General Accountant

The Business Financial Services (BFS) department is dedicated to the support of the instruction, research, and public service missions of Colorado State University-Pueblo. As an integral part of the university, BFS shares responsibility for supporting the university’s mission of developing resilience, agility, and problem-solving abilities in students allowing them to navigate work in a rapidly changing world.  The university cultivates this through 8 guiding principles: developing people, living sustainably, engaging place, empowering students, transforming learning, cultivating entrepreneurship, building knowledge, and impacting society.

BFS exists to provide central accounting services, support campus users, perform accounts receivable and accounts payable functions, and manage sponsored agreement activity. This unit ensures compliance with University policy and procedures as well as federal and state regulations.

Description of Job

This position is responsible for:

• Providing periodic financial information to various users, supporting university financial system users, monitoring transaction flow to assure compliance with Federal, State, and University laws, regulations and policies, analyzing and interpreting financial data as part of the overall control of University fiscal goals and concerns, and formulating financial information and reports in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Performing monthly reconciliations, analyzing and reporting account differences between subledger systems and other internal or external databases and systems, and assisting with the fiscal year-end audit.
• Making recommendations relating to internal controls. 
• Maintaining and reconciling sponsored agreement accounts, managing draws and responding to sponsored program questions from campus.

Primary Duties:
Accounts receivable

• Various reconciliations including ECSI/Kuali Financial System (KFS) reconciliation, reconcile account differences between AIS and external collection databases, and create and prepare additional reconciliations for accounts receivable accounts/object codes.
• Prepare fiscal year-end entries and external audit workpapers including “prepared by client” (PBC’s) both interim and at year-end, exhibits, and footnotes.
• Ensure receivable compliance which includes understanding Federal and State rules and regulations governing University receivables by continually analyzing them to determine the impact on the University.
• Ensure the University is in compliance with loan regulations.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate (FISAP).

Campus services

• Assure University compliance with reporting standards by examining and analyzing accounting transactions and applying current GAAP, statutes, and regulations.
• Guide campus on interpreting and applying University, State and Federal rules to their financial transactions.
• Correct errors in the university accounting system.
• Conduct annual consumable inventory verification with campus departments to ensure the inventory is properly counted and reconciles to the financial statements.
• Inform University users of accounting information by developing, creating, and preparing special monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting reports.
• Create, update, and present trainings to campus related to the financial system, accounting guidance, reporting tools and financial policies.
• Respond timely to emails and phone calls from campus related to accounting, policy, KFS, etc.
• Attend meetings as representative of BFS to answer and provide input to campus.

Financial reporting and analysis

• Enter and approve transactions in KFS and ensure all financial transactions are in line with university, state and federal rules.
• Review feeds from subledger to general ledger and correct errors as necessary.
• Reconcile monthly accounts assigned under fiscal officer role.
• Synthesize data for bank accounts by analyzing input from multiple sub-systems, researching discrepancies and coordinating correcting entries.
• Prepare fiscal year-end entries and external audit workpapers including “prepared by client” (PBC’s) both interim and at year-end, exhibits, and footnotes.
• Ensure that all journal entries, workpapers, reports and work processes are thoroughly documented and that proper files are maintained in accordance with the University’s record retention policies. Apply approved accounting quality standards.
• Annually update all desk manuals and work process documentation relating to this position.
• Work in conjunction with the System office to ensure all reconciling items are resolved in a timely manner.
• Cash management duties.

Sponsored Programs

• Monitor sponsored agreement financial activity and work with the Principal Investigator (PI) and department personnel to assure compliance. Train PI and pertinent staff in post-award compliance and procedures.
• Create ad hoc reports for PI and department personnel.
• Post/review the F&A expenditures on a monthly basis. Prepare the University’s F&A rate proposal.
• Prepare reconciliation/adjusting entries for cost of University benefits to fringe accounts quarterly.
• Prepare backup and draw funds down from federal agencies on a weekly or monthly basis.
• Maintain sponsored program files and documentation.
• Prepare all sponsored agreement quarterly and final financial reports for federal and state agencies.
• Reconcile federal financial aid accounts on a monthly basis.
• Enter and adjust KFS budgets for grant/contract accounts.
• Prepare and send invoices for sponsored agreements.

Ancillary Duties

• Backup the Accounts Payable accountant as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.  This may also include requests to assist other personnel within Business Financial Services.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration or closely related field
• Strong computer skills including experience with the Microsoft Office suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration or closely related field
• Certified Public Accountant
• Strong problem solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to multitask
• Strong communication skills with ability to speak to all levels of an organization
• Proven team player and individual contributor
• One or more years' professional accounting experience
• Prior reconciliation experience
• Professional experience in accounts receivable
• Experience working in governmental accounting
• Demonstrated customer service experience
• Experience with current university systems: AIS, KFS, Banner

 Supplemental Information

THREE POSITIONS WILL BE FILLED THROUGH THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. 

