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Finance Policy & Process Specialist

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Position Number: 6298879
Location: Denver, CO
Position Type: Business - Finance

Finance Policy & Process Specialist

University of Colorado Denver

Finance Policy & Process Specialist-37059

University Staff

Description

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Higher Education!

At the System Administration office at the University of Colorado, we are dedicated to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our office is committed to fostering a culture where employees find community, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our mission and purpose.

By joining our team, you'll have a direct impact on shaping the future of higher education. In addition to the Office of the Board of Regents, the University of Colorado's system administration includes 19 units that provide essential services to CU's campuses in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, as well as the Office of the President. While not a part of any one campus, we are proud to serve in the centralized office for the University system. Together, we ensure CU continues to deliver outstanding education, groundbreaking research, and valuable service to our communities.

We believe in creating an environment where the unique experiences and perspectives of everyone are embraced, enriching the work we do and the strategic outcomes we pursue. If you're passionate about making a difference, contributing to a dynamic team, and supporting a mission that matters, we encourage you to apply and be part of our journey. Learn more about CU System Administration.

Position Summary:

The Office of University Controller (OUC) provides leadership to the University of Colorado (CU) in financial recording, reporting, policy guidance, and communication. The OUC is responsible for managing the university's system of record - the Finance System - and its interfaces with purchasing, payables, human resources, the Cognos Reporting System, and other subsystems. The OUC works closely with the CU campus controllers, the state controller, and the state auditor's office to ensure that CU fiscal practices comply with external and internal rules and regulations and generally accepted accounting principles and to prepare the external financial reports.

The OUC communicates fiscal policies and procedures through its newsletter, website, and training programs and provides direct assistance to faculty, staff, and other individuals through the Financial Services & Solutions Help team. The OUC creates explainer videos on behalf of other CU offices to serve and inform state government entities and Colorado citizens. The office also administers a Continuing Professional Education program and the CU Innovation & Efficiency Awards employee recognition program.

The Finance Policy & Process Specialist is an expert in working with financial policies, procedures, forms, and systems and in explaining their use to others, especially to non-accountants. Job duties include interpreting policies and clarifying procedures, developing instructional materials, and delivering training to achieve desired learning objectives of the OUC, the CU campus controllers' offices, and other units across the CU system.

This position communicates financial guidance to CU faculty and staff, develops and delivers related training, and evaluates associated business procedures for continuous process improvement. Key areas of responsibility are policies, procedures, and forms related to sensitive expenses, including official functions and fundraising events.

The individual provides 1:1 assistance and serves as a subject matter expert - helping employees fulfill their fiscal roles and responsibilities through policy/procedure compliance, developing online instructions and documentation, and designing and delivering online and in-person courses. In addition to serving as a lead expert in the designated areas, this position provides support in coordinating, scheduling, and issuing certifications for training developed by other subject matter experts for the OUC's Continuing Professional Education program.

To thrive in this position, the individual must be a self-motivated problem solver and strategic communicator. They will be passionate about empowering staff through knowledge, bridging the gap between complex financial policies and everyday understanding. Their superpower lies in their ability to anticipate potential policy confusion, proactively develop educational resources, and collaborate across teams to achieve shared goals while maintaining compliance.

The Finance Policy & Process Specialist reports to the Director of Financial Services & Solutions (FSS) in the OUC's Financial Services & Solutions unit (FSS) and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff system.

Where You Will Work:

Hybrid - this role is primarily remote with intermittent requirements to go to a campus or the uptown Denver office.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

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.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Finance Policy Development and Process Improvement

Develops and maintains policies, procedures, and forms to establish CU business processes, including matters regarding compliance with external rules, regulations, generally accepted accounting principles, and internal control best practices.
Communicates policies and procedures in coordination with appropriate campus offices (campus controllers, treasury, advancement/development, etc.) to promote awareness and compliance.
Creates and analyzes process maps for financial forms and procedures, exploring improvements to streamline operations and enhance user experience and accuracy.
Collaborates with CU System/campus partners on policy needs and researches comparable policy implementation at peer institutions in response to CU user feedback, changes in industry best practices, and other prompts.

Finance Policy Interpretation and Guidance

Provides 1:1 training to employees and affiliates on the application of fiscal policies, systems, and forms - especially those related to official functions and other sensitive expenses.
In response to fundraising event inquiries from organizational units - and working with CU Advancement and CU Foundation staff - provides detailed instructions and resources to promote compliance with policy and procedural requirements.
Collaborates with campus-based fiscal compliance units on interpretation of fiscal policies, sharing trends in individual contacts when such trends suggest a need to improve policies, systems, or forms.
Identifies user challenges and possible resolutions (e.g., development of additional learning resources or training programs).
Collaborates closely with OUC team members, campus financial service centers, campus controllers' offices, and other customers to translate user feedback into improved user experience.
Instructs internal and external customers on OUC and CU System website resources, including navigating to learning resources, policies, procedures, forms, Continuing Professional Education materials, and other information.

