Finance and Accounting Professional

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.

Contract & Fund Account Management

• Lead the oversight and analysis of all assigned general, auxiliary, gift and plant funds; ensure compliance with GASB principles, state fiscal rules, sponsor regulations, and University policies.
• Maintain tracking documents and files for all assigned funds. Evaluate and make recommendations to the Finance and Business Operations Manager on closing and opening department speedtypes.
• Closely collaborate with the Graduate Program Coordinator/EBIO Staff in reviewing and administering research, fellowship, and other types of graduate student awards from all sources, including EBIO, Grad School, other units on campus and non-university sponsors. Ensure that tuition, insurance, and fees are managed correctly according to award allowability.
• Manage and evaluate faculty startup and retention accounts, ensuring they are funded and spent according to their agreement terms.
• Maintain close administrative and fiscal relationship with the department and outside units, in particular the Office of Contracts and Grants, Campus Controller's Office, Procurement Service Center, Fiscal Service Center, and the Office of Information Technology.
• Evaluate changing university, campus, college, and division business procedures and policies and adjust or create departmental processes.
• Solve complex and sensitive financial challenges using professional theories, innovative solutions, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Engage in process improvement in all fiscal departmental operations, including procurement. As needed, create, implement, and evaluate processes and procedures to meet the department's fiscal needs within the university system.

Reconciling, Analyzing, Reporting and Projecting

• Review and provide monthly financial reports for account holders of all assigned funds. Provide actionable insights and proactively reach out for support in resolving complex situations.
• Compile and evaluate information requested by the EBIO Finance and Business Operations Manager, Chair, Executive Committee, Budget Committee, College of Arts & Sciences, or others.
• Analyze spending and process budget transactions for department course speed types and other accounts as assigned.
• Process expense, cash and budget transfers (Journal Entries) as needed. Gather all required documentation and maintain tracking and filing of all JE paperwork.
• Maintain documentation in the appropriate locations in the departmental FileShare.
• Collaborate with the Finance and Business Operations Manager in performing fiscal year end tasks.

Procurement

• Serve as the Approving Official for all procurement, travel, and personal reimbursement expense reports. Provide fiscal oversight for all expenses, to ensure compliance with approved budgets, policies, procedures, rules and regulations. This includes capital equipment and high-value purchases.
• Manage all Marketplace transactions and processes, including approvals, purchase orders, supply and services receiving, supplier set up, and payment vouchers.
• Ensure correct account code assignments for all expenses.
• Serve as the departmental approver for travel authorizations.
• Create reconciliation reports for departmental FedEx shipping account.
• Manage the cardholder roster, including new cardholder requests, compliance reviews, and card revocation as needed.
• Administer computer purchases through the Faculty Computer Purchase Program (FCPP).
• Process scope of work contracts, wire transfers, personal reimbursements, honorarium, and other procurement and financial tasks, as needed.
• Assist with financial transactions, including resolving issues related to speedtypes and coordinating with appropriate campus partners to ensure accuracy and compliance.

HR Support

• Closely collaborate with all other staff members to ensure available budget and fiscal approval for all employee hiring on non-sponsored project speedtypes.
• Provide financial data support for payroll expenses transfers (PETs), as needed.

Grant Support

• Closely collaborate with the Grants Administrator to ensure available budget and sponsor allowability on all sponsored project expenses submitted for approval, including travel.
• Support process improvement initiatives to drive efficiency and standard methodologies across procurement and reimbursement functions.
• Provide procurement expertise for complex problem solving.

Administrative Support

• Support project initiatives, including renovation/capital projects, that enhance departmental resources and shared documentation, ensuring accessibility, clarity, and alignment with standard methodologies.
• Provide financial administrative and other support for department events, including winter and spring recognition ceremonies.
• Assist with general office functions, communications and documentation, ensuring alignment with university policies and procedures.

Collaboration and Professional Development

• Back up other team members.
• Participate in campus initiatives or working groups, attend campus and off-campus trainings pertaining to account management and procurement, provided by PSC, CCO, senior finance managers, etc.

Other/Projects

• Other duties as assigned by the EBIO Finance and Business Operations Manager.

• 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

• The salary for this position is $58,200.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, or related field.
• 1+ year of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, and/or business administration in a complex environment that includes budgetary responsibilities.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of internal accounting control principles, as well as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

• 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.

• 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, and/or business administration in a complex environment that includes budgetary responsibilities.
• Experience with research and contract accounting and management.
• Experience working with PeopleSoft HR and Finance or similar databases.
• Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, and fiscal principles and practices in a higher education environment, including budgeting and fund accounting.
• Strong knowledge of accounting and budgeting in all funds (general, auxiliary, gift, grant, and plant) as well as an understanding of the CU Foundation accounting system.