Accounting Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Accounting Specialist

Position Type: Professional Tech Full time

College: Pikes Peak State College

Location: Colorado Springs

Salary Range: $54,000 - $57,999 annual gross

 

Who We Are:

Pikes Peak State College is the largest and most diverse college in the Pikes Peak region, serving students with a wide range of goals, experiences, and responsibilities. Our students include recent high school graduates, working adults, military-affiliated students, parents, first-generation students, career changers, transfer students, and lifelong learners.

Our mission is to provide high-quality educational opportunities to all, with a focus on student success and community needs. We fulfill that mission by creating affordable, flexible, and accessible pathways that help students transfer to four-year institutions, enter the workforce, advance their careers, and build better futures close to home.

As the needs of our students, employers, and communities continue to evolve, so do we. PPSC embraces innovation that is human-centered, ethical, and focused on student learning. Through strong workforce partnerships and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, we prepare students not only for today's opportunities, but for what's next.

We're looking for people who are passionate about access, collaboration, innovation, and student success. Whether you work in the classroom or behind the scenes, your contributions help create opportunities that change lives. At PPSC, our vision is simple: Students Succeed at PPSC.

 

Job Summary:

This is a NON-CLASSIFIED employment opportunity and is exempt from the State Classified Personnel System. Visit the State of Colorado for Classified employment opportunities.   

The Accounting Specialist supports Financial Services with responsibilities for travel and official function disbursements, sales tax duties, petty cash audits, state travel cards, record retention, invoicing, and State of Colorado financial system entries. Duties also include various monthly journal entries entered and recorded in the College financial reporting system. This position serves as backup to Accounts Payable Specialist.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Travel and Official/Training Functions: Review and process all authorizations and reimbursements related to official/training functions and travel. Verify that all reimbursements are allowable expenses in accordance with PPSC procedures, CCCS policies, State Fiscal Rules and the State Travel Management System. Facilitate all requests for travel credit cards. Review travel card balances for unallowable purchases or past due balances. Provide guidance and departmental training regarding processes and appropriate expenses. Monitor travel prepaid expenses and accrual amounts at
year-end.

Sales Tax: Compute sales tax monthly. Analyze revenue and actual collected tax dollars. Research and correct discrepancies. Compile supporting schedules with detailed sales activity. File tax returns and remit payments online to the State of Colorado and the City of Colorado Springs by the required deadline. Prepare journal entries to record all applicable sales tax activity to the correct account code. Reconcile sales tax accounts in general ledger. Apply, renew, or distribute sales tax licenses.

Journal entries: Complete all journal entries as required in a timely and accurate manner.
Reconcile and verify account balances in general ledger. Review all student club cash balances and determine the reversion of funds between Student Government and student clubs. Prepare the journal entry to record all reversions. Various other monthly journal entries as needed. Scan journal entries into financial reporting system.

State Financial System: Prepare state accounting reports as required. Process state accounting system entries. Compare state accounting entries to internal financial reporting system entries. Assist the Assistant Controller with monthly reconciliations.

Petty cash/change fund audits: Audit change fund/petty cash funds that are maintained by various college departments, as per Financial Services procedures. Ensure proper authorization forms are completed.

Other: Process office orders via procurement card. College projects, committees, and other strategic tasks as assigned.

Competencies/KSAs:

Ability to navigate differences effectively and respectfully in the workplace.
Adhere to college, system and state policies and procedures.
Strong customer service skills and relationship building techniques.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Ability to travel to multiple campuses to support department needs.
Maintain confidentiality while working effectively with all constituents.
Manage and complete multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting critical deadlines.
Employ judgment and analytical skills related to Financial Services functions.
Encourage a collaborative and team-based environment.
Work effectively with students, faculty, and staff and outside agencies; relate to people of
various cultural backgrounds, communication styles, abilities and appearances and help
staff do the same.
Generate required department reports periodically.
Work independently as well as work in a team setting.
Attend various department and college wide meetings as scheduled.
Communicate effectively in verbal and written formats.
Ability to identify and implement imaginative and entrepreneurial solutions to complex
problems.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or associate’s degree plus two
years of professional level experience.

Professional level experience is defined by the Colorado Division of Human Resources: A position that involves the exercise of discretion, analytical skill, judgment, personal accountability, and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, or sharing an organized body of knowledge. Colorado revised statute (C.R.S. 24-50-135(1) allows colleges to exempt positions from the State Personnel Classified System that are determined to be professional level work.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in a higher education setting.
Experience with financial reporting systems.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Selection Process:

For full consideration, all application materials must be received by 4:00 p.m. MST on October 23, 2026.

Must be a State of Colorado resident or able to relocate to Colorado prior to first date of employment.

Visa support is not available for this position.

Application Instructions: 

Pikes Peak State College will conduct reference checks and a criminal background check on the selected candidate. Employment offers and continued employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. Positions with access to Federal Tax Information require a fingerprint-based criminal history record check as part of the pre-employment process.

Application must be submitted online.  Incomplete applications may not receive full consideration.  A complete application will include:

Cover letter - Address the minimum and preferred qualifications in the order listed on the job announcement.
Resume - Reflect experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities.  
Unofficial Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts for all degrees conferred.  Official transcripts are required if hired for the position.  
Professional References - Provide names and contact information for three recent professional references who can address your expertise and background for this position.

Additional Information/Benefits:

Work Life Balance

Pikes Peak State College offers a generous amount of annual leave and sick leave. Depending on your employment category and full or part-time status, Pikes Peak State College offers 15 hours a month of annual leave and 10 hours a month of sick leave accrual. There are paid holidays and alternate paid holidays which allow the college to be closed Christmas Day through New Year's Day. Eligibility is defined by your employment FTE status.

Tuition Reimbursement

Education and your success are a priority at Pikes Peak State College. We encourage you to develop job skills and abilities which will benefit you as well as our college. Eligible employees, their eligible dependents, and spouse/domestic partners may enroll in credit courses at any of the Colorado Community College System. Eligibility is defined by your employment FTE status.

Health, Dental & Vision

Pikes Peak State College offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide you and eligible dependents, spouse/domestic partner, with a broad range of employer paid and employee paid benefit options. In addition to medical coverage, the college offers dental and vision insurance plans to choose from. Eligibility is defined by your employment FTE status.

Retirement

Pikes Peak State College participates in Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) contribution rates. State employees are required to a mandatory contribution of a percentage of their salary to the plan, and the college contributes a percentage as well. While you are enrolled in PERA, you do not pay Social Security. In addition, there are supplemental retirement plans available through three other vendors.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) offer you an easy way to pay for eligible medical and childcare expenses with money that's set aside with a pre-tax benefit. Eligibility is defined by your employment FTE status.

Disability Coverage

Pikes Peak State College offers disability insurance to help you meet needs should you become unable to work due to an illness or injury.

Life Insurance

Pikes Peak State College offers life insurance paid for by the college to eligible employees. Supplemental life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies are available for those interested in additional coverage. Eligibility is defined by your employment FTE status.

Additional Leave Programs

Pikes Peak State College offers additional leave programs such as bereavement leave, jury leave, community and parental academic leave, Family and Medical Leave (FML), and Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI).