Financial Analyst II, Financial Strategy, Planning & Analysis

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 84,448 - 100,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Learning opportunities

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks a Financial Analyst II to deliver timely, high-impact financial analysis, building models and presenting to senior management.

You will collaborate across Lab teams, manage datasets, ensure data integrity, and contribute to budget formulation and reporting using Excel, SQL, and visualization tools.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, statistics, economics, data science, business management, or a related discipline with 3+ years of related experience; or a master’s with 1+ year; or a PhD.
• Strong understanding of financial planning, budget formulation, data analysis, and information systems.
• Proven Excel skills (intermediate to advanced) and SQL experience to extract, query, manipulate, and transform data.
• Ability to independently generate complex financial reports and solve problems.
• Able to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment and learn new technology.

Responsibilities

• Financial Modeling: Develop and maintain core financial models to forecast diverse business scenarios.
• Executive Presentation: Create materials to explain budgetary analyses to senior management with clear visuals.
• Data‑Driven Analysis: Interpret complex financial datasets to assess Lab-wide performance.
• Data Integrity: Monitor datasets for monthly reporting; troubleshoot data deviations.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Serve as a trusted financial advisor across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Process Innovation: Identify and implement process improvements and system enhancements.

Skills

Excel

SQL

Financial modeling

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Economics

Master’s degree in related discipline

PhD

Tools

Power BI

Python

SAS

Job description

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

The Financial Strategy, Planning & Analysis (FSP&A) Office is seeking a motivated, analytically driven Financial Analyst II. In this role, you will work both independently and collaboratively to deliver timely, high-impact financial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Financial Modeling: Develop and maintain core financial models to forecast diverse business scenarios and future workforce requirements.
• Executive Presentation: Create presentation materials to explain complex budgetary and financial analysis to senior management and key cross‑functional stakeholders through detailed charts, graphs, and clear visualizations.
• Data‑Driven Analysis: Extract, manipulate, transform, and interpret multiple complex financial datasets to assess Lab‑wide business performance.
• Data Integrity: Proactively monitor key datasets utilized for monthly financial reporting; troubleshoot and resolve financial data deviations and exceptions.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner across multi‑disciplinary teams to serve as a trusted financial advisor to internal JPL stakeholders.
• Process Innovation: Partner with senior analysts to identify, design, and implement process improvements and system enhancements across the FSP&A organization.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, Business Management, or a related discipline with a minimum of 3 years of related experience; OR a master’s degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 1 year of experience; OR a PhD.
• Strong understanding and practical application of financial planning, budget formulation, data analysis, statistical analysis, and information systems.
• Proven Excel skills (Intermediate to Advanced level) and strong baseline experience using SQL to extract, query, manipulate, and transform data.
• Demonstrated ability to independently generate complex financial reports, analyze financial information, and problem‑solve.
• Strong agility to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment, and bring a positive attitude and an aptitude for learning new technology.
• Proven track record of handling sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with AI‑enabled productivity, analytics, or automation tools, including the ability to evaluate practical use cases for improving reporting, forecasting, data validation, and financial analysis workflows.
• Experience with analytical and visualization tools such as Python, SAS, or Power BI.
• Basic understanding of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and complex problem‑solving abilities.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work‑life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits‑eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click 'Benefits and Perks'.

The typical full‑time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California is:

$84,448 - $100,880

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S. or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.