Finance Program Manager, Crown Institute
Requisition Number: 74101
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: University Staff
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 23-Aug-2026
Date Posted:
Job Summary
The Finance Program Manager provides advanced financial administration support for a complex portfolio of federally and non-federally sponsored research projects within the Institute. This position serves as a key partner to Principal Investigators (PIs), project teams, Institute leadership, and central university offices throughout the full award lifecycle, including proposal development, post-award financial management, compliance oversight, financial analysis, reporting, and award closeout. The position is responsible for ensuring that sponsored project activities are managed in accordance with sponsor regulations, Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), University policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal requirements.
This role requires substantial expertise in sponsored project budgeting, financial forecasting, compliance monitoring, accounting, and financial management in a higher education or research environment. The Research Finance Program Manager independently manages complex financial portfolios, provides strategic guidance and decision support to faculty and leadership, monitors financial risk and internal controls, coordinates audit and reporting activities, and supports effective stewardship of Institute resources. The position also collaborates extensively with the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), Campus Controller's Office (CCO), Human Resources, Procurement, and sponsor agencies to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely financial administration of sponsored and discretionary funds.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
The Crown Institute's research focuses on practices, programs, and policies that foster wellness among children and youth, families and caregivers, educators, and mental health and health providers. Scholars in multiple fields work together and in partnership with families, teachers, young people, and community members.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Budgeting and pre-award support
Advise Institute proposal teams on the use of CU's budget forms, templates, and processes. Provide PIs with appropriate budget justification templates specific and compliant for their submission. Review their entries for budgetary accuracy and consistency across documents.
Review, interpret, and inform PIs of solicitation terms with financial and Human Resource implications that require special approvals and/or planning: reduced indirect cost rates, cost share, PI eligibility, salary caps, etc.
Prepare proposal budgets using the university format, maintaining multiple budgets as needed for internal CU processes, and integrating input into appropriate full proposal budgets for submission.
Track and interpret the needs articulated by the PI and other research personnel in order to create appropriate proposal budgets, using analyses of historical and current Institute budget data, standard fringe and indirect cost rates, and University policies governing budgeting practices like ICR split agreements, cost share, salary limitation, cost categorization and allowability.
Guide the PI to complete the University's Proposal Submission Request (PSR), and provide information for the budgetary and Institutional fields (CU budgets, ICR splits, etc.); complete funding agency budget forms.
Review final proposal packages prior to submission to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency of all budget-related information, including staffing allocations and effort commitments.
Maintain updated, organized, and complete files on proposals in the Finance Team shared drive.
Monitor OCG databases to identify new awards where the Institute is entitled to an indirect cost recovery split; calculate the split owed based on existing agreements, secure interdepartmental approvals, and submit timely splits requests to CCO.
Engage with OCG and CCO to process Pre-Award At-Risk requests if necessary, and coordinate approved pre-award spending activities in compliance with University policies and sponsor requirements.
Post-award financial management
Lead SpeedType lifecycle management for the assigned portfolio by engaging with OCG and CCO to establish, modify, monitor, and close SpeedTypes in accordance with each award's terms and conditions. Inform OCG and CCO of changes to PIs on awards due to new hires or staffing turnover.
Interpret and maintain a consistent understanding of all finance-related award terms and conditions in the assigned portfolio (cost allowability, cost share, reporting, etc.), and engage regularly with the PI and project team to ensure proactive, compliant management of the financial aspects of the award.
Maintain advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), federal cost principles, and sponsor-specific regulations, and remain up to date on policy changes of federal and state sponsor agencies.
Consistently implement award-specific budgetary and financial terms and conditions, adhere to funding agency requirements, follow CU policies and procedures, and observe state regulations for the appropriate utilization of restricted and non-restricted funds.
Refine and maintain a grant tracking system to ensure awareness of key dates (award start and end dates, report due dates, etc.) and update the Institute's Knowledge Integration Platform (KIP). Provide the PI and project team advance notice of report due dates so that they can draft the report and receive required approvals prior to submission. Provide the PI and Institute leadership with advance notice of project end dates for timely identification on key actions (close out, extension requests, etc.).
Work with PIs and HR to facilitate new hires by verifying funding adequacy for requested salary allocations, analyzing appropriateness based on the approved budget, scope, award, terms, and relevant sponsor and university policies, and providing accurate SpeedTypes to HR. Work with HR to submit monthly and biweekly funding distributions for employees in the assigned portfolio.
Generate ad hoc analyses, such as salary histories, what-if scenarios, and activity-level budgets for PIs and Project Leads.
Track grant and discretionary budget portfolios for assigned faculty; develop cost projections, salary allocations, and confirm the timeliness, accuracy, and allocability of expenditures to conform to CU and sponsor policies.
Monitor financial activity and invoices of subawardees for compliance with sponsor terms, approved budgets, and federal regulations; coordinate with PIs and OCG regarding subrecipient risk management and invoice approvals.
Collaborate with PIs, OCG, and sponsors to identify the need and submit award modifications, including but not limited to no-cost extensions, carryforward requests, budget revisions, restricted funds transfers, PI or co-PI changes, requests for additional funding, addition of new subawardee(s), etc.
Provide PIs and Project Leads with routine expenditure updates and budget tracking for ongoing decision support; identify and communicate variances and unanticipated transactions in a timely manner.
Support effort reporting and salary certification processes to ensure compliance with federal regulations and accurate personnel expense allocation.
