Program Financial Analyst

Association of Universities For Research in Astronomy, Inc.; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NOIRLab, positioned in Washington, DC, seeks a Program Financial Analyst to partner with program leadership and deliver end‑to‑end financial planning, analysis, and reporting in a mission‑driven environment.

You will develop budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics, supporting proposals and compliance with OMB, FAR, CAS requirements.

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 a similar role.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Lead financial support for POP process for assigned Program(s)/Service(s).
• Prepare quarterly and annual external financial reports to NSF.
• Develop bottom-up budgets with CAS collaboration.
• Produce in-year and multi-year forecasts and EACs.
• Maintain workforce plans and staffing changes for forecasting.
• Translate scope into costed labor and non-labor budgets.
• Design new financial reports and analyses.

Skills

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

SQL

Cognos BI

Business Objects

Access

JIRA

Confluence

Google Workspace

Education

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

MBA or professional financial certification

Tools

SAP

Deltek Costpoint

Oracle

Sage

Job description

District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20005, USA

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Qualifications

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Motivations

Education

Experience

Licenses & Certifications