Research Accountant I
Posting Number: JR108198
Location: Colorado
Engineering a world of possibilities
As our next Research Accountant I, you will be responsible for the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration (ORA). This position is key to the research team and serves as a resource to faculty and administrators regarding 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.
As a Research Accountant, you will interpret federal, state and School terms and advise Mines' research community on their application. This position requires critical thinking skills to apply regulatory interpretation to sponsored activity. You will also be responsible for independently compiling, analyzing, and presenting financial data. You will work with campus constituents including faculty and staff to manage and reconcile sponsored activity.
This position is currently hybrid; the successful candidate must commute to campus in Golden, Colorado on a regular basis.
Primary Responsibilities
Award set-up and modifications
Transactional responsibilities include: 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.
Become familiar with Sponsor agreement format, financial terms and conditions to be able to perform setup appropriately.
Award Financial Monitoring
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.
Review, approve, and perform transactional 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.
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 the School's systems or other database applications for tracking, diagnostic and financial analysis of sponsored activity.
Become familiar with Uniform Guidance regulation to be able to perform financial monitoring appropriately.
Award Reporting
Prepare and accurately submit 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.
Prepare and accurately submit required non-financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This includes Property Reports, Patent Reports, Cost Share reports, etc.
Utilize School systems to extract data needed for required reporting. Successfully navigate sponsor reporting systems to submit required reports.
Award Closeout
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
Training and Process Improvement
Provide guidance, advice, and training in policy, procedures, and regulations related to research administration to faculty, department administrators, college fiscal officers and other administrative departments.
Actively participate in office wide process evaluation and reengineering efforts. Critically evaluate process and procedures with a goal of efficiency and optimal resource utilization. Make recommendations for improvements to management and lead improvement efforts if approved.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration or the equivalent in experience
Two or more years of accounting experience
Working knowledge of federal and other pertinent external research regulations.
Experience using 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 broad 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
Salary and Benefits
$64,000 - $70,000
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 https://stateofcolorado.benefithub.com/app/home through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines https://minesathletics.com/ home games, as well as access to the state of the art https://minesathletics.com/facilities/student-recreation-center/13 (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the https://minesathletics.com/sports/2016/7/10/outdoor-recreation-home.aspx. We are proud to have recently opened an on https://www.mines.edu/human-resources/employee-total-rewards/benefits/faculty-staff-benefits/more-for-you-aa/mines-early-childhood-center/. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit https://www.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.
This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.
References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.
Application review will begin March 16, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.
Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.
About Mines & Golden, CO
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