BSS Budget Analyst II

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Boulder, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental

Retirement plan

Leave plans

Tuition assistance

Employee assistance programs

Paid parental leave

Job summary

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is seeking a Budget Analyst II to support CPAESS program financial management across pre- and post-award activities. You will analyze budgets, forecasts, and expenditures for contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, ensuring sponsor and policy compliance.

You will collaborate with investigators and leadership, translate complex data into actionable insights, and help optimize award performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant academic discipline; 5+ years of related experience.
• Strong knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance, FAR, and cost principles.
• Experience administering contracts and awards with detailed financial analysis.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage the award lifecycle for direct awards, and provide backup support for cooperative agreements, grants, and other funding vehicles.
• Monitor expenses, forecast, reconcile, and report for contracts, grants, and active awards.
• Lead pre-award proposals: develop budgets, narratives, and coordinate supporting documents.
• Serve as financial expert to federal stakeholders on award allowability and compliance.
• Produce monthly/quarterly/year-end reports and analyses for sponsors and leadership.
• Co-create and refine standardized processes, procedures, and best practices for BSS.

Skills

Budget analysis

Financial reporting

OMB Uniform Guidance

FAR knowledge

Contract management

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

UCAR financial systems

Sponsor platforms

Job description

Position Type

Regular Visa Sponsored Job: No Relocation Assistance Eligible: No Hiring Range: 77,486.00 USD - 96,860.00 USD *Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role. Application Closes at 12:00am MST on: 2026-09-19

About the Role

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is excited to welcome a Budget Analyst II to our Business Shared Services (BSS) team! The BSS team centralizes the financial management of research proposals and awarded funds within UCAR Community Programs (UCP), delivering consistent, high-quality support for all pre- and post-award activities. In this role, you’ll support the Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) Program, which partners with federal agencies and businesses to hire critical scientific staff enabling a more robust workforce. As a trusted advisor and partner to principal investigators you’ll administer every stage of the award lifecycle. From coordinating proposals to managing active awards, you’ll provide expert level financial analysis for contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, including expense monitoring, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting. This is a fast-paced and dynamic team-oriented role where problem solving and effective communication are paramount. You’ll collaborate closely with Center and Program leadership to support our sponsored programs and maximize program outcomes through strategic financial insight. You’ll translate complex financial data into actionable guidance and ensure compliance with federal and sponsor requirements and institutional policies. If you love numbers, learning new things, and helping others succeed, you’ll thrive here. We’re looking for someone who can juggle multiple priorities, adapt quickly, and embrace challenges. The successful candidate will be able to identify and resolve grants administration issues through strong knowledge and application of the OMB Uniform Guidance, FAR, sponsor requirements, and generally accepted cost principles. The BSS team is a close-knit mission-driven team that values collaboration, growth, and great relationships. We support one another, celebrate wins, and see every challenge as a chance to learn. If this sounds like fun we’d love to get to know you. Come bring your expertise and energy to a team that’s shaping the future of Earth System Science.

Job Description Responsibilities

Post-Award Management

Manage the award lifecycle for a portfolio of direct awards primarily issued via contract vehicles. Provide backup support on cooperative agreements, grants, or other funding vehicles. Utilize UCAR financial systems to conduct timely monthly monitoring of accounts, reviewing for accuracy and managing the tracking, reconciling, and forecasting of expenses/staff allocations. Design and conduct monthly and ad hoc review and analysis of award portfolios to monitor award activity, compliance with UCAR policies, federal and sponsor requirements, OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and generally accepted cost principles and audit requirements. Design and conduct recurring and ad hoc financial reporting to sponsors and CPAESS leadership. Proactively identify issues/risks and develop data informed recommendations/actions. Appropriately inform/consult with CPAESS leadership.

