Senior Accountant - CSU Pueblo

Colorado State University Pueblo

$80K — $110K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
  • Five or more years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience.
  • Experience with complex reconciliations, financial analysis, or financial reporting.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines collaboratively.

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial close activities.
  • Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
  • Analyze and resolve complex accounting issues and account variances.
  • Support preparation of audited financial statements and audit workpapers.
  • Evaluate and strengthen internal controls and financial processes.
  • Collaborate with departments to enhance financial management and reporting.
  • Provide supervision, coaching, and mentoring for accounting staff.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package promoting work-life balance.
  • Collaborative work atmosphere conducive to personal and professional growth.
  • Opportunities to participate in institution-wide initiatives with visible impact.
Full Job Description
Job Description
Position Summary:

Colorado State University System invites applications for a Senior Accountant to join a growing financial leadership team committed to strengthening CSU Pueblo's university's financial stewardship, compliance, and long-term sustainability. The position is a CSU system role that will be assigned to support the CSU Pueblo campus.
The Senior Accountant will play a key role in enhancing the CSU Pueblo's financial operations, supporting significant accounting and audit initiatives, strengthening internal controls, and helping build the financial infrastructure necessary to support CSU Pueblo's continued growth and success. The position works closely with the CSU Pueblo Controller, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and CSU System leadership to improve business processes, implement best practices, and ensure accurate and transparent financial reporting.
This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced accounting professional to expand their leadership responsibilities, gain broad exposure to higher education finance, and contribute to institution-wide initiatives with visible impact.

Full consideration date:

The posting will remain open until filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by Monday, September 7, 2026 at 11:59PM (MT).

Essential Job Duties:

Financial Close, Reporting, and Analysis
  • Coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
  • Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
  • Analyze and resolve complex accounting issues and account variances.
  • Assist in the preparation of audited financial statements, footnotes, schedules, state reporting exhibits, and audit workpapers.
  • Support implementation of accounting standards and reporting requirements.

Institutional Accounting Leadership
  • Serve as a subject matter expert on accounting policies, financial controls, and compliance requirements.
  • Interpret and apply University, State, Federal, and applicable accounting standards.
  • Provide guidance to departments on complex financial transactions and reporting requirements.
  • Recommend improvements to accounting policies and business processes.

Audit, Compliance, and Internal Controls
  • Support external audits and audit-related initiatives.
  • Evaluate and strengthen internal controls and financial processes.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement, standardization, and automation.
  • Coordinate corrective actions and implementation of financial best practices.

Campus Partnership and Financial Stewardship
  • Collaborate with departments across the university to improve financial management and reporting.
  • Deliver training and develop guidance materials related to accounting practices and financial systems.
  • Assist leadership in evaluating financial risks and identifying solutions to complex operational challenges.

Leadership and Team Development
  • Provide supervision, coaching, and mentoring for assigned accounting staff.
  • Support workload planning, coverage strategies, and professional development efforts.
  • Serve as a trusted resource and leader within the finance organization.

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 Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
  • Five or more years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience.
  • Experience performing complex reconciliations, financial analysis, or financial reporting responsibilities.
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Higher education accounting
  • Governmental accounting
  • Not-for-profit accounting
  • Public sector finance
  • External audit experience
  • Financial statement preparation
  • GASB reporting
  • Federal and state compliance reporting
  • Internal controls and audit coordination
  • ERP systems such as Kuali Financial System (KFS), Banner, or similar enterprise systems
  • Process improvement, automation, business intelligence, or reporting tools.
  • Professional certifications such as CPA, CMA, CGFM, or related credentials are highly valued.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate is an accounting professional who wants to expand their impact beyond day-to-day close activities. They are motivated by institutional impact, continuous improvement, and helping an organization strengthen its financial foundation. They enjoy solving complex problems, building relationships across an institution, and contributing to initiatives that improve operations, compliance, and financial sustainability.

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
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, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
  • Review our detailed benefits information here.
  • Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
  • Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

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