Staff Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Staff Accountant

Position Type:

College: Pikes Peak State College

Campus: Centennial Campus

Location: Colorado Springs

Salary Range: $58,000-$62,000

 

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:

The Staff Accountant position supports Financial Services by performing professional accounting duties, including account reconciliations, journal entry preparation, period-end and year-end close activities, financial reporting, general ledger analysis, budget monitoring, and compliance review. The position works closely with Accounting, Payroll, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and Grants staff. The Staff Accountant serves as backup to both the Senior Accountant and Fixed Asset Accountant, ensuring continuity of financial processes and operations.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Professional Accounting Duties 

• Recommend new fund/org setup (including grant and financial aid codes). 
• Prepare journal entries after completion of required reconciliations. Analyze transactions to ensure accuracy and that all entries are properly classified. Research charges recorded to the wrong account, inaccurate pay rates, etc. and make the appropriate correcting entries. Determinations may involve contact with outside departments and funding agencies. 
• Assist with financial statement preparation and reporting. 
• Identify and recommend process improvement opportunities. 
• Maintain departmental records, including journal entries, financial aid information, grant documents, and reconciliations. 
• Review transactions to ensure compliance with state, financial aid, and grant requirements. 
• Prepare grant reimbursement requests, financial aid and drawdowns, invoices, and return of funds in accordance with federal, state, and institutional requirements. 
• Complete detailed expenditure tracking spreadsheets. 
• Prepare bank transfers as required. 
• Participate in training sessions for staff regarding PPSC policies and procedures. 
• Serve as backup to the Fixed Asset Staff Accountant for capital construction, inventory, and fixed asset duties.
• Serve as backup to the Senior Accountant for grant-related tasks.

Year-end Tasks 

• Prepare year-end journal entries including recording outstanding receivables and payables. Assist with compilation of year-end reports, exhibits, and footnotes. 
• Assist with annual audit requests. 
• Participate in annual cash verification audits. 
• Other year-end tasks as assigned.

Other  

• Scanning documents in the financial reporting system. 
• Create or maintain position related procedures manuals. 
• Attend professional development as recommended by supervisor. 
• Complete other strategic tasks as assigned. 
• Other duties as assigned by Assistant Controller or Controller.

Competencies/KSAs:

• Cultural competence and demonstrated evidence, understanding, and commitment to the concepts of diversity, multiculturalism, and their application 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 performing similar duties to those described for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience preparing and posting journal entries. 
• Experience with account reconciliations. 
• Experience with financial reporting systems. 
• Related experience in higher education, governmental, nonprofit, or grant accounting.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Selection Process:

For full consideration, all application materials must be received by 4:00 p.m. on September 16, 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: 

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. 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.

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).