Financial Aid and Scholarship Accountant
Requisition Number:
64069
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
14-May-2025
Date Posted:
02-May-2025
Job Summary
The Enrollment Management division at CU Boulder invites applications for the Financial Aid and Scholarship Accountant position! This role works as part of a team providing fiscal support to the Office of Financial Aid. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid Accounting in the Office of Financial Aid and is responsible for the reconciliation of scholarship, federal, state, and institutional program funds and updating of management reports. This position leads the review, balancing, and reconciling of financial aid and scholarship item type and speedtype accounts in PeopleSoft Finance and Campus Solutions. This position is responsible for the creation and maintenance of financial aid item types in OnBase. This position also writes, reviews, and updates area policies and procedures. This position exercises a high degree of decision making and independence in completing the duties and responsibilities required.
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 Office of Financial Aid is committed to helping students pay for college by building innovative programs to support access and graduation, empowering students to make healthy financial decisions, investing in the development of our staff, and engaging lawmakers and partners to improve aid policy! We coordinate over $425M in grants, scholarships, work-study and loans for over 20,000 students each year. Our staff consists of 38 full-time professional employees and 50-60 student employees.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Financial Aid and Scholarships Reconciliation:
- Reconcile the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services federal, state, institutional program accounts in PeopleSoft Financials on a monthly basis.
- Reconcile alternative loan funds to identify and resolve discrepancies on a monthly basis.
- Prepare internal reports to help monitor activity on a monthly basis.
- Process accurate and timely refunds to private scholarship donors for ineligible or withdrawn recipients.
- Regularly review, balance, and reconcile scholarship area PeopleSoft Finance and Campus Solutions item type accounts.
- Make appropriate journal entries to transfer funds and resolve erroneous transactions.
- Review and verify loan receivables created by and Campus Controller's Office (CCO).
- Calculate expenditures and request funds as required for Federal Department of Education financial aid programs including Pell, SEOG, Direct Loan, and Work-study.
- Review, verify and reconcile Campus Solutions disbursement activity for all programs to PeopleSoft Financials, Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) and G5 systems.
- Depending on the program, draws vary in frequency from daily to bi-weekly and reconciliation is monthly for all programs.
- In collaboration with CCO, ensure Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) Financial Aid and special program (GearUp, Path4Ward, etc.) payments have been received and moved into the correct accounts.
- Work with Scholarship services to confirm the awarding of students in special programs, for which funds have been received.
- Work with Assistant Director to resolve discrepancies and ensure that all close out procedures for all Federal programs are completed in a timely manner.
Accounting Control and Reporting Functions:
- Keep current on institutional fiscal requirements and act as liaison between the financial aid office and Campus Controller's Office (CCO).
- Keep up to date on rules and regulations and institutional policies and procedures, and other program policies.
- Creates necessary journal entries for Financial Aid and Scholarship accounting.
- Assist in the preparation of the SURDS (state report), FISAP (federal report) and other internal and external reports by collecting and analyzing data and reviewing for accuracy.
- Under the direction of the Assistant Director, perform process review and other related duties as part of the Office's internal audit program.
- Collect and organize requested audit information for annual external or other audits.
- Write, review, and maintain the position's policies and procedures.
- Stay current on office policies and procedures as they relate to data security.
- Follow policies to ensure that the sensitive data with which this position is entrusted is protected from unauthorized disclosure or other improper use.
Item Types Creation and Maintenance:
- Responsible for the Item Type Administration Workflow in OnBase, to accurately interpret Item Type creation requests and input necessary information needed by Bursar and Financial Aid staff.
- Set up and maintain financial aid item types for the Campus Solutions system.
- Updates fund budgets as requested for appropriate item types.
- Involves working with Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Bursar staff.
- Regularly monitor award minimum/maximum amounts and refer or resolve as appropriate.
- Responsible for creating, maintaining, and inactivating Speedtypes, and working with the CCO to complete in a timely manner.
Special Projects:
- This position is also responsible for the implementation of special projects as required by the Office of Financial Aid, and/or the University.
Year-End Process:
- Compile fiscal year end reports to assist with balancing accounts.
- Creation of Journal Entries and Budget Journal Entries to ensure the close-out of Speedtypes.
- Leads the reconciliation processes for state-funded grants to ensure allocation amounts have been correctly moved by the Controller’s Office.
Professional Development:
- Participate in training seminars, conferences, committee meetings, etc. for professional development in the areas of Title IV financial aid, financial analysis, and accounting.
- Collaborate with immediate supervisor to determine areas for professional growth and identify and request appropriate training opportunities.
- Attend staff meetings, retreats and other meetings as assigned.
What You Should Know
- Cannot be in default on a student loan either upon hire or while employed in this position in order to obtain appropriate access to the federal financial aid systems.
- Hybrid work schedule offered.
What We Can Offer
- The annual salary rate for this position is $57,100.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.
Be Statements
Be collaborative. Be inspired. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Bachelors degree from an accredited university or college or a combination of equivalent education and experience may substitute.
- One (1) year plus of Accounting or Financial Aid experience.
What You Will Need
- Intermediate to advanced computer skills including student management systems, word processing, databases and spreadsheets.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- Strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate efficiently and effectively.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Two or more years' experience with accounting, bookkeeping, billing, accounts payable or other detailed financial transaction processing.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
1. A current resume.2. 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 May 14, 2025, 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.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu