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 Division of Student Affairs is comprised of thirty (30) student support and auxiliary services departments funded by education and general funds, self-generated auxiliary funds, student fee funds, and gift and grant funds. The Division of Student Affairs Finance Office provides and promotes rigorous standards of technical accounting, budget execution and financial reporting to meet the business and management needs of campus customers and external constituents.  The Division of Student Affairs Finance Office is a service-oriented organization that processes transactions, generates and monitors reports, provides financial information and decision support, and offers training and documentation for accounting and budget execution policies, procedures and works with the PeopleSoft financial and human resource software system as well as the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE).

The Director of Division Finance provides support to the Vice Chancellor for Affairs (VCSA) and division AVCs, Executive Directors, and Directors in meeting the goals and objectives of financial operations.  The Director will provide strategic planning and administrative financial leadership to the Auxiliary and Division budget and accounting staff. This position is responsible for creating new and following established internal controls to ensure an efficient design of accounting and operational systems for all division units and operations. The Director of Division Finance ensures that Federal, State, Local and University fiscal rules and regulations are followed as well as complying with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the related standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Who We Are:

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. UCCS offers 53 undergraduate degree programs, 24 graduate degree programs, and 8 doctoral programs. UCCS is also home to the world’s only Bachelor of Innovation^TM program, which allows our graduates to master multi-disciplinary skills and graduate ready to create real change in the world. UCCS was recently classified as a “High Research Activity” university by the Carnegie Foundation and takes pride in being the only higher education institution in southern Colorado that explicitly includes research as part of its mission. We have a strong focus in fueling student success by creating, using, and maintaining a multitude of offices – First Year Experience, Excel Centers, Academic Advising, and the Career Center just to name a few. 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.

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. The 14,115 foot summit is just one of dozens of area attractions, including scenic trains, museums, parks, a zoo and more. With a mild climate and 247 days of sunshine each year, the Springs boasts some of the state’s best recreation opportunities.

Job Duties:

OVERSIGHT

• Maintains current knowledge of CU policies and procedures for compliance enforcement.

• Provide oversight and functional direction in the operations of the Auxiliary and General Fund Financial Services Department as well as personnel in the division.

• This position establishes and monitors accounting and budget practices and procedures to conform to GASB, GAAP and University policies; assesses accounting practices for efficiency, internal controls, and functionality.

• Position supervises the processing of payments, tracks accounts payables and receivables, and supervises the accountant and bookkeepers in the processing of same.

• Maintains cash handling control procedures for all financial transactions passing through auxiliary operating systems; Org Unit Responsibilities, Cash Handling, Receipting, Reconciliation, Separation of Duties, and Individual Accountability and Responsibility; works with University Controller and CU Treasury.

• Works closely with the managers, directors, and executive directors, UCCS Controller, Budget Office, CU Procurement Service Center Staff, and Colorado University centralized accounting to effectively manage financial and purchasing operations.

• Responds to audit requests; responds to findings and recommends resolutions as needed.

• Identifies areas of financial risk to the University owned bookstore, the University Center, Print shop, and Dining and Hospitality Services and makes recommendations to the VCSA, Bookstore Director, Dining and Hospitality Services Director, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, the University Center Director, other Auxiliary Directors, and the UCCS Controller for risk mitigation and strong internal controls.

ACCOUNTING

• Provides financial leadership & training in the division area.

• Monitors expenditures to speed types and works with division financial personnel to ensure proper classification in PeopleSoft (the official system of record for financial transactions.)

• Provide oversight and functional direction for direct and indirect auxiliary and general fund staff on monthly reconciliations.

• Direct and approve required journal entries to record transactions.

• Develops efficient and effective systems for tracking revenue and expenditures.

• Designs and updates internal forms to collect information required for financial reporting.

• Approve and oversee journal entries and budget journal entries, and cash transfer requests.

• Identifies accruals, prepaid expenses, and deferred revenue for month end and year-end reporting.

• Develops reports and maintains comparative financial historical data for use in decision making.

• Works closely with UCCS Controller to clarify issues related to accounting and purchasing.

• Works closely with the Budget Director on budget related issues.

