Utility & Project Accounting Specialist

ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCY FLSA Status: United States of America (Exempt) Compensation: $55,000 Commensurate with education and experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits package: Click here for more information! SECTION I - OUR VALUES CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE At CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea. From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement. Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create. Colorado Mesa University Core Values Love -  Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others Dignity -  Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill Courage -  Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities Humility -  Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others Resiliency -  Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity Curiosity -  Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown Power -  The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals SECTION II – THE SEAT At CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well-being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats. The Utility and Project Accounting Specialist provides comprehensive financial, accounting, compliance, reporting, and administrative support for University utility operations and capital project activities within Facilities Services. This position serves a dual role with responsibility for both utility accounting and management functions and project accounting and contract administration functions. The position supports utility budgeting, billing, metering, energy reporting, regulatory compliance, and vendor management while also providing financial oversight and accounting support for capital construction, controlled maintenance, and deferred maintenance projects. Working closely with Facilities Management, Procurement Services, contractors, consultants, utility providers, and University stakeholders, this position ensures accurate financial management, regulatory compliance, timely payment processing, contract administration, audit readiness, and reporting across all assigned utility and project activities. OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS Utility Accounting and Utility Program Management Serve as the primary point of contact for all University utilities on all University campuses Ensure accurate and timely entry of all utility invoices into WorkDay for payment; reconcile all utility accounts to ensure proper, timely payment; research and resolve discrepancies Maintain online utility vendor accounts to facilitate timely access to invoices, statements, account status, and payment status Review and monitor all monthly utility bills and accounts for unplanned overages, outages, and missing usage; resolve issues through identifying and resolving maintenance, meter, or personnel issues Provide quarterly utility budget-vs-actual and forecasting reports for utility use and cost; assist with development of annual utility budgets, utility cost projections, and long-range utility expenditure forecasts Calculate tenant utility charges, prepare and distribute monthly utility invoices, and collect/deposit payables from tenants; track payments and report on revenue Submit applications for utility rebates; track, validate, document, and generate reports on utility rebates Scan and upload all utility statements, invoices, setup requests, disconnect requests, OH-UG changes, and documentation to SharePoint Utility Metering, Analytics, and Sustainability Compliance Manage the SkySpark account and smart meters; coordinate with Iconergy to troubleshoot meter outages and data discrepancies; perform regular meter updates and upgrades; coordinate smart meter installation in new and existing facilities Collaborate with the IT academic departments to continue the development of a utility accounting database and analysis tool Manage utility setup and disconnect for all University properties; maintain documentation for new, renovated, and demolished properties Maintain the University ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account, including the addition of new sites, updating data for existing sites, uploading current energy use and cost data, validating energy and water data, performing annual reporting in the State of Colorado BEAM Building Owner Portal, applying for annual building waivers, and ensuring