Area Accountant - Trades

Company: Colorado State University
Location: Fort Collins
Posted on: November 21, 2022

Job Description:

Posting Detail Information Working Title Area Accountant - Trades Position Location Fort Collins, CO Is this position eligible for hybrid or remote work? Research Professional Position No Posting Number 202201587AP Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional Classification Title Prof/Indiv Contrib II Number of Vacancies 1 Work Hours/Week 40 Proposed Annual Salary Range $55,000 to $65,000 Employee Benefits Colorado State University ( CSU ) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU's Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/. Desired Start Date Position End Date (if temporary) To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 11/07/2022 Description of Work Unit The Facilities Management Finance and Accounting department is a unit within campus Facilities Management and exists to maintain and improve processes which protect the financial integrity of our departmental units. The mission of Facilities Management Finance and Accounting is to develop strong oversight and understanding of the departmental budget and construction related accounting activities to assist with the development of best practices which enable effective, accurate management of the financial policies, processes and activities.Facilities Management Finance and Accounting provides oversight of 150 Facilities accounts, with over $100 million in operating costs, in the areas of budgets, accounting, financial management and reporting, university billings, department receivables, department internal financial control processes and procedures, financial instruction, and the department's integrated workplace management system (AiM). We also provide services to the University community and non-University entities in the areas of billing, financial reporting, and real estate leases.Reports are developed and distributed to several campus departments including the Budget Office, Business and Finance, VPUO , and the President's Office for building costs, project costs, leases, student facilities fees, and budget book information to name a few. We pay, track, and report on university utilities for all campuses and extension offices throughout Colorado. Construction accounting services are provided on over 300 projects, totaling nearly $1.3 billion in open projects in FY21, to project managers and Business and Finance in the areas of accounting, fund management, purchasing, contracts, payments, capitalization, bonded projects, and quarterly reporting for the Board of Governors. Position Summary The Area Accountant provides professional guidance and oversight to ensure departmental fiscal transactions and procedures are in compliance with federal, state and university laws, regulations and policies. This includes the departmental programs and specifically involves budget development and implementation; oversight, guidance and direction for fiscal operations and management; and knowledge of compliance requirements for Federal uniform guidance, university and state fiscal rules, gift funds and other rules and regulations as applicable.The position reports to the Assistant Director of Facilities Management Finance, and works closely with unit directors, managers, and the administrative team.This position provides financial information, analysis, reporting, and instruction by:--- Preparing monthly and quarterly financial reports for approximately forty assigned accounts. Includes querying data, analyzing complex labor hour and material reports, and compiling the data into a comprehensive report.--- Meeting regularly with assigned area managers to present their budgets and financial status. This includes making budget projections and proposing solutions for staying within allowable balances through independent investigating, analyzing, interpreting, researching, and evaluating financial information for assigned accounts.--- Development of the annual departmental budgets for Logistics, Trades, Operations Management and other assigned accounts. Includes working with area managers, developing chargeable hours and billing rates, and entering budgets for assigned accounts in Kuali.--- Maintaining and updating the Facilities Management university alarms database, coordinating calculation of billing rates with CSUPD , and billing by journal entry or invoice.--- Preparing, reviewing, monitoring, and correcting account transactions. Creating procurement documents ( PCARD , Disbursement Vouchers, purchase orders) and making payments.--- Fiscal Officer authority for approximately 40 accounts with a variety of sub-accounts and sub-funds. Must have a deep understanding of the various sub-funds and the differing guidelines for each sub-fund, which includes knowing what expenses are allowed and the various object codes to use for each sub-fund. Required Job Qualifications --- Bachelor's degree.--- At least three years of experience working in a fast-paced accounting environment with recurring critical deadlines.--- Experience with Microsoft Excel, including advanced formulas and formatting.--- Demonstrated attention to detail.--- Professional and effective communication skills, both verbal and written. Preferred Job Qualifications --- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.--- Financial working knowledge within an institution of higher education.--- Experience interpreting and ensuring compliance with regulatory policy.--- Experience with Kuali Financial Systems.--- Experience querying data with tools such as WebFocus, Access, AiM IQ, etc.--- Experience calculating billing rates applying Federal Cost Accounting Standards.--- Experience working both autonomously and in a team environment. Diversity Statement Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department's commitment to diversity and inclusion. Essential Duties Job Duty Category Financial Oversight, Reporting & Analysis (65%) Duty/Responsibility --- Fiscal Officer for over forty accounts including the Trades groups, Operations Management, FM Athletics accounts, Services, backup for Logistics supervisor, Employee Recognition, and other accounts as assigned. Includes all fiscal officer duties such as reviewing, authorizing, creating, and processing transactions in Kuali for designated accounts. These include accounts in various sub-funds, such as recharge and E, that are linked to one another.--- Design, prepare, and produce periodic and on-demand reports by gathering, researching, analyzing, and structuring information from various sources. Tools used to query this data include Access, WebFocus and AiM IQ to name a few.--- Prepare and distribute monthly accounting Excel MASS (Monthly Accounting Summary Sheets)reports from Kuali data as well as other financial reports from IWMS data for approximately forty assigned work accounts.--- Investigate, analyze, interpret, research, and evaluate financial information from reports and meet regularly with individual supervisors to review budgets, transactions, account status, and financial goals. --- Assigned work groups include Trades, Operations Management, Logistics, and others as assigned. Determine causes of account variances and review with area managers. Develop recommendations and offer guidance on adjustments to be made to balance budgets.