Finance Policy Communication and Training

Acts as a subject matter expert in the development and maintenance of online Skillsoft Percipio training courses to support OUC and campus initiatives related to official functions, fundraising events, and other sensitive expenses.
Creates slide decks and delivers online/in-person training to CU employees and affiliates to promote understanding and compliance.
Creates concise, user-friendly content for knowledge-base articles to be used internally by OUC staff and externally by campus faculty and staff.
Designs and develops policy and procedural material for publication on the OUC website in accordance with best practices in learning, understanding, and retention.
Collaborates with key partners across the CU system to promote alignment of policies and procedures.
Ensures consistency between written policies and procedures and training during both development and implementation.

Continuing Professional Education Coordination, Scheduling, and Compliance

In conjunction with the OUC's Director of Financial Services & Solutions, collaborates with internal and external subject matter experts to identify, develop, and schedule Continuing Professional Education (CPE) events.
Reviews CPE reports for compliance and issues certificates to requesting individuals as appropriate, in alignment with NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accounting) regulatory requirements.

Other Duties

Handles projects, tasks, research, contacts, and communications using Cherwell/other ticketing system, Trello, Slack, and other specialized tools and software.
Performs additional responsibilities, as assigned.

What We Offer:

Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $75,500 - $80,800

CU System Administration takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate's education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position's scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits: With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
Free RTD EcoPass and Free Onsite Parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available.

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive Benefits Guide.

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU. (This position is a University Staff position)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience (professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis)
Four (4) years of experience analyzing and communicating complex policy or procedural information, including accounting or financial procedures, and experience using specialized forms to submit data or request approvals

Preferred Qualifications:

Six (6) years of experience analyzing and communicating complex policy or procedural information, including accounting or financial procedures, and experience using specialized forms to submit data or request approvals
Experience with financial policies, including internal control frameworks
Experience with financial/reporting enterprise systems (finance, reporting, travel, purchasing, or accounts payable functions, especially using PeopleSoft, Cognos, Concur, or CU Marketplace e-procurement)
Experience with governmental or higher education accounting procedures
Experience developing written documentation/instructions and delivering both online and in-person training
Audit experience
Experience communicating and training others on applications, forms, and policies
Experience with an incident management tool, such as Cherwell

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application:

A cover letter identifying the job specific minimum and, if appropriate, additional qualifications you possess
A resume including any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting.

Please ensure you check the "Job Specific Attachments" box next to each document on the "Required Documents" page of the application for the appropriate documents to be attached.

Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you are not required to provide your date of birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation on your resume or cover letter. If an application requires additional materials, such as a transcript or certification, you may redact identifying information relating to your date or birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation.

When to Apply:

For full consideration completed applications must be submitted byJune 30th, 2025. Reference checking is a standard step in our hiring process. You may be asked to provide contact information, including email addresses, for up to five references as part of the search process for this position. *Please note: All application materials must be submitted through CU Careers; emailed materials will not be considered.*

Sponsorship Statement:

We are unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial history, motor vehicle history and/or fingerprinting background check. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that a verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

ADA Statement:

We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: systemhr@cu.edu.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

To be successful in this position, employees will need to know the following:

Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex financial concepts in clear, concise, and accessible language that accommodates different learning styles and technical comfort levels; excellent listening and comprehension abilities; and interpersonal skills that facilitate effective collaboration and knowledge transfer across diverse technical backgrounds
Collaboration skills, including the ability to work (in-person and remotely) with others from different areas and backgrounds to reach a common goal
Computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, along with the ability to research and implement new software/tools to advance office goals and business processes
Organizational skills, with the ability to deliver results under tight deadlines, handle multiple concurrent/competing projects, and adapt to changing priorities while maintaining personal effectiveness and strong customer service
Critical thinking skills, including the ability to identify problems, questions, and assumptions; establish significance; and develop new ideas and initiatives that improve the performance of the organization
Customer service skills, including the ability to actively listen, address customer needs, defuse tense situations, and maintain an open, flexible, and friendly demeanor
Ability to work independently in a highly dynamic, flexible, and fast-paced environment
Ability to learn technical, policy, and procedural information quickly and to retain it
Strong understanding of adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies
Ability to troubleshoot technical problems and provide user support
Ability to analyze data patterns, generate meaningful insights, and translate data findings into actionable training recommendations

Application Materials Required: Cover Letter, Resume/CV

Job Category: Business Services

Primary Location: Denver

Department: S0001 -- System Administration - 50027 - University Controller

Schedule: Full-time

Posting Date: Jun 13, 2025

Unposting Date: Jul 1, 2025, 5:59:00 AM

Posting Contact Name: System HR Recruiting

Posting Contact Email: Systemhr.recruiting@cu.edu

Position Number: 00657164

To apply, please visit: https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=37059&lang=en