Envision yourself in a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environment that has a deep commitment to position our graduates for success in their professional and personal lives. Visualize applying your energy and skills for an organization that respects and cares about its employees enough to offer some of the best benefits of the industry while encouraging every team member to grow, collaborate, and provide input on how to consistently make the workplace a place people love to work. Imagine working at a college that welcomes everyone — students, faculty, staff, and community members — regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or traditions. If what was just described is what you look for in a workplace, welcome to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)!

The Controller is the chief accounting officer and reports to the Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance. The Controller is a subject matter expert and is responsible for defining, leading and managing as well as the financial management accounting activities of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Controller’s Office is responsible for creating and communicating meaningful business practices and financial information that is innovative and easily understood by the campus community. This includes compliance with Federal, State, and University policies / procedures and best practices including balance controls and providing excellent customer service.

Who We Are:

The UCCS Controller’s Office provides and promotes rigorous standards of technical accounting, auditing, and financial reporting to meet the business and management needs of campus customers and external constituents. The UCCS Controller works closely with the CU System Controller and represents the UCCS campus on accounting matters. The UCCS Controller’s Office is a service-oriented organization which processes transactions, generates, and monitors reports, provides financial information and decision support, and offers training and documentation for the execution of policies and procedures. It works with and has a higher level of understanding of the PeopleSoft financial and human resource software system, COGNOS reporting system, CONCUR travel & expense reporting system, SciQuest Solutions (CU Marketplace) as well as the State of Colorado’s Operations Resource Engine (CORE), this list is not all inclusive.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is one of four campuses in the University of Colorado system and is home to over 9,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of different offices and programs. Overall, UCCS is constantly focused of preparing our students to have success in the future, and we understand that every single employee on our campus has a significant effect on that focus. Find more information about working at UCCS here: https://hr.uccs.edu/work-at-uccs.

The city, which was recently ranked as the number two Best Places to Live by U.S. News & World Report in 2022, known as Olympic City USA, rests at the base of Pikes Peak, the inspiration for the song “America the Beautiful” and a must-see for residents and visitors alike. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities. Find out more about living in Colorado Springs through the Visit Colorado Springs page: https://www.visitcos.com/.

Job Duties:

• Oversee and support accounting team with dynamic leadership that creates an environment of trust, reliability, and productivity.

• Represent the University of Colorado Colorado Springs to the State of Colorado, Colorado Commission on Higher Education, CU Regent Audit Committee, various committees of the University of Colorado system and other external meetings and audits of/from State and Federal agencies.

• The campus liaison for the external audit as well as the point person for the internal audit department. In the event of an external federal, state, or other interested party compliance or financial audit, the position is the liaison and provides communication and coordination between the two agencies.

• Signatory on the University of Colorado’s annual financial report that is presented and approved by the Colorado Legislative Audit Committee

• Analyze university-wide financial statements as to their accuracy, investigate and ensure that variances are viable.

• Advise leadership on compliance and financial statement interpretation.

• Provide oversight and functional direction and training in the operations of the UCCS Controller’s Office.

• Communicate, direct, advise, and resolve financial and compliance issues for all departments at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.

• Provide expert guidance on CU, UCCS, State and Federal policies.

• Responsible for regular and ad-hoc reporting for UCCS; for example, facilities and administration rate and athletics agreed upon procedures every three years, benefit pool rates, IPEDS, sponsored programs, debt, regents, and various system requests.

• Responsible for oversight of post award sponsored project accounting for which expenditures exceeded $17 million in FY22. UCCS is a premier comprehensive, regional research university in the United States, adhering to the rules and regulations pertaining to research awards, from a variety of sources.

• Oversee, advise, and provide leadership in the bi-annual inventory of the university’s assets, evaluating and recording new assets as well as determining if assets are no longer serviceable. Equipment assets totaled $462 million in FY22.

• Oversee, advise, and provide leadership in the reconciling, recording, and transferring of debt that in FY22 totaled $16.5 million annually.

• Direct and approve required journal entries to record transactions for the UCCS Controller’s office as well as various campus departments.

•  Review and approve travel and expense reports for the UCCS Campus when related to alcohol purchases and missing receipts as well as purchases over $10,000 for various departments across campus.

• Review and approve alcohol related events for policy compliance.

• Review & approve gift cost transfers for compliance with donor purpose.

• Approve journal entries, journal vouchers, State appropriated capital construction budgets, year-end transactions, and drawdowns in the State financial system (CORE) for UCCS projects that have state funding or a combination of state and university funding. Ensure that both systems are balanced.

• Review the reconciliation of the University financial feeds to the State system.

• Coordinate with associate vice chancellor of planning and construction and advancement office on cash flows for large construction projects for the CU treasurer.

• Manage partnerships when invoicing for rent revenue is involved.

• Coordinate the Controller’s staff in the completion of year-end exhibits and templates that are incorporated into the CU annual financial report and then the State of Colorado’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

• Responsible for the preparation and compilation of the year-end accruals.

• Update and maintain the Finance Group email and Teams. Coordinate meetings to share information with large campus Finance Group.

• Review operating policies and practices for financial functions with goals of continuous improvement in automation, productivity, and customer service.

• Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.

• Ensure compliance with Federal and State laws and regulation relating to financial functions.

• Ensure compliance with university policies and procedures for financial transactions.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Job Competencies:

• Knowledge of university fund accounting and finance. This knowledge shall include both practical experience and accounting theory.  Knowledge of auditing, grants and contracts accounting, debt, auxiliary operations, and internal controls analysis.

• Ability to analyze financial data, determine its meaning, sources and how the information relates to the overall operations of UCCS.

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret financial reports, and legal documents.

• Ability to define problems to collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. ? Excellent analytical skills are essential to properly perform various reconciliations and financial analysis.

• General knowledge of healthcare finance, budgeting, human resources, and bursar activities in higher education institutions.

• Ability and experience in supervising professional accounting staff.

• Ability to work in stressful situations with only general guidelines to assist in decision making.

• Strong commitment to organizational change through such techniques as business process reengineering.

• Experience with highly automated financial management systems and the processes required to make these systems function and be able to offer solutions for improvements to these systems

• Ability to communicate complex financial information to top level administrators for decision making purposes.

• Ability to take an advocacy position on behalf of the campus with constituencies on various university wide issues.

• Have a working knowledge of grants and contracts and the OMB’s Uniform Guidance.

• Knowledge about the complex issue of shared faculty and administrative governance in higher education institutions.

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Knowledge of GASB and GAAP as it relates to higher education.

• Knowledge of Campus, University, and State of Colorado fiscal rules and policies.

• Knowledge of State laws that relate or are relevant to higher education.

Work Location: Hybrid with potential for both remote and onsite work.  

This position has been determined to be exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Please note that while the position details both required qualifications as well as preferred qualifications below, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An accounting degree or equivalent degree with at least 24 credit hours in accounting from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the field of accounting.

• Three (3) years of supervisory accounting experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in related field.

• A CPA, CMA or equivalent certification.

• Experience in fund accounting as it specifically relates to institutions of higher education.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to remain still and move. Tasks may involve using a computer screen continuously for long periods of time. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environment demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.