Finance/Budget Associate

Orange County Neuropsychiatric Rese; Orange (CA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Employee discounts

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k) matching

Job summary

NRC Research Institute is seeking a Finance/Budget Associate to manage clinical trial budgets, review protocols, and negotiate CTA budgets with sponsors. You will bridge clinical operations, business development, and finance to ensure accurate invoicing, forecasting, and profitability.

The role requires 2–4 years in financial analysis or trial budgeting, with strong Excel skills and familiarity with CTAs and CTMS/ERP systems. We offer a competitive package with a flexible hybrid schedule.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
• 2–4 years of financial analysis, healthcare accounting, or trial budgeting experience.
• Familiarity with CTAs, CPT coding, Medicare coverage analysis, and GCP/ICH financial guidelines.
• Advanced MS Excel skills and experience with CTMS/ERP systems.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Study Budgeting & Protocol Analysis: build detailed site budgets from CNS protocols.
• Sponsor Contract & Budget Negotiation: lead CTA budget negotiations with sponsors/CROs.
• Clinical Financial Operations: track milestones, invoicing, AR, and revenue forecasting.
• Financial Reporting & Variance Analysis: monthly profitability and cash-flow reviews.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: align terms with investigators, study staff, and BD.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Healthcare Administration, or related field

Tools

CTMS

ERP systems

Job description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k) matching

About NRC Research Institute

Founded in 2005, NRC Research Institute is a premier clinical trial center with locations across Southern California, including Orange, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles. We specialize in Phase I–IV clinical research in psychiatry, neurology, and neurodegenerative disorders (including cutting-edge research in psychedelics). We partner with global pharmaceutical sponsors and biotech companies—such as AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, and Otsuka to bring novel therapies from development to clinical application.

Position Summary

NRC Research Institute is seeking a detail-oriented Finance/Budget Associate to assist with managing clinical trial financial operations, site study budgets, and sponsor contract negotiations. In this role, you will serve as the financial bridge between clinical operations, business development, and external pharmaceutical sponsors. You will be responsible for reviewing clinical trial protocols, building comprehensive budget proposals, negotiating Clinical Trial Agreement (CTA) budgets with sponsors/CROs, and tracking site financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Study Budgeting & Protocol Analysis: Analyze complex CNS clinical trial protocols to construct detailed site budgets, capturing procedural costs, investigator fees, patient stipends, and administrative overhead.
• Sponsor Contract & Budget Negotiation: Lead negotiations with pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs to secure fair, profitable budget terms for Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs).
• Clinical Financial Operations: Track study milestones, patient visit completion, and pass-through costs to ensure accurate sponsor invoicing, accounts receivable, and site revenue forecasting.
• Financial Reporting & Variance Analysis: Prepare monthly financial reports evaluating trial profitability, site budget vs. actual performance, and cash flow projections for executive leadership.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Principal Investigators, Study Coordinators, and Business Development to align financial terms with operational capabilities and patient recruitment strategies.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education | Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Healthcare Administration, or related field.

Experience | 2–4 years of financial analysis, healthcare accounting, or site-level trial budgeting experience within a Clinical Research Center / Network, CRO, or hospital environment.

Domain Knowledge | Familiarity with Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs), CPT coding, Medicare coverage analysis, and GCP/ICH financial compliance guidelines.

Technical Skills | Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (financial modeling, VLOOKUPs, pivot tables) and experience with clinical trial management software (CTMS) or ERP systems.

Soft Skills | Strong analytical problem-solving, crisp negotiation skills, and ability to present financial metrics clearly to clinical leadership.

Why Join NRC Research Institute?

• Growth Environment: Key financial position in a expanding clinical research institution leading crucial neuroscience trials.
• Competitive Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Benefits Package: Health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and flexible hybrid scheduling.
• Meaningful Work: Direct line-of-sight into how trial financing drives breakthroughs for psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Flexible work from home options available.