Commercial Card Program Manager

State of Colorado
Denver, CO

To apply, please go to:https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=39639

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Position Summary:

The University of Colorado's (CU) Procurement Service Center (PSC) is one of the leading higher education procurement offices in the nation. With multiple national awards and recognitions, the PSC is dedicated to using technology to enhance the University's programs and create efficiencies within policies. The PSC supports the entire CU community, which includes four campuses plus system administration. The PSC serves the University of Colorado through leadership of high-quality services related to spend management, contracting, procure-to-pay, and travel management activities, supporting the University’s mission of advancing research and knowledge, and state-of-art health care.

The role of the PSC is to be a center of excellence that delivers easy-to-use, reliable and value-added procurement activities with outstanding customer service. Through collaboration, innovation and technology, the PSC supports the University’s vision of expanding student success, diversity and the local economy.

The Commercial Card Program Manager position is responsible for providing oversight and strategic leadership to the University’s Commercial Card Program which primarily consists of the Procurement Card and the Travel Card. It provides secondary support for the virtual card and ghost card products as well. The role serves as an active part of expense management at the university, supporting the continuous improvement of broader procurement overall, with a focus on evolving the position from transactional administration to strategic and advisory program leadership and identifying opportunities for the card program to further elevate the value of the department’s service offerings. While still responsible for overall program policy and compliance, the position is expected to operate with a data-driven focus on finding innovative ways to bring solutions to campus departments.

The Commercial Card Program Manager is responsible for ensuring the overall accuracy, integrity, and efficiency of daily operations across a multi-faceted program. This role manages and maintains program reporting requirements and provides comprehensive customer service and support throughout the University of Colorado system.

The position is also expected to champion the use of emerging technologies such as agentic AI, predictive analytics, automated reconciliation tools, intelligent workflow automation, and other data-driven solutions to drive efficiency and enhance program delivery. This position must stay informed on emerging technologies and evaluate their applicability to Commercial Card operations balancing institutional risk, data security, and compliance standards, while also considering cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

This Commercial Card Program Manager supervises the Commercial Card Program Administrator.

The position reports to the Director of Travel and Payment Services and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff system.


Where You Will Work:

This role is eligible for a hybrid schedule, working some days from home and some days in the office at 1800 Grant St, Denver, CO.


Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Strategy

  • Serves as the subject matter expert in policies related to procurement, travel and overall payment policy including expense reimbursements, partnering with the travel and payables teams to ensure consistency across programs.
  • Serves as a dedicated advisor and champion of customer service with campus partners on all related card office inquiries and initiatives.
  • Assists campus partners with ongoing interpretation and application of university finance and procurement rules, policies, procedures, and processes. Makes recommendations to PSC leadership on further developing policies, procedures, and guidelines that support the program and university system overall.

Data Reporting and Analytics

  • Reviews and analyzes data outputs, records, and reports to assess program performance, compliance, and alignment with established benchmarks across campus departments.
  • Synthesizes department review results, transaction data, and program activity to identify trends, patterns, and emerging risks.
  • Maintains and enhances Commercial Card Program reporting to support ongoing monitoring, decision-making, and program transparency.
  • Evaluates the timeliness and accuracy of cardholder submissions and reconciliation activity to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Manages and maintains commercial card tables in the financial system, as well as the daily data exchange of program detail responsible for powering the existing card-program management tools

Compliance

  • Serves as a subject matter expert on Commercial Card Program processes and procurement policies, including appropriate application of purchasing rules.
  • Responsible for conducting overall program compliance reviews throughout the university system, partnering with campus departments to evaluate program performance and address deficiencies
  • Reviews purchase records for adherence to established policies and guidelines; determines compliance outcomes and issues findings, including warnings, violation points, and card account suspension when necessary.
  • Identifies potential program violations, inappropriate purchases, and risk indicators through transaction monitoring and analysis.
  • Assesses departmental practices to determine areas of elevated risk and control weaknesses.
  • Ensures overall program compliance by monitoring card usage, internal controls, and adherence to university fiscal rules and procurement policies.

Advisory and Training

  • Provides guidance and interpretation of university rules, policies, procedures, and processes to campus partners.
  • Communicates formal program review findings, recommendations, expectations, and potential consequences to departments.
  • Develops and delivers targeted training and educational resources based on identified compliance trends, risks, and program deficiencies.
  • Partners with PSC teams and campus departments to design and implement training solutions for units requiring additional support.
  • Follows up on department action plans and supports implementation of recommended improvements.
  • Monitors and evaluates approver systems, workflows and effectiveness and provides related feedback and training to campus departments
  • Develops and provides training and outreach to individuals and departments


Program Administration and Operations

  • Manages and provides support for day-to-day Commercial Card Program operations
  • Supervises, mentors, and develops the Commercial Card Program Administrator to ensure efficient day-to-day operations and high-level customer service while elevating program maturity
  • Manages core program infrastructure, including the Approving Official (AO) database, bank hierarchy system, and financial system procurement card table
  • Monitors and ensures completion of required cardholder training within the Percipio system.
  • Monitors for and resolves batch errors in financial system integrations and sub-system downloads
  • Monitors for and resolves errors in the Concur expense management system
  • Detects and investigates operational issues, determines root causes, and implements appropriate solutions.
  • Supports ongoing operational monitoring through reporting, reconciliation oversight, and routine program maintenance.
  • Monitors program purchasing activity to identify gaps in compliance and determine appropriate remedy
  • Supports ongoing supplier relations including engagement with banking partners to troubleshoot and resolve cardholder account issues
  • Performs other duties as needed in support of Commercial Card Program administration and management

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent professional experience (The educational requirement may be substituted with professional experience on a year for year basis)
  • Five (5) years of experience in commercial card management/administration, compliance review, procurement, accounting, accounts payable/receivable, or related experience.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with Excel in compiling data from various sources for stakeholder analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Seven (7) years of professional experience, as indicated above, which may also include:
    • Working with a Commercial Card Program which includes procurement, travel, ghost and virtual cards
  • One (1) year of experience in a team lead or supervisory role, which may include assigning and reviewing the work of others, providing guidance to internal and external team members, and/or assisting management with performance reviews
  • Experience working with or in government or an institution of higher education
  • Experience with Microsoft Access
  • Experience with Power BI and/or Tableau
  • Experience with expense and travel management software platforms (e.g. SAP Concur) and bank card program software platforms (e.g. Access Online, CEO/Vantage)
  • Business-related professional certification [e.g. Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP); Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM); Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB); Accredited Payables Manager (APM); Certified Accounts Payable Associate (CAPA)]
  • Experience coaching, training, hiring and supporting a team in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven solutions in support of customers and business operations
How to Apply:

For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application at https://cu.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=39639:

  1. A cover letter identifying the job specific minimum qualifications you possess and interest in the position.
  2. A resume including all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting.

Benefits:

With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

  • No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
  • Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
  • Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
  • Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
  • Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
  • 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
  • A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
  • Free RTD EcoPass and free onsite parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
  • Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available.

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive Benefits Guide.

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU. (This position is a University Staff position)

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