advanced financial
administration support for a complex portfolio of federally and
non-federally sponsored research projects within the Institute.
This position serves as a key partner to Principal Investigators
(PIs), project teams, Institute leadership, and central university
offices throughout the full award lifecycle, including proposal
development, post-award financial management, compliance oversight,
financial analysis, reporting, and award closeout. The position is
responsible for ensuring that sponsored project activities are
managed in accordance with sponsor regulations, Uniform Guidance (2
CFR 200), University policies and procedures, and applicable state
and federal requirements.
This role requires substantial expertise in sponsored project
budgeting, financial forecasting, compliance monitoring,
accounting, and financial management in a higher education or
research environment. The Research Finance Program Manager
independently manages complex financial portfolios, provides
strategic guidance and decision support to faculty and leadership,
monitors financial risk and internal controls, coordinates audit
and reporting activities, and supports effective stewardship of
Institute resources. The position also collaborates extensively
with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), Campus Controller’s
Office (CCO), Human Resources, Procurement, and sponsor agencies to
ensure accurate, compliant, and timely financial administration of
sponsored and discretionary funds.
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 Crown Institute’s research focuses on practices, programs, and
policies that foster wellness among children and youth, families
and caregivers, educators, and mental health and health providers.
Scholars in multiple fields work together and in partnership with
families, teachers, young people, and community members.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Budgeting and pre-award support
- Review, interpret, and inform PIs of solicitation terms with
financial and Human Resource implications that require special
approvals and/or planning: reduced indirect cost rates, cost share,
PI eligibility, salary caps, etc.
Prepare proposal budgets using the university format,
maintaining multiple budgets as needed for internal CU processes,
and integrating input into appropriate full proposal budgets for
submission.
Track and interpret the needs articulated by the PI and other
research personnel in order to create appropriate proposal budgets,
using analyses of historical and current Institute budget data,
standard fringe and indirect cost rates, and University policies
governing budgeting practices like ICR split agreements, cost
share, salary limitation, cost categorization and
allowability.
Review final proposal packages prior to submission to ensure
accuracy, completeness, and consistency of all budget-related
information, including staffing allocations and effort
commitments.
Maintain updated, organized, and complete files on proposals in
the Finance Team shared drive.
Engage with OCG and CCO to process Pre-Award At-Risk requests
if necessary, and coordinate approved pre-award spending activities
in compliance with University policies and sponsor
requirements.
Post-award financial management
- Lead SpeedType lifecycle management for the assigned portfolio
by engaging with OCG and CCO to establish, modify, monitor, and
close SpeedTypes in accordance with each award’s terms and
conditions. Inform OCG and CCO of changes to PIs on awards due to
new hires or staffing turnover.
- Interpret and maintain a consistent understanding of all
finance-related award terms and conditions in the assigned
portfolio (cost allowability, cost share, reporting, etc.), and
engage regularly with the PI and project team to ensure proactive,
compliant management of the financial aspects of the award.
- Maintain advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200),
federal cost principles, and sponsor-specific regulations, and
remain up to date on policy changes of federal and state sponsor
agencies.
- Consistently implement award-specific budgetary and financial
terms and conditions, adhere to funding agency requirements, follow
CU policies and procedures, and observe state regulations for the
appropriate utilization of restricted and non-restricted
funds.
- Work with PIs and HR to facilitate new hires by verifying
funding adequacy for requested salary allocations, analyzing
appropriateness based on the approved budget, scope, award, terms,
and relevant sponsor and university policies, and providing
accurate SpeedTypes to HR. Work with HR to submit monthly and
biweekly funding distributions for employees in the assigned
portfolio.
- Generate ad hoc analyses, such as salary histories, what-if
scenarios, and activity-level budgets for PIs and Project
Leads.
- Monitor financial activity and invoices of subawardees for
compliance with sponsor terms, approved budgets, and federal
regulations; coordinate with PIs and OCG regarding subrecipient
risk management and invoice approvals.
- Collaborate with PIs, OCG, and sponsors to identify the need
and submit award modifications, including but not limited to
no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, budget revisions,
restricted funds transfers, PI or co-PI changes, requests for
additional funding, addition of new subawardee(s), etc.
- Provide PIs and Project Leads with routine expenditure updates
and budget tracking for ongoing decision support; identify and
communicate variances and unanticipated transactions in a timely
manner.
- Maintain organized files for each award in the assigned
portfolio to ensure complete, accurate documentation and records to
ensure the Institute is audit-ready for any outside requestor (CU
internal audit, State of Colorado, federal sponsors, etc.)
- Prepare financial reports for awards in line with sponsor
requirements, and engage with the PI, the Director of Finance and
Business Development, and CCO to ensure reviews and secure the
required approvals prior to submission.
- Coordinate with PIs, OCG, and CCO for final award closeouts in
CU’s systems.
