DescriptionThe Associate Director of Division Finance provides support to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) and division AVCs, Executive Directors, and Directors in meeting the goals and objectives of financial operations.  The Associate 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 Associate 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).

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). 

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 10,500 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students.

Colorado Springs (pop. 400K+) is situated at the base of Pikes Peak, offers many recreational and cultural activities and was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top Best Places to Live in the U.S.

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, 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, 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.)
• Provides oversight and functional direction for direct and indirect auxiliary and general fund staff on monthly reconciliations.
• Directs 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.
• Approves and oversees 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.
• Coordinates and advises division department’s inquiries regarding systems, reporting, rules, policies, and procedures. 

Budget

• Assists division Directors with budget preparation and monitoring.
• Provides budget transfer support.
• Provides BJE support.
• Other budget to actual monitoring as may be required.

Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable

• Oversees A/P processing and reconciling of monthly statements.
• Oversees the verification, classification, and recording of invoices and credit memos received from vendors in PeopleSoft; communicates with vendors any discrepancies concerning accounts.
• Oversees the verification and reconciliation of all accounts receivable and collection process.
• Oversees and audits all expenditures as to proper authorization, procurement method, and compliance to University and campus specific policies.
• Oversees 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

• Assigns duties to budget analyst, accounting manager, senior financial professional and accounting techs as well as trains, monitors and supervises to ensure all assignments are accurate, complete, and performed in a timely manner.
• Develops strong working relationships with division personnel, vendors, University departments and personnel.
• Oversees the Bookstore, Copy Center and Dining and Hospitality Services and other auxiliary operations in their annual inventory as well as reconciliation and makes changes as needed through the process.
• Establishes the record needed and filing system in accordance with Records Retention policy.
• Monitors effectiveness and efficiency of existing processes and procedures. Redesigns and implements changes as needed.
• Develops and implements 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.
• 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 affirmative action.
• 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.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations in a multi-cultural environment that is committed to diversity and equality in education.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

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

What we offer:

University of Colorado Colorado Springs offers a comprehensive benefits package. Information on benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at: http://www.cu.edu/employee-services.

Salary Range: Generally starting between $60,000 to $80,000

Tentative Search Timeline:

• The priority application date is Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020. 
• The potential dates for phone/video interviews with the search committee will be Wednesday, September 30th, 2020, and Thursday, October 1st, 2020.
• The potential dates for interviews with the finalists will Monday, October 12th, 2020, through Friday, October 23rd, 2020.
• The potential employee start date is November 15th, 2020, or December 1, 2020.

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 will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, 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, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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.

QualificationsMinimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in General Business, Finance or Accounting from an accredited college or university. Experience may not be substituted for the degree.
• Requires a minimum of five (5) years of accounting experience which may include AP, payroll, fund accounting, budget, financial statements and etc.
• Three (3) years of experience reporting to executive-level personnel.
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in accounting.
• Certified Public Accountant.
• Experience in a retail environment, food service, conferencing, housing and etc. in a University setting.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Financial and COGNOS reporting software.

Job Category: Finance and Accounting
Primary Location: Colorado Springs
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Sep 8, 2020
Unposting Date: Ongoing