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Posting Detail Information

Working TitleOperations Accountant

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition qualifies for hybrid/in-office work

Research Professional PositionNo

Posting Number202500673AP

Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification TitleProf/Indiv Contrib II

Number of Vacancies1

Work Hours/Week40

Proposed Annual Salary Range$55,000 to $60,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

+ Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)

+ Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

+ For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .

+ Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !

Desired Start Date

Position End Date (if temporary)

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on06/04/2025

Description of Work Unit

The Facilities Management Finance and Accounting section is a unit within campus Facilities Management and exists to maintain and improve processes that protect the financial integrity of our departmental units. The mission of Facilities Management Finance and Accounting is to develop strong oversight and understanding of the departmental budget and construction-related accounting activities to assist with the development of best practices that enable effective, accurate management of the financial policies, processes, and activities.

Facilities Management Finance and Accounting provides oversight of 150 Facilities accounts, with over $100 million in operating costs, in the areas of budgets, accounting, financial management and reporting, university billings, department receivables, department internal financial control processes and procedures, financial instruction, and the department’s integrated workplace management system (AiM). We also provide services to the University community and non-University entities in the areas of billing, financial reporting, and real estate leases.

Reports are developed and distributed to several campus departments including the Budget Office, Business and Finance, Vice President University Operations, and the President’s Office for building costs, project costs, leases, student facilities fees, and budget book information to name a few. We pay, track, and report on university utilities for all campuses and extension offices throughout Colorado. Construction accounting services are provided on over 300 projects, totaling nearly $750 million in open projects in FY22, to project managers and Business and Finance in the areas of accounting, fund management, purchasing, contracts, payments, capitalization, bonded projects, and quarterly reporting for the Board of Governors.

Position Summary

The Operations Accountant provides professional guidance and oversight to ensure departmental fiscal transactions and procedures comply with federal, state, and university laws, regulations, and policies. This includes the departmental programs and specifically involves budget development and implementation; oversight, guidance, and direction for fiscal operations and management; and knowledge of compliance requirements for Federal uniform guidance, university and state fiscal rules, gift funds, and other rules and regulations as applicable.

The position reports to the Assistant Director for Operations Accounting, and works closely with unit directors, managers, and the administrative team.

This position provides financial information, analysis, reporting, and instruction by:

+ Preparing monthly and quarterly financial reports for over 70 assigned accounts. Includes querying data, analyzing complex labor hour and material reports, and compiling the data into a comprehensive report.

+ Meeting regularly with assigned area managers to present their budgets and financial status. This includes making budget projections and proposing solutions for staying within allowable balances through independent investigating, analyzing, interpreting, researching, and evaluating financial information for assigned accounts.

+ Participates in the development of the annual departmental budgets for Engineering, Capital Construction, Planning, Design, Outdoor Services, Building Services, administrative units, General Operations, Auxiliary, Enterprise accounts, and others as assigned. Includes working with area managers, developing chargeable hours and billing rates, and entering budgets for assigned accounts in Kuali.

+ Maintaining and updating contracts, Memorandum’s of Understanding ( MOU ), and leases between Facilities Management and other units.

+ Preparing, reviewing, monitoring, and correcting account transactions. Creating procurement documents (University credit card, check requests, purchase orders) and making payments

+ Fiscal Officer authority for over 70 accounts with a variety of sub-accounts and sub-funds.

Required Job Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s degree or four years of progressive technical accounting experience.

+ Experience with Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas and formatting.

+ Demonstrated attention to detail.

Preferred Job Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.

+ At least three years of experience working in a fast-paced accounting environment with recurring critical deadlines.

+ Financial working knowledge within an institution of higher education.

+ Experience with Kuali Financial Systems and data tools such as WebFocus, Access, AiM, etc.

+ Experience working both autonomously and in a team environment, with the ability for professional and effective communication, both verbal and written.

Essential Duties

Job Duty CategoryFinancial Oversight, Reporting & Analysis

Duty/Responsibility

+ Fiscal Officer for over seventy accounts and includes all fiscal officer duties such as reviewing, authorizing, creating, and processing transactions in Kuali for designated accounts.

+ Design, prepare, and produce periodic and on-demand reports by gathering, researching, analyzing, and structuring information from various sources. Tools used to query this data include Access, WebFocus and AiM IQ to name a few.

+ Prepare and distribute monthly accounting MASS (Monthly Accounting Summary Sheets) reports from Kuali data as well as other financial reports from the work order management system for assigned work accounts.

+ Investigate, analyze, interpret, research, and evaluate financial information from reports and meet regularly with individual supervisors to review budgets, transactions, account status, and financial goals.

+ Assigned work groups include Planning, Design, Capital Construction, Engineering, Outdoor Services, Building Services, Customer Service, Facilities Management Administrative Units, P3’s (Public Private Partnerships), services and trade accounts. Determine causes of account variances and review with budget managers.

