Program Financial Analyst

Assn of Univ for Res in Astronomy, Inc.; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

NOIRLab in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Program Financial Analyst to partner with program and service leadership, translating complex financial data into insightful guidance for decision-making in a mission-driven research environment.

The role covers end-to-end FP&A, from budgeting and forecasting to reporting, compliance, and process improvement, with emphasis on collaboration across administrators, PMO, and CAS to ensure financial health and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 4+ years FP&A or similar role.
• Experience with ERP systems like SAP, Deltek Costpoint, Oracle, or Sage.
• Advanced Excel and large data set handling.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary financial partner to Program and/or Service leadership and budget managers.
• Develop dashboards to monitor financial health, trends, and risks.
• Lead financial support for POP, quarterly and annual external reports to NSF.
• Produce in-year and multi-year forecasts, rolling budgets, and EAC.
• Analyze budget vs. actual variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with NOIRLab and AURA policies, FAR, CAS, and related requirements.

Skills

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Financial planning & analysis

Communication

Education

Finance/Accounting/Business Admin degree

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Cognos BI

SQL

Access

Business Objects

Job 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.

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

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

Equal Opportunity Employer
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