All interested candidates must apply through the on-line application system. No other format of application materials will be accepted.

Applicants must attach the following documents, in order to be considered for this position: 

Applications submitted without the required attachments above or an application not completed in its entirety will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the selection process. Once submitted, applicants will not be able to make changes or add information to their application packet, with the exception of their personal contact and demographic information.

Early submission of application materials is encouraged. Screening of application materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, though all applications received by 4:00 p.m. (MST) on Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021, will be given full consideration.

About Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo is a comprehensive state university with an enrollment of 4,000 students.  CSU Pueblo provides relevant professional coursework and superior instruction with a small student-to-faculty ratio for an ever-changing global economy.  Students can choose from 35 undergraduate programs with 81 fields of study in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; the Hasan School of Business; the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; and the College of Health, Education, and Nursing; and 13 graduate programs. Pueblo is dedicated to interdisciplinary learning and entrepreneurship that elevates our people and our community, creates educational opportunities, fosters unique collaborations, and supports inclusion, access, and affordability as a gateway to the world. CSU Pueblo is equally committed to serving the diverse population of the region; this emphasis is reflected in the demographic characteristics of the student body. Because more than 25 percent of our students are Hispanic, the Federal Government has designated CSU Pueblo a Hispanic Serving Institution.  Besides reflecting our commitment to serve this critically important and rapidly growing segment of the student population, that designation also allows the University to compete for certain federal grant funds to support its ability to better serve all students.  
 
Among its unique features, CSU Pueblo is one of seven schools in the nation to offer a degree in mechatronics, which combines electrical and mechanical engineering. The Hasan School of Business ranks among the top 15 percent of all business schools internationally with graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration accredited by the AACSB International Board of Directors. The College of STEM houses an undergraduate engineering program that was ranked in the nation's top 100 by U.S. News and World Report.  CSU Pueblo has an ever-changing campus landscape that features a newly renovated Library, a new general academic classroom building, and a newly renovated and expanded student center.
 
At CSU Pueblo, Student Life offerings have increased significantly with the transition of the campus from a commuter environment to a more traditional collegiate experience. Competing at the NCAA Division II level, CSU Pueblo is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and offers 22 varsity intercollegiate sports and also has active intramural and club sports teams that allow students to get involved in campus life.

Colorado State University Pueblo offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical Insurance and Prescription Drugs 
• Dental Insurance 
• Vision Insurance 
• Flexible Benefit Plan 
• Basic Term Life Insurance 
• Voluntary Term Life and AD&D Insurance 
• Long-Term Disability Insurance 
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) 
• Travel Accident Insurance 
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Accident Insurance 
• Wellness Incentive Program
• Annual & Sick Leave 
• Retirement Plans

About Pueblo, Colorado 
The city of Pueblo is a historically and culturally rich, diverse city of more than 100,000, located in the southern part of the state along the Arkansas River near the Wet Mountains and the majestic Sangre de Cristo range. Pueblo enjoys ideal year-round climate with four distinct mild seasons, crisp mountain air and 300+ days of sunshine per year. Pueblo attracts outdoor enthusiasts to a full slate of summer and winter recreational activities, encompassing water sports at Lake Pueblo, biking or running along Pueblo's beautiful river trail system, golfing, tennis, hiking or skiing in the mountains to the west.  The region is heavily agricultural, with large and small-scale farming and ranching, and a diverse mix of service, manufacturing, and technology industries.
 
CSU Pueblo is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history (felony and misdemeanor), national sex offender search, and/or motor vehicle history. Candidates who are extended an offer of employment must submit to and pass a background check prior to beginning employment. Some positions depending on the job duties may be required to complete a DMV and/or credit check.
 
The University reserves the right to check additional references, with prior notification given to the candidate.
 
 Note: The successful candidate must provide official transcripts of academic work completed and, under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations, be able to submit evidence of the ability to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins.
 
 It is the policy of Colorado State University Pueblo to provide reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities.  If you need accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources & Institutional Equity at (719) 549-2441 or hr@csupueblo.edu.
 
 In compliance with the Clery Act of 1990, the University's annual security report is available at: https://www.csupueblo.edu/campus-safety. 
 
 Colorado State University Pueblo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Additionally, the University complies with all other relevant, federal, state, and local laws regarding employment practices.