Department Financial Planning & Analysis Lead

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 63,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD seeks a Department Financial Planning & Analysis Lead to serve as the department's lead financial advisor, partnering with department leadership to shape REDD's financial strategy and ensure sound fiscal stewardship across a varied portfolio of research activities.

In this highly visible role, you will drive annual planning, budgeting, and financial analysis, develop executive briefings, dashboards, and models, monitor

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a finance-related field.
• 5+ years of financial management, budgeting or planning experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing, managing budgets and presenting analyses to leadership.
• Executive-level communication skills and ability to synthesize complex data.
• Advanced Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis capability.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance; U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Serve as REDD's primary fiscal advisor to department leadership.
• Lead annual financial planning, QFRs, and long-range planning.
• Develop and present executive financial briefs and analyses.
• Monitor performance, identify variances, and mitigate risks.
• Create dashboards and reports by integrating data from multiple systems.
• Support capital planning, facility and construction financials.
• Assist in audits and data requests with data integrity.
• Collaborate across APL on financial processes and improvements.

Skills

Strategic finance

Excel

Data analysis

Budgeting

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

Tools

Power BI

PEER

ADDIT

Data Warehouse

EBSS

Job description

Description

Are you a strategic financial professional who enjoys turning complex data into meaningful insights and influencing organizational decisions?

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where financial strategy, business operations, and analytics intersect?

The Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) is seeking a Department Financial Planning & Analysis Lead to serve as the department's lead financial advisor. In this highly visible role, you will partner closely with Department leadership, Branch leadership, Financial Planning, and Department Financial Operations to shape REDD's financial strategy and ensure sound fiscal stewardship across a varied portfolio of research activities.

As the Department Financial Planning & Analysis Lead, you will:

• Serve as REDD's primary fiscal representative and trusted advisor to Department leadership, providing strategic financial guidance across Overhead, Capital, Discretionary, and Direct activities.
• Lead the department's annual financial planning processes, including Quarterly Financial Reviews (QFRs) and the Long-Range Plan (LRP), ensuring financial plans accurately reflect REDD's fiscal position, staffing forecasts, and strategic priorities.
• Lead the development of REDD's annual budget, providing recommendations on funding priorities, resource allocation, and financial tradeoffs that support the Department's strategic objectives.
• Develop and present executive-level financial briefings, recommendations, and analyses to REDD Senior Leadership, BCFD Financial Planning, the CFO, and other key stakeholders.
• Partner with REDD Financial Analysts, Mission Area Business and Financial Managers, and Branch leadership to validate hiring plans, staffing projections, and resource allocations while identifying financial risks, tradeoffs, and opportunities.
• Develop monthly and ad hoc financial reports by integrating data from multiple business systems and creating dashboards, models, and analyses that identify trends, forecast outcomes, and support strategic decision-making.
• Partner with REDD Financial Analysts to monitor departmental financial performance, proactively identify variances and emerging issues, and recommend mitigation strategies that ensure sound fiscal stewardship and achievement of organizational objectives.
• Partner with REDD's Capital Representative, Facilities Administrator, and BCFD Construction to develop financial analyses and forecasts for facility and construction initiatives, monitor project expenditures, evaluate cost trends, and support long-term capital planning and executive decision-making.
• Support financial audits, executive inquiries, and data requests while ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of departmental financial information.
• Identify opportunities to improve business processes through automation, reporting enhancements, and data analytics, leveraging modern tools to increase efficiency, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.
• Represent REDD on Laboratory-wide business, financial, and operational initiatives, collaborating with peers across APL to share best practices, foster collaboration, and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications if you:

• Have a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• Have 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budgeting, financial planning, business operations, or portfolio management, including experience supporting organizational budgets, overhead or indirect expenses, capital investment planning, or complex financial portfolios.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex financial information, assess financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Have experience developing, managing, or overseeing budgets, financial forecasts, or investment plans, including preparing and presenting financial analyses and recommendations to leadership.
• Demonstrate executive-level communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex financial and operational information into concise recommendations for senior leadership.
• Possess advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, PivotTables, Power Query, financial modeling, and data analysis.
• Can manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail, financial accuracy, and accountability.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build effective partnerships across multidisciplinary organizations.
• Are able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond if you:

• Have experience with financial management practices in a government contracting, federally funded research, or similarly regulated environment, including familiarity with indirect cost structures, cost allocation methodologies, FAR, DFARS, or Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Have experience developing Power BI dashboards or similar business intelligence solutions.
• Have experience leading department/sector-level financial planning, capital prioritization, resource allocation, or strategic budgeting processes.
• Have experience with APL financial and business systems such as PEER, ADDIT, Data Warehouse, EBSS, or related enterprise systems.
• Have experience improving financial processes through automation, AI-enabled tools, advanced data analytics, or continuous improvement methodologies.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore‑Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$62,900 Annually

Maximum Rate

$180,300 Annually