Research Accountant I

Engineering a World of Possibilities

As our next Research Accountant, 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

• 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.
• Decide on 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.

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.

Award Reporting

• Prepare and accurately submit required 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

• Determine and perform all closeout actions required by sponsoring agency and School policy and procedures, including, but not limited to:
• Maintaining a detailed tracking of closeout activities.
• Tracking all outstanding accounts receivable actions to successfully coordinate the process of financial closeout between the grant sub-ledger and the school's General Ledger.
• Performing 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 processes 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, including:

• 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 discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state-of-the-art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool, and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center.

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.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy, and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society.

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers, and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture, or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 "Very High Activity" research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size - roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students - also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued, and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus - nationally-renowned speakers, special events, and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don't get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado - with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails - and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work, and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or current military service.

Mines' commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs, and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures, and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders, and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.