Finance and Accounting
- Produce, update, and analyze financial projections sheets for
SpeedTypes in the assigned portfolio: encumber future expenses in
cooperation with the Institute’s Procurement and Operations
Specialist, assess balances and expenditure trends, and identify
potential misalignment of expenditures with available budget
balances and/or award terms.
- Provide strategic financial analysis and recommendations for
PIs and Project Leads through the production and dissemination of
regular financial reporting that summarizes key financial data
(balances, expenditure rates, variances, etc.) and provides timely
insights to support sound project management and effective fund
forecasting.
- Manage and process accounts payable and receivable for all fund
types in the assigned portfolio, and ensure timely processing of
all financial requirements (e.g., indirect cost recovery splits,
cost share commitments, etc.).
- Prepare, review, reconcile, and submit Procurement Card, Travel
Card, and reimbursement expense reports in compliance with federal,
state, University, and Institute policies for projects in the
assigned portfolio. Authorize payments for invoices for supplies
and services obtained. Provide policy guidance to project staff to
ensure compliant use of PCards, Travel Cards, and expense
incurrence.
- Conduct monthly expense reconciliations, scrutinizing each
expense for appropriateness and ensuring accurate account coding.
Based on the monthly review and reconciliation of accounts,
recommend and process cost transfers, journal entries, payroll
expense transfers (PETs), and cash transfers.
- Implement and support internal controls designed to ensure
financial integrity, regulatory compliance, appropriate segregation
of duties, and mitigation of audit and financial risk.
- Coordinate responses to internal and external audit requests
for the assigned portfolio, and assist with resolution of audit
findings or compliance concerns.
- Lead fiscal year-end processes for awards in the assigned
portfolio: identify all relevant due dates from CCO and PSC, and
ensure all procurement and payment transactions are processed in
accordance with established timelines and procedures.
- Be responsible for cash advances and petty cash compliance and
reconciliation procedures in accordance with University policies
and procedures.
Procurement
- Be responsible for compliance and administration of the
Institute’s Procurement Card program, including application
processing, user guidance, maintenance of active cardholder
records, and coordination of card closures for separating
employees.
- Liaise with the Institute’s Procurement and Financial
Operations Specialist to facilitate timely procurement of goods and
services through CU MarketPlace, ensuring all purchases follow
award terms and conditions, the necessary supplemental
documentation is accurately completed (Official Function, Sole
Source Justification, etc.), and all documentation is appropriately
filed for audit-readiness.
- Support adherence to internal control procedures related to
procurement, payments, reimbursements, and card program
administration.
Additional Support
- Back up other team members, including the Institute’s
Procurement and Operations Specialist, HR professional, and the
Director of Finance and Business Development where needed.
- Provide training and guidance to Institute employees regarding
sponsored project budgeting, financial management, sponsor
regulations, and University policies and procedures.
- Within the designated portfolio, provide support for employee
and non-employee travel as needed, travel reimbursements in
accordance with university policies and procedures.
What You Should Know
- This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with
two days on campus and three days remote per week.
- This position will occasionally require work in the
evenings/weekends.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United
States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work
visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now
or in the future.
What We Can Offer
The annual hiring range is $75,000-$85,000. Relocation is available
for eligible candidates.
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 ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 3+ years of experience
in finance, accounting, budgeting, and/or financial management of
awards funded by governmental or non-governmental sponsors or
donors.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may
substitute.
What You Will Need
- Knowledge of accounting principles, auditing standards, and
budgeting principles and practices for federal and state
sponsors.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment, discretion, and to
work independently.
- Practical approach and adaptability to offer alternative
solutions when project team requests exceed budget or violate
university or sponsor policies.
- Ability to effectively manage a substantial and varied research
portfolio from multiple sponsors (federal, state, foundation) and a
wide range of award instruments (contracts, grants, cooperative
agreements, service agreements, etc.)
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, and articulate complex
solicitation requirements to research staff, often under tight
timelines, to ensure proposal budgets and documentation are
completed on time, fully compliant, and unlikely to be returned
without review.
- Ability to manage a high-volume and diverse workload, balancing
multiple contending priorities while maintaining a high standard of
customer service.
- Ability to effectively communicate award terms and conditions,
as well as key financial concepts, clearly and professionally to
Institute employees with varying levels of knowledge about
budgeting, financial management, and sponsor requirements.
- Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a complementary
team, fostering cooperation with other members of the Finance &
Personnel Team, the Institute, and the broader campus
community.
- Ability to think creatively about workload and work structure
to enhance efficiency and customer service while ensuring
compliance.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, as well as strong
organizational and records management practices to maintain
complete, accurate, and audit-ready proposal, award, and financial
documentation.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Experience with R1 research university policies and
procedures.
- Familiarity with university financial systems (PeopleSoft,
Concur, Marketplace, or similar).
- Knowledge of federal award cost principles.
- 5+ years of experience in finance, accounting, and management
of research or programmatic awards.
- 5+ years of experience in a university, research, or institute
setting.
- Experience with federal agency electronic systems (e.g.,
grants.gov, research.gov) and federal regulatory frameworks.
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 2, 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.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu
