Program Financial Analyst

Gemini Observatory; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

NOIRLab is seeking a Program Financial Analyst to partner with program leadership in delivering end-to-end financial planning, analysis, and reporting within a mission-driven scientific environment. The role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, workforce planning, proposals, and internal controls.

The successful candidate will translate technical financial data into actionable insights, collaborate across PMO, CAS, and finance teams, and help drive data‑driven decision making while ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 4+ years of experience in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) or similar.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary financial partner to Program and/or Service leadership and budget managers.
• Provide end‑to‑end financial planning, analysis, and decision‑support services.
• Develop dashboards and metrics to monitor financial health, trends, and risks.
• Lead financial support for annual operating plans and proposals.
• Produce in‑year and multi‑year forecasts, EAC, and staffing changes.
• Ensure compliance with NOIRLab, AURA, and award requirements.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

Tools

SAP

Deltek Costpoint

Oracle

Sage

Cognos BI

Access

SQL

Business Objects

Job description

Description

The Program Financial Analyst (PFA) reports to the Associate Director of Administration and is a key member of NOIRLab’s Management Support Services (MSS) organization. MSS includes the Portfolio Management Office (PMO), Finance, Document Management, and other shared business services.

Job Details

The Program Financial Analyst (PFA) reports to the Associate Director of Administration and is a key member of NOIRLab’s Management Support Services (MSS) organization. MSS includes the Portfolio Management Office (PMO), Finance, Document Management, and other shared business services.

NOIRLab is a complex, matrixed organization with an annual budget of approximately $116M, executed across five Programs and four Service areas. The PFA serves as the primary financial partner for assigned Program(s) and/or Service(s), providing end‑to‑end financial planning, analysis, reporting, and compliance support.

This is a mid‑level, high‑impact role for a hands‑on financial analyst who enjoys partnering with leadership, translating technical financial data into insights, and supporting data‑driven decision‑making in a mission‑driven, scientific research environment.

Essential Functions

Financial Management & Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary financial partner to Program and/or Service leadership and budget managers.
• Provide tailored, end‑to‑end financial planning, analysis, and decision‑support services.
• Develop and maintain metrics and dashboards to monitor financial health, trends, and risks.

Budget Development & Planning

• Lead financial support for assigned Program(s)/Service(s) during the annual Program Operating Plan (POP) process.
• Support preparation of quarterly and annual external financial reports to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
• Partner with budget managers and AURA Central Administrative Services (CAS) to develop bottom‑up budgets using appropriate methodologies (e.g., earned value where applicable).

Forecasting & Workforce Planning

• Produce recurring in‑year and multi‑year forecasts, rolling budgets, and estimates at completion (EAC).
• Maintain workforce plans, hiring assumptions, and detailed staffing changes to support quarterly forecasting and reporting.
• Incorporate scope changes, updated cost data, and evolving assumptions into forecasts.

Proposal & New Funding Support

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop compliant, realistic budgets for new funding opportunities and proposals.
• Translate technical scope into fully costed labor and non‑labor budgets.
• Develop bases of estimate and provide financial guidance through proposal submission.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Analyze budget vs. actual variances, funding availability, and financial risks.
• Identify and recommend corrective actions and mitigation strategies.
• Design and implement new financial reports and analyses in response to emerging needs.
• Partner with CAS and external experts to develop analytical tools and improve reporting capabilities.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Support NOIRLab’s internal controls and ensure compliance with:
  • NOIRLab policies and procedures
  • AURA policies
  • Contractual and award requirements
• Advise managers on applicability of:
  • OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)
  • Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
  • Cost Accounting Standards (CAS)
• Contribute to continuous improvement of NOIRLab’s financial planning, analysis, and control processes.

Collaboration & Organizational Support

• Work closely with other PFAs, the NOIRLab Finance team, PMO, Management Team, and CAS.
• Support cross‑functional initiatives and organizational financial coherence.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 4+ years of experience in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) or a similar role.

Technical Skills

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Deltek Costpoint, Oracle, Sage, or similar).
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with large, complex data sets.

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to partner across all levels.
• Demonstrated curiosity, adaptability, and interest in improving and streamlining processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree (MBA or similar) or professional financial certification.
• Experience with:
  • Deltek Costpoint and Cognos BI
  • Business intelligence and data tools (Access, SQL, Business Objects)
• Background in federally sponsored research, non‑profit, or government contract environments.
• Familiarity with:
  • OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)
  • FAR and CAS
  • Earned Value Management (EVM)
  • Indirect rate development and application
• Experience training others on financial systems or tools.
• Proficiency with collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, Confluence, Asana, JIRA).
• Experience in international, multicultural, or high‑technology environments.
• Working knowledge of Spanish.

Occasional travel within and outside the contiguous United States.

Location: Preferably Tucson, open to Washinton D.C.

The NSF NOIRLab is the preeminent US national center for ground‑based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) which operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs: Gemini, Rubin, MSO (CTIO and KPNO), and CSDC; with facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Chile and Hawai’i. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state‑of‑the‑art ground‑based observatories and providing data products and services for our community.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $85,000 - $93,000 per year. The final salary will depend on skills, qualifications and experience.

Benefits

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at Benefits by Location - Aura Human Resources