+ Develop recommendations and offer guidance on adjustments to be made to balance budgets.

+ Provide detailed information of the individual financial transactions, either from a review of Kuali transactions or from IWMS (integrated workplace management system) data.

+ Analyze current and historical data for trends and other contributing factors that require research. This includes financial statements for each assigned group and for other areas as assigned.

+ Prepare productivity reports for areas and review them regularly with area managers.

+ Determine if charges are being recorded correctly to billable work orders; if not, a thorough understanding of the impact and need to create appropriate journal entries to the correct work order.

+ Or, in some cases, this position reviews the billing rate and adjusts the charge rate to ensure the operations account collects an appropriate amount to cover costs without creating an excessive surplus or loss.

Percentage Of Time40%

Job Duty CategoryBudget & Rate Development for Multiple Units

Duty/Responsibility

+ Assist in the development of annual budgets for approximately 70 accounts.

+ Design and run reports to review the historical dataand project the monetary needs of each group.

+ Adjust salaries, materials, contracts, and overhead items to align with the base budget.

+ Adjust staff counts for shop staff reorganizations.

+ Develop and analyze complex calculations used to create each unit’s billable hours and recommend a final charge rate.

+ Enter approved budgets in Budget Construction in Kuali.

+ Education & General units include Planning, Design, Capital Construction, Space, Engineering, Building Services, Outdoor Services, Customer Service, FM Administrative Units, P3’s (Public Private Partnerships) and water rights accounts.

+ Recharge FM units include Planning, Design, Capital Construction, Engineering, Building Services, Outdoor Services, Customer Service and FM Administrative units.

+ General Operations, Auxiliary and Enterprise budgets include University Rentals, Special Events, Welcome Center, Medical Center, Natural Resource Research Center buildings, National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Public Safety, and CDC Grounds Leases.

+ Calculate internal and external billing rates for recharge centers and general operations activities, including oversight for monthly billings by applying Federal Cost Accounting Standards.

+ Adjust billing rates and budgets during the fiscal year, as needed, to maintain compliance with Office of Sponsored Programs guidelines for recharge accounts.

+ Develop and maintain Business Plans for areas.

+ As new accounts are added all associated documentation must be developed, including business plans, three-year budget summary, tax questionnaires, and fund budget requests.

+ This position also updates the business plans as business processes and procedures change.

Percentage Of Time25%

Job Duty CategoryManagement of Facilities Management’s Accounts Receivable

Duty/Responsibility

+ Independently manage the department’s internal and external accounts receivable by preparing, submitting, and revising annual budgets to Business and Finance and the Budgets Office.

+ Oversee the department’s enterprise accounts by working with a team to develop budgets, monitor expenses, and provide reports. Create monthly executive summary level reports for Facilities Associate Vice President and Assistant Directors.

+ Consult with federal and state customers through reviewing supplemental lease agreements for supplemental operations and maintenance costs.

+ Invoice Public Private Partnerships, federal, state, and city agencies for leases, projects, and other special needs using the commercial accounts receivable system.

+ Work in multiple federal invoicing systems to invoice customers and review financial information for accuracy.

Percentage Of Time15%

Job Duty CategoryFacilities Management Contract and Lease Management

Duty/Responsibility

+ Manage and monitor financial commitments between Facilities Management and other units, including federal and state agencies and CSU departments.

+ Compile cost information from the IWMS (integrated workplace management system).

+ Review and disseminate cost information to department work units for contract amendments and renegotiations.

+ Analyze contract net income and make recommendations for revisions to contracts.

Percentage Of Time10%

Job Duty CategoryFinancial Leadership

Duty/Responsibility

+ Provide financial leadership and advise Facilities staff in the use of correct accounting strings for work orders, all operating expenses, and overhead expenses.

+ Ensure federal, state and university rules and regulations are being followed by departmental staff.

+ Help facilitate an understanding of these rules to Facilities staff.

+ Hold training and work sessions to educate managers, supervisors, and staff on the intricacies of the IWMS (integrated workplace management system).

+ Provide ongoing guidance to departmental staff to aid in financial and business decisions.

+ Guide and make recommendations throughout the year to area managers to control expenses, expand revenues, and adjust billing rates with the objective of having revenue accounts breaking even at the end of the fiscal year.

+ Act as a resource to the area managers and staff regarding IWMS (integrated workplace management system) issues related to accounting transactions.

+ Develop processes and procedures related to accounting issues and document them in writing.

+ Position also serves as a backup for others on FM Finance and Accounting team.

+ Assist in the analysis, evaluation, revision, development, documentation, and implementation of departmental processes and procedures.

+ Advise department personnel on accounting and budget issues, fiscal rules, and financial processes.

Percentage Of Time10%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search ContactMichelle Tate: [email protected]

EEO

Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested3

Maximum Requested3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

+ Cover Letter

+ Resume

Optional Documents