Maintain organized files for each award in the assigned portfolio to ensure complete, accurate documentation and records to ensure the Institute is audit-ready for any outside requestor (CU internal audit, State of Colorado, federal sponsors, etc.)
Prepare financial reports for awards in line with sponsor requirements, and engage with the PI, the Director of Finance and Business Development, and CCO to ensure reviews and secure the required approvals prior to submission.
Coordinate with PIs, OCG, and CCO for final award closeouts in CU's systems.
Finance and Accounting
Produce, update, and analyze financial projections sheets for SpeedTypes in the assigned portfolio: encumber future expenses in cooperation with the Institute's Procurement and Operations Specialist, assess balances and expenditure trends, and identify potential misalignment of expenditures with available budget balances and/or award terms.
Provide strategic financial analysis and recommendations for PIs and Project Leads through the production and dissemination of regular financial reporting that summarizes key financial data (balances, expenditure rates, variances, etc.) and provides timely insights to support sound project management and effective fund forecasting.
Manage and process accounts payable and receivable for all fund @types in the assigned portfolio, and ensure timely processing of all financial requirements (e.g., indirect cost recovery splits, cost share commitments, etc.).
Prepare, review, reconcile, and submit Procurement Card, Travel Card, and reimbursement expense reports in compliance with federal, state, University, and Institute policies for projects in the assigned portfolio. Authorize payments for invoices for supplies and services obtained. Provide policy guidance to project staff to ensure compliant use of PCards, Travel Cards, and expense incurrence.
Conduct monthly expense reconciliations, scrutinizing each expense for appropriateness and ensuring accurate account coding. Based on the monthly review and reconciliation of accounts, recommend and process cost transfers, journal entries, payroll expense transfers (PETs), and cash transfers.
Implement and support internal controls designed to ensure financial integrity, regulatory compliance, appropriate segregation of duties, and mitigation of audit and financial risk.
Coordinate responses to internal and external audit requests for the assigned portfolio, and assist with resolution of audit findings or compliance concerns.
Lead fiscal year-end processes for awards in the assigned portfolio: identify all relevant due dates from CCO and PSC, and ensure all procurement and payment transactions are processed in accordance with established timelines and procedures.
Be responsible for cash advances and petty cash compliance and reconciliation procedures in accordance with University policies and procedures.
Procurement
Be responsible for compliance and administration of the Institute's Procurement Card program, including application processing, user guidance, maintenance of active cardholder records, and coordination of card closures for separating employees.
Liaise with the Institute's Procurement and Financial Operations Specialist to facilitate timely procurement of goods and services through CU MarketPlace, ensuring all purchases follow award terms and conditions, the necessary supplemental documentation is accurately completed (Official Function, Sole Source Justification, etc.), and all documentation is appropriately filed for audit-readiness.
Support adherence to internal control procedures related to procurement, payments, reimbursements, and card program administration.
Additional Support
Back up other team members, including the Institute's Procurement and Operations Specialist, HR professional, and the Director of Finance and Business Development where needed.
Provide training and guidance to Institute employees regarding sponsored project budgeting, financial management, sponsor regulations, and University policies and procedures.
Within the designated portfolio, provide support for employee and non-employee travel as needed, travel reimbursements in accordance with university policies and procedures.
What You Should Know
This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with two days on campus and three days remote per week.
This position will occasionally require work in the evenings/weekends.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship. We are unable to provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization for this position now or in the future.
What We Can Offer
The annual hiring range is $75,000-$85,000. Relocation is available for eligible candidates.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder (https://apptrkr.com/get\redirect.php?id=9752119&targetURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.edu%2F) , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package (https://apptrkr.com/get\redirect.php?id=9752119&targetURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.colorado.edu%2Fjobs%2Fbenefits) includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage (https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=9752119&targetURL=https%3A%2F%2Fadvantage.cu.edu%2Fcampus%2Fcu-boulder) program.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.
What We Require
Bachelor's degree in a related field and 3+ years of experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, and/or financial management of awards funded by governmental or non-governmental sponsors or donors.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
What You Will Need
Knowledge of accounting principles, auditing standards, and budgeting principles and practices for federal and state sponsors.
Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment, discretion, and to work independently.
Practical approach and adaptability to offer alternative solutions when project team requests exceed budget or violate university or sponsor policies.
Ability to effectively manage a substantial and varied research portfolio from multiple sponsors (federal, state, foundation) and a wide range of award instruments (contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, service agreements, etc.)
Ability to comprehend, interpret, and articulate complex solicitation requirements to research staff, often under tight timelines, to ensure proposal budgets and documentation are completed on time, fully compliant, and unlikely to be returned without review.
Ability to manage a high-volume and diverse workload, balancing multiple contending priorities while maintaining a high standard of customer service.
Ability to effectively communicate award terms and conditions, as well as key financial concepts, clearly and professionally to Institute employees with varying levels of knowledge about budgeting, financial management, and sponsor requirements.
Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a complementary team, fostering cooperation with other members of the Finance & Personnel Team, the Institute, and the broader campus community.
Ability to think creatively about workload and work structure to enhance efficiency and customer service while ensuring compliance.
Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, as well as strong organizational and records management practices to maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready proposal, award, and financial documentation.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
A current resume.
A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by 8/23/26 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs (https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=9752119&targetURL=http%3A%2F%2Fcolorado.edu%2Fjobs) .
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Finance-Program-Manager-Crown-Institute/74101 (https://apptrkr.com/9752119)
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The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.
