Engineering a world of possibilities

The position of Research Accountant IV (Research Accounting Manager) will be responsible for the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration (ORA). This position is a key member of the research team and serves as a resource to faculty and administrators in the financial administration of sponsored research awards. Essential duties include the set-up of new awards in the financial system, expense and account monitoring, financial reporting, financial closeout and other post-award financial analysis and support for sponsored awards.

The Research Accountant IV interprets federal, state and School terms and advises Mines’ research community on their application. This position requires critical thinking skills to apply regulatory interpretation to sponsored activity. This position will also be responsible for independently compiling, analyzing, and presenting financial data. In addition, they will be required to work with campus constituents including faculty and staff to manage and reconcile sponsored activity.

The departments on campus are assigned a complexity rating by the Office of Research Administration. A department's complexity rating is assigned based on sponsor, sponsor type, expense volume, award volume, awards that consist of multiple subcontractors, and awards that consist of multiple PI-s. The set of criteria determine the level of involvement and knowledge that is required to support the department.

Complexity scale: 1 = Low, 2 = Mid, 3 = High

The Research Accountant IV would be assigned departments with a complexity level between a 1-3.

The Progressive track will also be assigned to the Research Accountant to better prepare them for the next job tier.

Progressive Track:

• Participate in Audits
• Perform managerial accounting reconciliation and review
• Training in staff development
• Perform high level ad-hoc financial reporting
• Participate and lead assigned strategic development

             

The parameters above applies to the responsibilities listed below:

Award set-up and modifications – 15%

• Create new research accounts and amend existing accounts in the School’s financial system and ORA’s enterprise project tracking system.  Utilize information obtained from the legal agreement, proposal documents and other project related documents. Decides appropriate financial codes to input into the School’s financial system to accurately administer and monitor awards in accordance with federal regulations, sponsor terms and conditions, and School policy.
• Recognize gap an develop, improve best practices and standard operating procedure as new policies, terms, clause arise to better perform award setup.
• Provide award setup training to new and existing Research Accountants.

Award Financial Monitoring – 25%

• Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets, balances and expenses.   This includes deficit monitoring and expense review both pre-expenditure and post-expenditure. Expenses must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with grant terms and conditions, the budget limits and period of performance.
• This position will work with the other ORA staff (i.e. Contract Administrators) to review deficit spending requests (currently, At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to the School is acceptable under current policy and practices.
• Review, approve, and perform salary redistributions and journal entries as needed to ensure proper expenditure accounting.
• Identify, investigate and resolve discrepancies or errors found within research accounts. Resolution will require coordination with the applicable faculty members, ORA staff members, other departments and/or project sponsor, as applicable. 
• When allowed under the terms and conditions of the agreement, the Research Accountant will approve faculty requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending.
• Assist the Property Manager in the Controller’s Office to ensure all equipment is titled, accounted and tagged properly within School systems and per regulations.
• Develop and/or update ad-hoc reports using data from Workday, Cognos or other database applications for tracking, diagnostic and financial analysis of sponsored activity. Develop templates to improve and expedite financial administration of awards (i.e., tuition proportionate to salary calculation, re-budgeting, closeout workbook, etc.)
• Recognize gaps and develop, improve effective business practices, standing operating procedures as it relates to award financial monitoring.
• Serve as subject expert on the financial monitoring of awards and provide training to staff on their applications.
• Generate and Analyze ad-hoc financial reporting to leadership (award expenditure volume, subrecipient volume, sponsor type volume, etc) and make recommendation on work assignments.
• Perform quality control reports to identify financial errors and resolve errors.
• undefined

Award Reporting – 10%

• Prepares and accurately submits required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This position will analyze the financial statements, supporting documentation and other necessary information for each research account to ensure accurate financial reports are submitted.
• Prepares and accurately submits required non-financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This includes Property Reports, Patent Reports, Cost Share reports, etc.
• Utilize School systems, such as Workday, Cognos and ORA’s project software, to extract data needed for required reporting. Successfully navigate sponsor reporting systems to submit required reports.
• Serve as subject expert on financial and non-financial reporting and provide training to staff.
• Recognize gaps and develop, improve effective business practices, standing operating procedures as it relates to award reporting.
• Perform quality control reports to identify outstanding and upcoming sponsor reports due.
• Supervise the Research Accountants to meet reporting deadlines.

Award Closeout – 20%

• Determines and performs all closeout actions required by sponsoring agency and School policy and procedures, including, but not limited to:
• Maintain a detailed tracking of closeout activities
• Track all outstanding accounts receivable actions to successfully coordinate the process of financial closeout between the grant sub-ledger and the school’s General Ledger
• Perform final expense review and account reconciliation
• Serve as subject expert of award closeout and provide training to staff.
• Recognize gap and develop, improve standing operating procedures as it relates to Award closeouts
• Perform managerial review of all award closeouts.

Work Leader/Staff Authority/Unit Supervisor Responsibilities – 30%

• Act as reviewer of award setups. Pull quality control report to review setups performed by the Research Accountants to ensure the correctness of setups within ORA. Work with assigned Research Accountants to resolve any setup issues.
• Pull Quality Control reports to ensure final sponsor reports are complete, work with the research accountants to ensure Sponsor final report correctness and timeliness.
• Act as approver for journal vouchers & salary redistribution performed by the Post Award team at ORA.
• Lead staff training on policies & procedural changes that impact Sponsored Awards.
• Formulate and update Post Award business practices
• Provide direct supervision to the Research Accountant unit. Formal supervision include providing documentation to support recommended corrective and disciplinary actions, second level signature on performance plans and appraisals, and resolving informal grievances.
• Start hiring process, interview applicants, and recommend hire, promotion, or transfer.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or the equivalent in experience
• 7+ years of Sponsored Research accounting experience
• Supervisory experience or demonstration of lead role in lieu of experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of federal and other pertinent external research regulations.
• Ability to use spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, and enterprise financial systems
• Demonstrated customer service skills, the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and ability to meet multiple deadlines 
• Analyzation and problem-solving skills including the ability to use independent judgment
• Effective oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Higher education, and/or government accounting experience
• Masters Degree in Accounting and/or Business Administration

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Uniform Guidance knowledge
• GASB knowledge and experience

Salary and Benefits

$86,000 - $96,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by November 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at  [email protected] or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.  Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting