Financial Coordinator 1

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, WA is seeking a Financial Coordinator to support budget management, forecasting, and financial reporting across multiple projects. You will interact with project teams, ensure compliance, and help optimize cost performance and funding alignment.

The role emphasizes applying financial concepts, analytical skills, and strong communication within a multidisciplinary environment to drive operational success.

Qualifications

• BS/BA or higher in finance, accounting, business, or related field.
• AA degree + 10 years of relevant financial experience, or HS/GED + 12 years of relevant financial experience.
• Experience in budget management, cost tracking, and financial reporting across projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial and business coordination across the project lifecycle from capture to closeout.
• Prepare and maintain budgets, forecasts, accruals, and spend plans; analyze variances and trends.
• Analyze and resolve moderately complex business services challenges with guidance as needed.

Skills

Financial coordination

Budget planning

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

BS/BA or higher

AA degree + 10 years experience

HS/GED + 12 years experience

Tools

Excel

Power BI

SharePoint

Job description

Overview

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our directorates related to Mission Support & Operations include Office of General Counsel, Business Services, Communications and External Engagement, Operational Systems, Communications and Information Technology, and Performance Management.

The Business Services Directorate (BSD) provides crucial financial, procurement and sales, and project management services to PNNL, as required under our management and operations contract for operating the Lab on behalf of the Department of Energy. Our goal in offering these services is to ensure efficient, effective, and compliant business operations that enhance PNNL's scientific impact.

BSD presents exciting opportunities for financial professionals seeking career growth. Wefoster a dynamic environment where individuals can develop their skills, take on leadership roles, and contribute to high-impact projects. By working with multidisciplinary teams, professionals have the chance to broaden their expertise, engage in continuous learning, and advance their careers while contributing to the groundbreaking scientific work at PNNL.

Responsibilities

Financial Coordinators play a pivotal role by providing business services throughout the entire project lifecycle—capture, planning, execution, and closeout—while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and compliance standards. Financial Coordinators combine financial acumen with analytical expertise. A Financial Coordinator succeeds by possessing or acquiring a number of skills:

• Provide financial and business coordination across the project lifecycle (capture/proposal, planning, execution, and closeout), applying standard principles, tools, and techniques under general oversight to support organizational goals and compliance requirements.
• Prepare and maintain project budgets, forecasts, accruals, and spend plans using established methods; analyze variances and trends and apply sound financial concepts to provide well-informed recommendations, seeking guidance as needed.
• Independently analyze and resolve moderately complex business services challenges with minimal guidance; use established methods to address less‑defined issues, gather relevant information for escalation, and suggest potential solutions.
• Apply an understanding of how scope, schedule, and budget interact to assess business impacts and support project and operational teams in identifying appropriate actions.
• Support proposal development and submissions by gathering sponsor requirements, coordinating business inputs such as budget assumptions and statement of work elements, and collaborating with project teams and internal partners using established processes.
• Support cost estimating and pricing activities by applying established financial practices for direct and indirect costs, documenting assumptions, and seeking guidance on unfamiliar requirements.
• Prepare accurate financial reports and timely updates for project teams, operational teams, and directorates; contribute to drafting and reviewing financial and business documents for clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational standards.
• Support procurement and subcontract actions, reconciliations, funding reviews, and closeout activities using established methods; identify resolution paths for common problems and suggest improvements to routine processes, with guidance as needed.
• Use tools such as Excel, Power BI, SharePoint, and internal financial/project systems to track and analyze data; apply intermediate business system knowledge to troubleshoot issues and improve routine workflows.
• Maintain frequent, proactive communication with project teams, operations staff, and internal partners, with occasional interaction with external stakeholders; build relationships, seek collaboration and mentorship, and contribute to problem‑solving discussions with an understanding of how team responsibilities affect other teams and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA or higher -OR-
• AA degree and 10 years of relevant financial -OR-
• HS/GED and 12 years of relevant financial experience.
• Qualifying experience in financial support of budget management, financial analysis, and tracking & reporting of cost and spend may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous or current Financial Coordinator/Project Coordinator (or similar) experience.
• Experience supporting business services in a federal research, national