--- Provide detailed information of the individual financial transactions, either from a review of Kuali transactions or from IWMS data. Analyze current and historical data for trends and other contributing factors that require research. This includes financial statements for each assigned group and for other areas as assigned.--- Prepare productivity reports for areas and review regularly with area managers. Determine if charges are being recorded correctly to billable work orders; if not, a thorough understanding of impact and need to create appropriate journal entries to the correct work order. Or, in some cases, this position reviews the billing rate and adjusts the charge rate to ensure the recharge account collects an appropriate amount to cover costs without creating an excessive surplus or deficit.--- Establish processes, procedures, and reporting mechanisms for managing the Fire Sprinkler Inspection program accounting by providing written documentation of process, creating annual work orders with appropriate program tracking codes and correct billing percent's to Facilities and to Risk Management; tracking and reporting monthly labor and material expenses; adjusting billings to Risk Management Services ( RMS ) monthly for material/service charges; reconciling totals with RMS paperwork; and providing annual financial reports.--- Monthly reconciliation of complex accounts including inventory, direct purchases, and services accounts. Includes developing monthly COGS journal entries and year end closeout entries for inventories. Percentage Of Time 65% Job Duty Category Budget & Rate Development for Trades, Logistics & Alarms (25%) Duty/Responsibility --- Develop the Trade areas annual budgets (approximately 30 accounts) and calculate billing rates. Design and run reports to review the historical data and project the monetary needs for each group. Adjust salaries, materials, contracts, and overhead items so that the total budget reconciles with the assigned bottom line. Adjust staff counts for shop staff reorganizations. Develop and analyze complex calculations used to create each unit's billable hours and recommend a final charge rate. Enter approved budgets in Budget Construction in Kuali. Adjust billing rates and budgets during the fiscal year, as needed, to maintain compliance with OSP guidelines for recharge accounts. Must balance multiple accounts in different sub-funds for each crew and be aware of impacts between the linked recharge and E accounts.--- Oversee the Logistics group in developing their budgets each fiscal year to meet operational needs and in calculating their yearly overhead allocation. Work with IWMS reporting to develop complex reports for allocation based on direct purchases, inventory, or services averages. Adjust overhead allocation rate and budgets during the fiscal year, as needed, to maintain compliance with OSP guidelines for recharge accounts.--- Develop and maintain Business Plans for areas. As new accounts are added all associated documentation must be developed, including business plans, three-year budget summary, UBIT questionnaire and fund budget request. This positions also updates the business plans as business process and procedures change.--- Manage and maintain the databases for the annual university alarms billings. The alarms billings include Bosch, Notifier and BAS Alarms. Each alarm is calculated separately, as shown below, and this position must prepare and enter the annual service billing for all active university accounts. Maintain written procedures for maintaining the alarms database and billing customers.--- Bosch: Bosch alarms consist of panic, intrusion, and hold-up alarms. This position must develop and calculate the yearly alarms rate through complex analysis which includes updating the depreciation schedule for the Bosch system, calculating labor rates, infrastructure maintenance, CSUPD response fee, materials, and network management.--- BAS Alarms (includes maintenance alarms and BAS global devices): BAS Alarms consist of high-temp, high-water and any other alarms for the control of buildings, space or pieces of equipment. Develop and calculate the annual alarms rate through complex analysis of updating depreciation schedule. for the BAS system, calculating crew labor rates, bi-annual testing, daily monitoring, service contracts, system load and user fees.--- Notifier Network: The Notifier System monitors fire alarms and relays signals to CSUPD when a fire alarm is activated. This position must develop and calculate the annual billing rate to charge Auxiliary buildings for their load on the system. Included in this complex calculation is calculating the load on the system, actual costs needed to maintain the Notifier network and any other associated overhead costs that must be collected. Percentage Of Time 25% Job Duty Category Financial Leadership Duty/Responsibility --- Provide financial leadership and advise Facilities staff in the use of correct accounting strings for work orders, all operating expenses and overhead expenses. Ensure federal, state and university rules and regulations are being followed by departmental staff. Help facilitate an understanding of these rules to Facilities staff.--- Hold trainings and work sessions to educate managers, supervisors and staff on the intricacies of the IWMS . Provide ongoing guidance to departmental staff to aid in financial and business decisions.--- Guide and make recommendations throughout the year to Trades and Logistics managers to control expenses, expand revenues, and adjust billing rates with the objective of having 21 revenue accounts breaking even at the end of the fiscal year. --- Act as a resource to area managers and staff regarding IWMS issues related to accounting transactions.--- Develop processes and procedures related to accounting issues and document them in writing.--- Position also serves as backup for others on FM Finance and Accounting team.--- Assist in the analysis, evaluation, revision, development, documentation, and implementation of departmental processes and procedures. Advise department personnel on accounting and budget issues, fiscal rules, and financial processes. Percentage Of Time 10% Application Details Special Instructions to Applicants To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates. Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires) Search Contact Karin.Rees@colostate.edu EEO Statement Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity (https://oeo.colostate.edu/) is located in 101 Student Services.The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu.The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University's Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html) . Background Check Policy Statement Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so. References Requested References Requested Minimum Requested 3 Maximum Requested 3 Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). Applicant Documents Required Documents + Resume+ Cover Letter Optional Documents

Keywords: Colorado State University, Fort Collins , Area Accountant - Trades, Other , Fort Collins, Colorado