Accountant, Financial Operations & Shops

JILA at CU Boulder invites applications for an Accountant of Financial Operations & Shops! This role provides financial management, transaction processing, reconciliation, and financial oversight supporting JILA’s research shops and broader financial operations. The position prepares and reviews financial transactions, billing, allocations, reconciliations, and expense documentation; supports accurate and compliant use of university funds; and contributes to financial reporting and process improvement. The position also provides routine back-up support for payroll and personnel processing in coordination with the JILA Finance Manager and Payroll, Visa & Personnel Liaison.

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.

JILA is a joint institute of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located on the beautiful CU Boulder main campus at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Led by the roughly 30 research Fellows, JILA supports eclectic and innovative research programs that foster creative collaborations. The wide-ranging interests of our scientists have made JILA one of the nation's leading physical sciences research institutes. JILA has a total annual budget of $50 million, with 297 members (including faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral researchers).

JILA offers a uniquely collaborative and mission-driven environment. The institute has a strong culture of intellectual curiosity, community, and inclusiveness, which provides a meaningful and engaging workplace.

Prepare biweekly and monthly Shops reports supporting cost allocation to sponsored research and other JILA/CU/NIST speedtypes.

Prepare monthly Shops billing for internal and external users and resolve shop-materials purchases made by non-JILA departments that require billing back.

Prepare biweekly shop labor allocations from timesheet data, in coordination with Sponsored Project Specialists, and prepare related journal entries.

Prepare monthly gas expense allocations and related journal entries.

Document Shops industry-invoicing processes for usage and labor billing.

Review and approve routine Directory purchase requests for fund availability and correct account coding; follow up on discrepancies.

Review Concur expense reports and procurement card (Pcard) statements for completeness, policy compliance, and correct allocation, including line-by-line receipt reconciliation as needed.

Prepare journal entries, cash transfers, and other financial transactions with required supporting documentation.

Process cash receipts, deposits, and petty cash; prepare and submit speedtype requests in CU and JILA systems.

Review subcontract/subaward invoices for budget and account-coding accuracy prior to payment.

Prepare and process external customer invoices and follow up on outstanding payments.

Reconcile an assigned set of non-research speedtypes and investigate and resolve discrepancies.

Assume increasing ownership of an assigned speedtype portfolio and provide routine financial recommendations to leadership.

Prepare ad hoc Shops labor utilization analyses for JILA leadership and Fellows.

Identify and communicate cross-award and cross-center funding-concentration patterns as part of routine financial review.

Contribute to consolidated internal financial reporting spanning JILA’s centers and funds.

Participate in identifying accounting process issues and contribute to process-improvement efforts.

Maintain working knowledge of biweekly/hourly payroll entry and provide routine payroll back-up support.

Provide back-up support for routine, non-visa personnel-action data entry.

Raise complex payroll, visa, or personnel matters to the appropriate subject-matter resource or Finance Manager.

This position offers a hybrid work modality with 1 day of remote work per week.

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $60,000-$70,000. Some relocation funds are available for eligible candidates.

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of professional accounting, bookkeeping, or fiscal experience.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

High attention to detail and accuracy while manging multiple timelines.

Exemplary interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Ability to establish and maintain positive and cooperative working relationships.

Ability to organize and successfully handle multiple projects and keep detailed and accurate records.

Ability to work effectively in an environment with frequent interruptions.

Familiarity with fiscal business applications for productivity, reporting, and data record keeping and integrity.

Strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and Word.

Ability to thrive independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.

Willingness to cross-train outside core accounting duties.

Demonstrated ability to take on evolving responsibilities and grow with a changing role.

Commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful workplace.

Experience in a higher education, research institute, or other complex multi-fund organization.

Familiarity with PeopleSoft Finance or a comparable ERP system.

Experience reviewing Concur or a comparable travel/expense-report system for policy compliance.

Exposure to fixed-asset and depreciation accounting.

Progress toward CPA licensure, or coursework in cost/fund accounting.

Experience with budget or variance monitoring in a constrained or contracting funding environment.

Experience with cost-recovery, recharge-center, or user-fee billing models.

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 October 20, 2026 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

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.