• Coordinate and advise division department’s inquiries regarding systems, reporting, rules, policies, and procedures.

BUDGET

• Assist division Directors with budget preparation and monitoring.

• Provide budget transfer support.

• Provide BJE support.

• Other budget to actual monitoring as may be required.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

• Oversee A/P processing and reconciling of monthly statements.

• Oversee the verification, classification, and recording of invoices and credit memos received from vendors in PeopleSoft; communicates with vendors any discrepancies concerning accounts.

• Oversee the verification and reconciliation of all accounts receivable and collection process.

• Oversee and audit all expenditures as to proper authorization, procurement method, and compliance to University and campus specific policies.

• Oversee the reallocation of procurement card expenditures of various staff in the division in PeopleSoft.

• Oversees the reconciliation and remittance of sales taxes collected to the proper taxing authorities.

OTHER

• Assign duties to budget analyst, accounting manager, senior financial professional and accounting techs as well as train, monitor and supervise to ensure all assignments are accurate, complete, and performed in a timely manner.

• Develop strong working relationships with division personnel, vendors, University departments and personnel.

• Oversee the Bookstore, Copy Center and Dining and Hospitality Services and other auxiliary operations in performing their annual inventories as well as reconciliation and make changes as needed through the process.

• Establish the record needed and filing system in accordance with Records Retention policy.

• Monitor effectiveness and efficiency of existing processes and procedures. Redesign and implement changes as needed.

• Develop and implement new processes and procedures for new business processes.

Job Competencies:

• Knowledge of university fund accounting and finance.  This knowledge shall include both practical experience and accounting theory.

• Knowledge of auxiliary funds and the working nature of auxiliary operations.

• Ability and experience in supervising professional budget and 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 re-engineering.

• 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 accounting information to top level administrators for decision making purposes.

• Ability to take an advocacy position on behalf of the campus with inquiring constituencies.

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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

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

• GAAP, financial management, advanced spreadsheet expertise, systems analysis, and business administration.

• Strong understanding of retail accounting including inventory methods and cost of goods sold.

• Ability to work collaboratively with operations personnel as well as fiscal personnel.

• Leadership skills to forge change, managerial skills to supervise, and hands on work mindset to participate in processing.

• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple, concurrent projects.

• Ability to successfully deliver operational enhancements and solutions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Work Location: On-site

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

What We Offer:

Salary Range: Generally starting at $86,992 - $103,491

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers excellent benefits, some of which include:

• Medical insurance, with the lowest cost option being $0 to the employee

• Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance

• Generous paid vacation and sick time accruals (14.67 hours of vacation and 10 hours of sick accrued per month, prorated if part-time)

• Mandatory retirement plans. Employees contribute 5% of their annual compensation. CU doubles that and contributes 10%

• Tuition Assistant Benefit available to you or a dependent

• Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of employment

• Off Campus Housing Resources

This position is dependent on the availability of auxiliary revenues funding.

Tentative Search Timeline:

• The potential dates for interviews with the search committee will be the weeks of August 21, 2022.

• The potential dates for interviews with the supervisor and appointing authority will be the week of September 5, 2022.

• The potential employee start date is flexible, before October 15, 2022 and on or after November 1, 2022.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is committed to providing a safe and productive learning, living and working community. To assist in achieving this goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history check. 

UCCS is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, the University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation or political philosophy in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. Alternative formats of this ad can be provided upon request for individuals with disabilities by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (719) 255-3372.

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.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in General Business, Finance or Accounting, or closely related field from an accredited college or university. Experience may not be substituted for the degree.

• Requires a minimum of seven years of accounting experience which should include AP, payroll, fund accounting, budget, and financial statements.

• Five years supervisory experience.

• Demonstrated ability to independently perform the wide range of administrative and financial responsibilities associated with this position.

• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations in a multi-cultural environment that is committed to diversity and equality in education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance

• Certified Public Accountant desirable

• Seven years of financial experience in a retail environment, such as food service, bookstores, conferencing, and/or campus housing, in a university setting

• Seven years of experience with PeopleSoft Financial and COGNOS reporting software