RIO is the central point for support and advocacy for CU Boulder’s world-class scholarship, creative work, and growing research enterprise. We are focused on creating a global impact by cultivating and supporting collaboration, transformation and leadership. At the heart of this focus are the contributions of a wide range of world-class experts, working together to accelerate ideas throughout the entire innovation lifecycle. We seek to embody CU Boulder's dedication to exemplify excellence by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, enhancing the success and inclusion of all students, staff and faculty, and deepening our ability to share and engage with myriad perspectives.

RIO Financial Leadership

• Serve as the primary budget and fiscal representative for RIO, advising the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of the Institutes (SVCRIO) and Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) on financial policies, procedures, and strategic planning.
• Lead financial operations for RIO, including oversight of budget transactions, year-end reporting, and preparation of financial analyses, reports, and presentations including submitting the year-end financial balance reports to the Office of Budget & Fiscal Planning.
• Supervise RIO finance staff, setting goals aligned with university priorities and monitoring progress toward strategic objectives.
• Provide strategic budget support to RIO Leadership Teams across Operations & Administration, Security & Integrity, Strategy & Development, and Innovation & Partnerships.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with central administrative offices, including Budget & Fiscal Planning, Campus Controller, Human Resources, academic units, and Institutes.
• Act as fiscal liaison for the National Solar Observatory (NSO), ensuring compliance and financial stewardship, along with managing the contract renewal process.

Institute Support

Strategic Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Provide expert guidance to Institute Directors on budget development, financial planning, and resource allocation.
• Lead the preparation and submission of annual strategic budget requests and year-end financial balance reports to the Office of Budget & Fiscal Planning.
• Maintain position budgeting for rostered faculty and manage Institute-level commitments, including tracking and fulfillment of funding obligations.

Roster & Merit Management

• Supervise the annual Institute roster process through Anaplan for merit-based salary adjustments, including preliminary planning, final calculations, and distribution of merit allocations.
• Advise the Dean of the Institutes on retention percentages and on equity and compression adjustments.

Funding & Commitment Oversight

• Coordinate the distribution of Provost funding commitments to Institutes and negotiate financial agreements related to start-ups, course buyouts, and other faculty-related expenses.
• Monitor and manage salary savings from faculty vacancies and sabbaticals.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate, attend and contribute to RIO Institute Director meetings, helping shape financial topics and strategic discussions.
• Serve as a resource to Institute accounting staff, offering guidance on fiscal policies and procedures.
• Communicate key financial , updates, and campus-wide changes to Institute partners.

Infrastructure & Reporting

• Facilitate the annual Research Infrastructure Improvement Proposal process and progress reporting.

Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty Support

• Serve as the primary liaison to the Institutes for tenure/tenure-track (TTT) faculty matters, advising the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of the Institutes on strategic plans, and supporting HR staff on hiring policies, appointment procedures, and performance evaluations.
• Lead administrative processes for Institute Director searches and manage the full lifecycle of TTT faculty recruitment, including planning, documentation, approvals, and coordination with the Office of Faculty Affairs and campus offices.
• Draft, review, and be responsible for offer letters, MOUs, and appointment documents for Directors, Faculty Directors, and Institute Directors, ensuring consistency with university standards.
• Monitor and process retention cases, off-cycle salary increases, and startup funding obligations.
• Coordinate the submission of annual faculty recruiting reports, including current status, turnover, and future search plans.

Strategic Infrastructure Support

• Serve as a strategic resource to Institutes undergoing infrastructure changes, including organizational restructuring, space planning, and operational transitions.
• Collaborate with Institute Directors and campus partners to assess financial and administrative impacts of proposed infrastructure changes.
• Provide budgetary guidance and planning support to ensure infrastructure initiatives align with university priorities and fiscal policies.
• Advise on funding strategies, cost modeling, and long-term sustainability of infrastructure investments.
• Act as a liaison between the Institutes and central administrative units to facilitate smooth implementation of infrastructure-related projects.
• Collaborate with Advancement to support institute-level philanthropic initiatives with high-level financial tracking, reporting, and budgetary oversight for strategic giving; ensure alignment between donor intent, institute priorities, and fiscal stewardship.

Campus-Wide Support/Service

• Represent RIO and the Institutes on high-level campus committees and working groups, including Central HR, Faculty Affairs, Fiscal and Budget Planning, and Provost-led initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to administrative units across campus, contributing to university-wide planning and decision-making efforts.

This position allows for a hybrid work schedule, working remotely part-time and on campus part-time. On-campus presence is required for meetings and other events.

The annual hiring range for this position is $130,000-$165,000. Relocation is available for eligible candidates.

• Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant professional experience in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field, or a combination of education and experience.

• Deep understanding of finance and budget principles, practices and systems, including university and state fiscal policies, fund/grant accounting, and reporting practices.
• Strong knowledge of human resources operations as they relate to faculty appointments and financial administration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly to a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing high-quality customer service, with a proactive and responsive approach to supporting faculty, staff, and campus partners.
• Consistent record of delivering customer-focused service with strong listening, analytical thinking, and problem solving capabilities.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive financial and personnel matters.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experienced with online financial reporting and budgeting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex assignments independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

• Graduate degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or related field.
• Experience in fund accounting in higher education.
• Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, and fiscal principles and practices in an academic environment.
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft financial and human resource systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of university, state, and federal rules pertaining to financial and budgetary activity, and sponsored research.