Finance & Research Analyst

Stanford Reglab; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University, Department of Biology, seeks a Finance & Research Analyst to join a six-person finance team managing $30M+ in research funding. You will handle reviews, administrative tasks, and fiscal accounting across pre- and post-award stages with moderately complex finance functions.

Reports to the Finance and Research Administration Manager and operates as a high-performing contributor with minimal supervision, focusing on budgeting, forecasting, and compliance for federal and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of job-related experience.
• Experience in finance within higher education or nonprofit environments preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to analyze and communicate financial data clearly.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Familiarity with grant/proposal submission processes in higher education or research.
• Proficiency with AI forecasting and web-based tools such as Smartsheet or Google Suite.

Responsibilities

• Prepare administrative components of proposals and oversee submission processes.
• Develop, finalize budgets, and provide budget justification.
• Serve as liaison between principal investigators and offices; respond to sponsor inquiries.
• Collaborate to ensure awards are set up properly and fulfill cost-sharing requirements; initiate cost transfers.
• Review expenditures, advise on post-award spending and compliance.
• Develop reports supporting project status and create forecasting/decision aids.
• Participate in contract closeout and compile information for audits.
• Understand and apply university policies; act as resource to staff.
• Lead process improvements and mentor other staff as needed.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Accounting skills

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Smartsheet

Google Suite

Job description

This position has been deemed critical by the School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid position based on the Stanford campus, with a minimum of 1 days per week on site, and occasional (quarterly) 3-day working sessions.

Budgeted Salary: The budgeted base salary range for this position is $109,523 to $114,252 per annum.

School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the foundation of a liberal arts education at Stanford. The school encompasses 24 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. H&S is home to fundamental and applied research, where free, open, and critical inquiry is pursued across disciplines. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.

The Department of Biology at Stanford University is devoted to discovering fundamental knowledge of the living world: from the behavior of single molecules to dynamics of cells, organisms, populations, and interactions of biological systems with our planet. We are dedicated to developing innovative training experiences for the next generation of biologists and to building an inclusive learning environment that unites members from diverse disciplines and life experiences. The Department is the largest in the School of Humanities and Sciences with over 100 active and emeritus faculty, lecturers and research staff, over 240 PhD and postdoc trainees and over 60 non-academic staff who advance the department’s research and teaching missions. The department serves over 220 undergraduate students who major in Biology and more than 3,600 enrollees in our courses each year. Learn more about the department at biology.stanford.edu.

Position Summary

Biology has an immediate opening for a full-time Finance & Research Analyst to join our finance team of 6 who manage a total of $30M+ in research funding. This position is responsible for the review, administrative, fiscal accounting, and customer service activities during all stages of the award (both pre- and post-award) made to Biology Principal Investigators for internal and external sponsors. In addition, this person will perform moderately complex finance functions and/or activities.

Reporting directly to the Manager of Finance and Research Administration, the Finance and Research Analyst is expected to work as a high performing individual contributor, working under minimal supervision to manage the proposal preparation and/or post award activities on federal and non-federal grants, contracts, program projects. This includes proactively managing moderately complex financial functions related to budgeting and forecasting which involves acquiring and mastery of specific knowledge, skills and broad application of policies related to finance, evaluating against precedents and systems and external regulations.

This is a 100%, exempt, continuing position.

Preferred Requirements

• Degree in finance or accounting is preferred.
• Prior experience with financial management experience within Higher Education or non-profit environment is preferred. Demonstrated ability to operate with significant autonomy.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to partner effectively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Demonstrated skill in analyzing and communicating financial data.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple deadlines.
• Familiarity with grant/proposal submission processes ideally in a higher education or research environment.
• Proficiency with the use of AI for financial forecasting and web-based tools such as Smartsheet, Google suite, or similar platforms.
• Ability to interpret and apply university policies and procedures, and to exercise sound judgment on sensitive or confidential matters.

Provide a full range of administrative, financial and other tasks associated with pre and/or post award sponsored research activities and services, including proposal review and post award management of funds and budgets.

Core Duties

• Participate with principal investigator in the preparation of the administrative components of proposals within parameters of sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines. Oversee and communicate submission process, both paper and electronic; review documents for completeness and compliance.
• Develop, prepare, and finalize project budgets, and provide budget justification.
• Serve as liaison and active partner between principal investigators, Office of Sponsored Research, research groups, and other departments; respond to sponsor inquiries.
• Collaborate with Office of Sponsored Research to ensure awards are set up properly and cost-sharing requirements are fulfilled; initiate cost transfers.
• Review and approve expenditures, advise on post award spending and commitment activity, and oversee compliance related to fund and revenue.
• Develop and communicate reports supporting project status; create effective forecasting and decision aides.
• Participate in contract closeout process; submit final reports and certificates. Compile information and documents needed for audit inquiries.
• Understand, apply, and advise on university and government policies for projects.
• Serve as a resource on subject area and overall technical resource to principal investigator and other university staff.
• Participate in and contribute to process improvements. Lead other staff in group projects
• May participate as a mentor and provide cross‑training as needed.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and three years of job‑related experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of governmental regulations.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate policies and procedures.
• Excellent oral, written, and communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in Excel and web-based tools.
• Strong accounting skills; knowledge of accounting principles.
• Ability to complete Cardinal Research Administration Foundational Training (CRAFT) I and II within first year in role.
• Knowledge of procurement needs, including sole‑sourcing, cost analyses, vendor requirements, and small business reporting.
• Knowledge of property management requirements related to Stanford or non‑Stanford title of equipment and fabrications.
• Competency in project management.
• Extreme attention to detail.
• Ability to work well independently, but also to seek or offer assistance when needed.
• Ability to review a proposal or manage a project with understanding of the overall scope and goal of each sponsored project.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Certificates and Licenses Required

Cardinal Research Administration Foundational Training (CRAFT) I and II must be completed to remain in this position.

Certified Accountant or Auditor or similar credential desired.