Senior Cost and Price Analyst

Nakupuna Solutions; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Nakupuna Solutions in Arlington, VA, seeks a Senior Cost/Price Analyst to support federal acquisition and financial oversight. You will independently evaluate contractor cost proposals, indirect rates, and supporting records; develop prenegotiation objectives; and advise Government personnel on cost and price matters.

The role requires advanced Excel, strong written communication, and the ability to build and validate cost models. A Secret clearance and U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including five years in direct cost/price analysis or federal auditing.
• Experience with CAS administration, FAR Part 31 cost allowability, and negotiations of indirect cost rates.
• Advanced Excel proficiency to build and validate rate models and multiyear cost trends.
• Strong written communication for presenting financial analyses to stakeholders.
• Experience with U.S. Government or federally funded programs preferred.
• Experience with incurred cost audits, preaward reviews, audit resolution, and negotiated indirect cost rate agreements.
• Familiarity with 2 CFR Part 200 and collaboration with contractors and nonprofits.
• Experience leading complex reviews or mentoring other analysts.

Responsibilities

• Analyze cost proposals, incurred costs, indirect rate submissions, and supporting financial data for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable contract requirements.
• Assess cost allowability under FAR Part 31 and support administration of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Review contractor accounting systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls; identify deficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
• Build and validate Excel models for indirect rate calculations, multiyear cost trends, cost impacts across contract pools, and prenegotiation objectives.
• Develop written analyses, findings, and recommendations that explain assumptions, calculations, risks, and proposed negotiation positions.
• Conduct or directly support negotiations of provisional billing rates, final indirect cost rates, or Forward Pricing Rate Agreements.
• Evaluate audit reports and questioned costs, track corrective actions, and support timely resolution of findings.
• Coordinate with contracting, audit, finance, and program personnel while safeguarding sensitive financial information.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Cost/price analysis

Federal contracting knowledge

Written communication

Leadership/Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Tools

Excel modeling

Job description

Senior Cost and Price Analyst

Job Locations

US-VA-Arlington

Job ID

2026-7040

Category

Analyst

Type

Full-Time Salaried

Company

Nakupuna Solutions

Overview

Nakupuna Companies seeks a Senior Cost/Price Analyst to support federal acquisition and financial oversight. The analyst will independently evaluate contractor cost proposals, indirect rates, accounting systems, and supporting records; develop documented findings and prenegotiation objectives; and advise Government personnel on cost and price matters. The position also supports audit resolution and the review of indirect cost rate agreements associated with federal awards.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management's definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign additional duties and responsibilities at any time.

• Analyze cost proposals, incurred costs, indirect rate submissions, and supporting financial data for accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable contract requirements.
• Assess cost allowability under FAR Part 31 and support administration of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), including the analysis of cost accounting practices and potential cost impacts.
• Review contractor accounting systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls; identify deficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
• Build and validate Excel models for indirect rate calculations, multiyear cost trends, cost impacts across multiple contract pools, and prenegotiation objectives.
• Develop written analyses, findings, and recommendations that clearly explain assumptions, calculations, risks, and proposed negotiation positions.
• Conduct or directly support negotiations of provisional billing rates, final indirect cost rates, or Forward Pricing Rate Agreements.
• Evaluate audit reports and questioned costs, track corrective actions, and support timely resolution of findings.
• Coordinate with contracting, audit, finance, and program personnel while safeguarding sensitive financial information.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, finance, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five years of direct cost or price analysis or auditing experience in federal government contracting.
• Demonstrated experience independently performing CAS administration, evaluating cost allowability under FAR Part 31, performing accounting system reviews, developing prenegotiation objectives, and conducting or directly supporting negotiations of provisional billing rates, final indirect cost rates, or Forward Pricing Rate Agreements.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency, with the ability to independently build and validate indirect rate calculation models, multiyear cost trend analyses, cost impact calculations across multiple contract pools, and financial models supporting prenegotiation objectives.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to present defensible financial analyses to technical and contracting stakeholders.
• Experience supporting a U.S. Government agency or federally funded programs is strongly preferred.
• Experience with incurred cost audits, preaward reviews, audit resolution, or negotiated indirect cost rate agreements.
• Familiarity with federal assistance requirements, including 2 CFR Part 200, and experience working with both for-profit contractors and nonprofit recipients.
• Experience leading complex reviews or mentoring other analysts.

Clearance: Must possess a Secret security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $135,000.00 to $145,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees.