Senior Accountant

Colorado State University

$80K — $110K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with Accounting or Finance focus
  • 5+ years of professional accounting or finance experience
  • 2+ years of experience with complex reconciliations
  • Strong computer skills
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate month-end close activities including journal entries and accruals
  • Perform balance sheet and key account reconciliations
  • Analyze and resolve discrepancies between subledgers and general ledger
  • Oversee A/R processes for billing and collections
  • Evaluate compliance with financial regulations and recommend adjustments
  • Guide campus stakeholders on financial rule interpretation
  • Supervise accounting personnel and conduct performance reviews

Benefits

  • Opportunity for leadership and career growth
  • Support for professional development and training
  • Collaborative work environment with campus stakeholders
  • Involvement in compliance-related improvements
  • Direct impact on financial processes and internal controls
Full Job Description
Job Description
Position Summary:

The Senior Accountant will prepare, collect, analyze, reconcile, and consolidate accounting transactions to close out the accounting month/quarter/year. Prepare, coordinate, and consolidate annual workpapers for the University's audited financial statements and footnotes, PBC's, and State exhibits. Serve as a resource and unit leader to guide others on complex processes and procedures.

For full consideration, please apply by Friday, July 17, 2026, 11:59pm (MT)

Essential Job Duties:

Monthly Account Reconciliations and Year-End Close
  • Coordinate and execute month-end close activities, including preparation and/or review of journal entries, accruals, and supporting documentation.
  • Perform and/or review monthly balance sheet and key account reconciliations; ensure reconciliations meet established standards (timely completion, clear support, documented review).
  • Analyze and resolve account differences between subledger systems and the general ledger; research root cause and coordinate corrective actions.


Accounts Receivable (A/R) Oversight and Compliance
  • Provide oversight of A/R processes to promote timely billing, collections, adjustments, write-offs, and accurate aging and allowance considerations in accordance with policy.
  • Monitor receivable compliance by evaluating Federal, State, and University rules and regulations; interpret impact and recommend operational or policy adjustments.


Campus Services, Training, and System Stewardship
  • Provide guidance to campus stakeholders on interpreting and applying University, State, and Federal rules to financial transactions; escalate policy exceptions or control concerns as appropriate.
  • Develop, update, and deliver training related to KFS, accounting guidance, reporting tools, and financial policies; publish job aids or process guidance as needed.


Leadership, Internal Controls, and Controller backup
  • Provide direct supervision and support for assigned accounting personnel (e.g., OFM/Athletics Accountant, General Accountant, A/R team), including performance reviews and coverage planning.
  • Evaluate internal controls and business processes; recommend and implement improvements (standardization, automation, documentation, review sign-offs) to strengthen compliance and efficiency.

Supervision:
  • Provide direct supervision and support for assigned accounting personnel (e.g., OFM/Athletics Accountant, General Accountant, A/R team), including performance reviews and coverage planning.

Conditions of Employment:
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. by the proposed start date.
  • Pre-employment Criminal Background Check.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting or Finance. Must have completed Intermediate Accounting coursework.
  • 5+ years of professional accounting or finance experience.
  • 2+ years of experience with complex accounting or finance reconciliations and responsibilities.
  • Strong computer skills.
  • Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated through application materials and experience.
  • A proven team player and individual contributor.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree in Accounting (MAcc), Finance, or Business Administration (MBA).
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (active or eligible) Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) Project Management Professional (PMP).
  • Experience with GASB (public) or FASB / NACUBO-style not-for-profit reporting (as applicable).
  • Knowledge of internal controls (design, documentation, testing support) and audit/PBC coordination.
  • Experience leading training, writing procedures, and improving processes/automation.
  • Experience supervising or leading work (coaching, reviews, coverage planning).
  • Reporting/analytics tools experience (e.g., PowerBI, dashboards).
  • 7+ yrs professional accounting experience.
  • Prior higher education experience with university receivables, sponsored programs, auxiliaries/athletics, or financial aid-related reconciliations (as applicable).
  • Experience with university systems/ERPs (enterprise resource planning), such as Kuali Financial System (KFS), Banner.
  • Experience acting as backup to a Controller/Manager or owning close coordination.


Salary Range
$80,000-$110,000

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. 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.
Cover Letter, Resume/CV

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