Job Details

Financial Professional (General and Sponsored Projects)

Position Number: 7187237
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Sponsored Programs, Grants, and Contracts

Financial Professional (General and Sponsored Projects)

Requisition Number: 72260
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 09-Jun-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering welcomes applications for a Financial Professional! This role is an integral part of the financial administration team for the department. Reporting to the Financial Manager, this position is primarily responsible for providing financial management and faculty support including contract and grant management, accounting and finance, procurement, and travel and expense reimbursement. This position communicates rules, provides training, corrects transactions and ensures completion of financial records. Work includes assessing the efficiency of departmental reporting and tracking procedures and recommends revisions as necessary. In addition, this position will provide supplemental support for the department.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering is pioneering scientific breakthroughs, launching innovative technologies and educating creative engineers that will solve today's societal challenges by improving human health, enabling security and promoting sustainability.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Contracts and Grant Management:

Performs project budget oversight including monitoring, tracking and/or reconciling transactions, projections, variances and payroll funding distributions; preparing and submitting budget revisions and funding updates; providing financial spreadsheets, summaries and reports; and meets regularly with the Principal Investigator and/or Financial Manager.
Provides proposal and award advisement including assisting with preparation of budgets and narratives for grant applications, resource and fund management; and offers procedural and regulatory advisement in alignment with sponsor, Federal, State, and university requirements to ensure compliance.
Performs post-award tasks including purchasing goods and services; creating subcontract standing purchase orders; monitoring project end dates; requesting extensions and supplemental funding as needed; requesting additional speedtypes and allocating the appropriate budget; and aiding in the award closeout process.
Reviews awards terms and conditions to create spreadsheet to track reporting timelines for financial management. Communicates all timelines and award conditions with each PI and ensures all reporting timelines are met.
Manages and maintains complete regulatory files, including approval and sponsor correspondence.
Assists with sponsored project close out procedures; removes unallowable charges from projects; ensures projects have posted for close out; reviews closing projects 90, 60 and 30 days prior to project end date and to complete close out tasks recommended by University Controller's Office.
Ensures sponsored project charges are allowable, applicable, and allocable to the project based on the Code of Federal Regulations Uniform Guidance (UG) and University Department policies and procedures, under the direction of the Finance Manager.
Works cooperatively with Principal Investigator (PI) and departmental staff, as well as other campus departments and personnel (such as Campus Controllers Office (CCO), Office of Grants and Contracts (OCG), and Procurement Service Center (PSC).
Participates in training in the area of business practices, university, and state regulations, and the use of data processing systems, as assigned.
Creates department tools and resources to assist faculty and staff to streamline project management.
Provides additional contract and grant management support to Mechanical Engineering faculty as needed.

Accounting and Finance Administration:

Performs standard accounting functions to support budget, accounts payable, accounts receivable, procurement, and travel and expense reimbursement activities including preparation of journal entries; verification of accounting codes and fund assignments; month-end, quarter-end and year-end closes; reconciliations and audits; data collection, analysis and retention; reporting and records management.
Conducts research and provides resolution to complex accounting problems, including investigation and analysis of data to ensure accuracy and completeness and performs corrective actions.
Ensures fiscal operations in accordance with Federal, State, and university fiscal policies and procedures.
Supports the design of projections in such a way as to simulate an impact of different variables on the budget.
Helps monitor position data for department personnel (i.e. faculty, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students).
Processes payroll expense transfers and funding distribution changes.
Works closely with PIs on internal and external sales activities. Helps with invoicing customers.
Collects appointment information for graduate students (academic year and summer) and faculty research summer salary for processing.
Identifies speedtypes for FedEx shipments and connects with Accounting and Business Services in order to resolve billing issues.
Receives, completes, and logs cash deposit forms, obtains necessary information and takes the deposits to the cashier's office.
Provides accounting and finance support to department as needed.

Travel and Expense Reimbursement:

Prepares, reconciles and submits travel expense reimbursement reports which involves gathering and ensuring appropriate receipts and documentation are included as well as ensuring expenses are allocated to appropriate accounts.
Coordinates event registrations and logistics, which could include booking airfare, hotel, transportation, etc.
Collects travel authorization forms and submits them to Finance Manager for approval prior to department personnel travel.
Obtains receipts and documentation, prepares and submits non-employee travel reports.
Provides information and the process to department personnel in order to apply for a travel card. Collects, closes, and destroys travel cards upon employee termination.
Provides travel and expense reimbursement support to department as needed.

Procurement:

Purchases goods and services including performing research to ensure costs for goods and services are reasonable, appropriate, allocable and within compliance; coordinates the issuance of purchase orders and gathers all documentation needed for processing; processes payments using procurement card, purchase orders, or payment vouchers; and tracks and verifies delivery of goods and services.
Provides clear and concise business purposes for each expense; have a basic understanding of the types of costs that are allowable on a sponsored project; verify that adequate budget is available in the speedtypes being charged before completing a report; notify the employee to review and submit.
Requests Marketplace Shopper access for department personnel.
Monitors and processes Honorariums, Scope of Work (SOW), and Visa fees routed through the department.
Sends equipment requisitions to Senior Financial Professional for logging and tracking.
Monitors and reconciles procurement card expenses, ensuring appropriate receipts and documentation are provided and participates in the preparation of reports.
Provides procurement support to department as needed.

Other Department Financial Duties:

Develops ways to improve the efficiency of data collected through systems and subsystems. Assists the Finance Manager in the creation, review and maintenance of department finance policy and procedures.
Works with the finance team and department HR Professional to help with hiring, supervising, and onboarding of student assistants.
Assists with supervising student assistants by coaching, conducts training, and provides day-to-day management of professional development and feedback; approves bi-weekly timesheets and any disciplinary action as needed.
Participates in professional development activities.
Helps cover tasks done by other team members when those team members are out of the office.

What You Should Know

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work modality, consistent with the College of Engineering and Applied Science Hybrid Work Policy.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $60,000-$62,700. Relocation assistance is available within department guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be resourceful. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business or related field from an accredited university and 1+ years of related experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

Effectiveness in written and verbal communications, collaboration and problem solving.
Understanding and application of internal control principles.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Word and Excel) and databases.
Organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to thrive independently as well as on a team.
Understanding and application of internal accounting control principles, as well as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Ability to build and maintain effective and trusting working relationships with faculty, administrators, and staff.
Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural, political and geographical differences, with the ability to work well with faculty, staff and students from around the world.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by June 9, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Financial-Professional-General-and-Sponsored-Projects/72260