Finance Specialist

Finance Specialist

Position Location : Fort Collins, CO

Work Location : Position qualifies for hybrid / in-office work

Research Professional Position : No

Number of Vacancies : 1

Work Hours / Week : 40

Proposed Annual Salary Range : $65,000 - $68,500

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.

Desired Start Date : To be determined

Position End Date : N / A

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11 : 59pm (MT) on 12 / 01 / 2025.

Description of Work Unit

The mission of the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is to achieve stewardship of Colorado's forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations. The State Office provides administrative support to 18 field offices, the State Office staff, and other work units, with approximately 175 State Office and program staff members across the State. The purpose of the Administrative Division is to provide leadership and direction in service, outreach, and administration that directly contributes to achieving the agency's mission of "the stewardship of Colorado's forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations". The CSFS Administrative Division specifically coordinates the financial and budget processes for the State Office and 18 offices.

Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Manager of Finance, the Finance Specialist is responsible for providing assistance and guidance to all agency personnel regarding budgets, expenditures, account management, reporting and reconciling. This position supports fiscal oversight in coordinating and training CSFS staff on : Kuali (KFS), established CSFS and CSU accounting principles, audit requirements, and financial guidelines and policies. The Finance Specialist is also responsible for assisting & coordinating the timely completion of the annual closeout of USFS Consolidated Payment Grant (CPG) award projects, ensuring all cost-share and fiscal requirements have been met. The Finance Specialist will assist the CSFS fiscal officer in reviewing & reconciling all incomes and expenses for CSFS cash accounts, budget accounts, and 53-fund sponsored accounts. They will be a critical contact for the Office of Sponsored Programs, primarily assisting the Finance & Grants team in reconciliation, effort certification, cost share tracking, & closeouts. They will aid in educating and training program managers and other personnel throughout the CSFS on the correct application of Federal Cost Accounting Standards relative to project expenditures, other necessary accounting principles, audit requirements, financial guidelines and policies, compliance with CSU policy, etc. They will be required to help create spreadsheets and generate reports used to produce the budget for the agency, reconcile accounts, and other reporting needs, accounting for the staffing budget of salaried employees for the agency, facilitating annual budgeting and staffing exercises with CSFS program specialists to determine staffing requirements, and the proper timing and distribution of salaries (as dictated by grant guidelines) for all agency employees over 400+accounts. They will use their knowledge and expertise of fiscal rules and guidelines to determine when program specialists need to be alerted to potential or real budgetary problems, making sure to also recommend alternative solutions. When needed, the Finance Specialist will assist in counseling program specialists on appropriate spending alternatives to accomplish project and budget objectives and create program-level and account-level processes to address unusual budget requirements. The Finance Specialist serves as a member of the CSFS Finance Team that manages financial efforts across all program areas to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and cohesiveness of program delivery in priority areas. The team works together to address common operational issues, allocate and manage resources to ensure agency goals and objectives are achieved on time and within budget, and ensure that policy and practices are implemented consistently. Position is expected to act independently while working closely with the CSFS Finance Manager.

Required Job Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, communications, or a related field

Minimum of two years of professional finance or accounting experience

Strong written communication skills, as evidenced by application materials

Preferred Job Qualifications

Three or more years of professional finance or accounting experience

A degree or post-bachelor's degree certificate in Contract / Research Administration or related field.

Natural resource grant support experience.

Knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance cost accounting guidelines.

Knowledge of the administration and management of federal grants.

Experience with managing multiple accounts across multiple departments.

Knowledge of Kuali Financial System (KFS)

Knowledge of Kuali Research proposal development system (KRPD).

Demonstrated experience in providing excellent customer service skills, working in a team environment, collaborative approach to work, and building effective professional relationships.

Detail-oriented & ability to maintain and keep information confidential.

Strong communication skills.

Strong skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.

Essential Duties

Coordination of Fiscal Oversight

Coordinate with the Finance Manager to provide guidance, inform and train administrative and accounting staff located at 19 offices on established CSFS and CSU accounting principles, audit requirements, financial guidelines and policies, etc.

Assist fiscal officer as needed for most CSFS accounts including cash, budget & sponsored funds (19, 22, 29, 53, 64, 77, 99 types).

Perform financial analyses and data mining as needed to support CSFS staff.

Assist Finance Manager in processing requests from program specialists & managers for staffing changes and reconcile all salary entries on a monthly basis. Use monthly HRS staffing reports to verify salary distributions are correct.

Assist in oversight of accounts receivables and performance bond entries.

Assist in administering the overall reconciling process for CSFS. Provide assistance to all CSFS staff in interpreting reports and correcting errors.

Tracking & monitoring of CSFS Cost-Share obligations, direct & 3rd party.

Assist CSFS personnel with any financial software process questions.

Analyze spending when a project is nearing completion to ensure funding is expended, and transition is made to the next appropriate account for the project, considering salary distribution across awards.

Assist in maintaining vehicle charges database to properly book monthly vehicle charges (100+ vehicles). Verify balance sufficiency in all accounts prior to booking monthly vehicle expenses.

Operate all University software systems used by Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Procurement, and Sponsored Programs, including Kuali Financial System, Oracle and WebFocus.

Post-Award Grant Financial Management

Utilize OMB Uniform Guidance and CSU policies and procedures to develop budgets. Requires professional knowledge of effort requirements, fringe rates, travel limitations, allowable supplies, contracting, sub awards and CSFS Cost Sharing pass through to landowners and home owners associations, indirect cost (IDC) rates, and 3rd Party cost share.

Guide and assist principal investigators (PIs) in understanding University fiscal policy and procedure. Ensure PIs and grant staff follow University fiscal policy and procedure.

Confirm the grant budget balance is available for spending and ensure appropriate forms and processes are used for purchases and financial transactions.

Analyze, review and authorize payment requests for restricted funds to ensure all pay documents are in compliance with budgeted expenditures and for authorization under grant awards.

Review cash balances, monitor progress on work with PIs on budget spending.

Assist in Effort management & Certification

Operate all University software systems used by Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Procurement, and Sponsored Programs, including Kuali Financial System, Oracle and WebFocus.

Reporting & tracking of cost-share requirements on 53 accounts

CSFS Cash Account Transaction Approval and Budget Review

Assist Fiscal Officer in guiding program specialists & managers in understanding University fiscal policy and procedure. Ensure staff follow University fiscal policy and procedure.

Confirm the cash account balance is available for spending and ensure appropriate forms and processes are used for purchases and financial transactions.

Analyze, review and authorize payment requests for CSFSSF, GENOP, & ENTERP funds to ensure all revenue, tax, & expense documents are in compliance with planned / budgeted expenditures and for authorization under CSU Fiscal policy & procedure.

Verify all transactions for accuracy with respect to account balances, object code requirements, compliance with grant agreement language / requirements, university, state