Pre-Award Management

Serve as lead proposal administrator for proposals within the assigned portfolio. Collaborate with Principal Investigators on development of proposal timeline and roles/responsibilities. Lead development of budget and budget narrative, and coordinate team members on other proposal supporting documents. Enter proposal data in UCAR business systems and sponsor platforms. Partner with UCP Proposal Office and UCAR Contracts as needed. Ensure proposal compliance with sponsor requirements.

Liaison to Federal Stakeholders

Serve as a financial subject matter expert to various federal stakeholders in areas of award allowability and compliance. Track and coordinate sponsor inquiries and requests associated with assigned award portfolios. Prepare budgets and projections requested by sponsors. Develop and present recurring and ad hoc budget reports, analysis and other information to sponsors.

Data Management and Analysis

Develop and conduct reporting for monthly, quarterly, and year-end statistics and trends. Maintain statistics and metrics and ensure that consistent and accurate data are used. Contribute to the development and implementation of data tracking and analysis, as needed.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

Co-create complex business processes with an eye toward continuous improvement, efficiencies and customer service. Develop and maintain documented desk procedures with examples for work activities. Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of standardized best practices for BSS. Conduct and participate in BSS meetings, trainings, and serve on BSS Working Groups. May represent BSS or CPAESS on committees that influence organizational policies and procedures. Analyze new policies and procedures for relevance and/or impact to the CPAESS business model. Perform other special projects as required by management or sponsoring agencies. Foster a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive work culture within the program and with other parts of the organization.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in a relevant academic discipline; 5 years of related experience (or a Masters degree and three years of related experience); Or an equivalent combination of education and experience which qualifies the individual to perform the duties as described.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced skill in administering task orders / contracts and adhering to strict requirements.
• Advanced skill in proposal/budget preparation and submission via federal and UCAR proposal platforms and management systems.
• Advanced skill in budget development and analysis, cost control and development of relevant statistics.
• Advanced skill in financial analysis and the use of spreadsheet applications to develop and present status reports.
• Intermediate working knowledge of government award requirements (cooperative agreements, grants and contracts) including knowledge and application of OMB Uniform Administrative Guidance and UCAR policies and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including proven ability to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• Sensitivity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and also able to work effectively in a team situation.
• Ability to identify information sources for solving problems and anticipate organizational problems before they arise and respond appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Experience working with NOAA Contractual vehicles.

Work Location Expectations

This position is open to candidates seeking in-person or hybrid (combination of 3 days in-person and 2 days of remote) opportunities. UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

Application Requirements

Cover Letter, Resume/CV For full consideration, all application materials must be submitted by 12am (MST) at the start of the application deadline. These should highlight how your skills and experiences align with the responsibilities of this position. We recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply. Supplemental questionnaires are often requested in lieu of a cover letter, where you address critical skills needed for the position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your resume and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences.

Benefits Overview

• health insurance
• dental
• retirement plan
• leave plans
• tuition assistance
• employee assistance programs: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of base salary
• Time Off Plans Minimum 20 days of annual PTO 10 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all individuals.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants are not required to provide age-related information (like date of birth or graduation dates) in initial submissions.

For sponsored positions: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S.

UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

All roles require compliance with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements.

All hybrid staff are expected to work on-site approximately 3 days per week.

NCAR & Partner Information

At NCAR - the National Center for Atmospheric Research - we study weather, water, climate, air quality, and space weather to help protect lives and livelihoods, grow the economy, and enhance our nation’s security and well-being. We collaborate with research partners to advance the science that makes predictions better and with end users to develop applications for forecasters, farmers, resource managers, retailers, the military, and many other stakeholders. UCAR - the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - manages NCAR on behalf of the National Science Foundation. We are a nonprofit consortium of more than 115 colleges and universities with research and training programs in Earth system science. We bring together the academic community and provide the operational management that are both essential to NCAR’s success. UCAR’s community programs, from educational resources to data delivery and other services, extend the reach and impact of NCAR’s world‑class research to the community and society.

Want to learn more? Visit ucar.edu.