Posting Detail Information

Working TitleBusiness Services Specialist - Fort Collins, CO

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person

Research Professional PositionNo

Posting Number202402101AP

Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification TitleTechnical/Support III

Number of Vacancies3

Work Hours/Week40

Proposed Annual Salary Range$52,000 - $62,000

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, commitment todiversity, equity and inclusion (https://inclusiveexcellence.colostate.edu/about/) , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !

Desired Start Date01/21/2025

Position End Date (if temporary)

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on12/18/2024

Description of Work Unit

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s leading research universities and enrolls approximately 32,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Located an hour north of the Denver metro area, Fort Collins is a vibrant community of approximately 157,000 residents that offers the convenience of a small town with all the amenities of a large city. Fort Collins is situated on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with views of 14,000 foot peaks, and offers access to numerous cultural, recreational, and outdoor opportunities.

Warner College of Natural Resources is one of the largest and most comprehensive natural resource colleges in the nation. Offering students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their environmental fields of choice, Warner College is a leader in natural resources education, outreach, and research both in Colorado and around the world.

WCNR Business Services includes human resources, financial and proposal support for the college including 5 academic departments and 2 large research units. This includes all salary, payroll, travel, purchasing, sponsored research pre/post award and account reconciliations for over 800 accounts and approximately 1,500 employees.

Position Summary

The Business Services Specialist will play a pivotal role in supporting multiple units within the Warner College of Natural Resources ( WCNR ) Business Services Office. This position entails comprehensive support in data management and financial processing while fostering effective collaboration across various stakeholders, including faculty, staff, researchers, external partners, university administrators, central offices, and students.

The individual will be expected to exercise independent judgement and problem-solving skills to ensure the efficient operation of financial transactions and administrative processes, prioritizing tasks to meet established deadlines, and adhere to university policies.

Required Job Qualifications

To be considered for this position, applicants must demonstrate the following in application materials:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field

• Minimum one year of professional experience in administrative, financial, or business-related roles with a proven ability to manage detailed transactional tasks with a high degree of accuracy

• Exceptional customer service skills, with the ability to engage positively with diverse individuals at all levels of an organization

• Proficiency in the MS Office suite

• Strong time management, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to think critically and adapt to changing priorities

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail

Preferred Job Qualifications

The highly desired candidate will possess the following:

• Demonstrated coursework or prior work experience in accounting or finance

• Demonstrated understanding of internal controls

• Strong understanding and ability to interpret federal, state, and university regulations and policies

• Experience guiding individuals through nuanced situations that require careful decision-making

• Familiarity with CSU systems such as KFS , KR, RPS , Oracle, WebFOCUS, etc.

• Experience working in a higher education 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 CategoryFinancial Operations Management

Duty/Responsibility

• Perform data entry and processing of requests into the university’s financial system by creating various Kuali Financial System ( KFS ) documents, such as purchase requisitions, disbursement vouchers, travel requests, internal orders, and budget adjustments

• Ensure adherence to university fiscal policies, federal grant regulations, and spending guidelines, including the Federal Uniform Guidance, by accurately applying fund types, object codes, and compliance standards across all financial transactions

• Analyze and reconcile financial documents, ensuring compliance with institutional policies and proper allocation of funds in accordance with university regulations

• Maintain regular communication with faculty, staff, and students to provide updates on the status of their submissions, responding to inquiries and addressing concerns while ensuring prompt resolution of any outstanding issues

• Manage travel requests and reimbursements, ensuring compliance with Risk Management and Insurance ( RMI ) guidelines and coordinating with the university’s travel agency to facilitate bookings and provide ongoing traveler support

• Monitor open purchase orders, track contract expirations and renewals, and coordinate with account supervisors, principal investigators, and fiscal officers to gather necessary information for renewals. Additionally, manage the submission of annual purchase orders and provide reconciliations to fiscal officers and PIs, ensuring compliance with procurement rules and guidelines throughout the process

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the procurement card program and university procurement rules, and collaborate with Procurement Services on requisitions and purchase orders, assisting individuals in identifying purchasing needs and requirements (such as documented quotes, sole source justifications, and request for proposals)

• Oversee the management and reconciliation of department accounts and clearing accounts, providing the necessary documentation and support to fiscal officers to ensure accurate monthly entries and proper allocation of revenue to the appropriate accounts

• Prioritize workload effectively, assessing the urgency of requests

Percentage Of Time65%

Job Duty CategoryFiscal Oversight and Compliance Advisory

Duty/Responsibility

• Provide post award support to fiscal officers and PIs, including tracking project end dates, reconciling account balances, addressing over-expenditure reports, and coordinating with the pre-award team and the Office of Sponsored Programs to establish new account or extend project timelines

• Provide advisement, strategy recommendations, and customer service to fiscal officers and related staff

• Monitor, analyze, and resolve compliance issues, ensuring adherence to both internal financial processes and external regulations, including federal and state guidelines

• Stay up-to-date with changes in university policies and procedures, and governmental accounting standards, and provide insights on their impact to university financial operations

• Develop an in-depth understanding of institutional financial policies and WCNR’s business processes, ensuring they are communicated and applied effectively across departments

• Collaborate with central offices, such as Business & Financial Services, the Office of Budgets, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and Procurement Services, to resolve fiscal issues and ensure compliance with university regulations

Percentage Of Time25%

Job Duty CategoryCustomer Relations and Administrative Support

Duty/Responsibility

• Serve as the initial point of contact for incoming visitors and inquiries, utilizing problem-solving skills to facilitate timely resolutions and provide direction to appropriate resources

• Oversee the accurate and timely filing of invoices for sponsored projects and other expense documents into the appropriate account files, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and record retention requirements

• Maintain organized digital financial documents, ensuring compliance with record retention and internal filing systems

• Assist with the distribution of monthly financial reports

• Provide administrative support for special projects

• Provide back up support to the Business Officer and the Business Services Office staff, as needed, ensuring continuity of operations

Percentage Of Time10%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position will remain open until filled. 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 to candidates.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search ContactTracey Trujillo, Tracey.Trujillo@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. TheOffice 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 theOffice 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 Requested3

Maximum Requested3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter

• Resume

Optional Documents