Senior Space Analyst

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University is seeking a Senior Space Analyst to manage space inventory, depreciation, lease costs, and land improvements for IDC proposals. The role partners with multiple university departments and external assessors, ensuring compliance and accurate valuations across campus.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree with eight years of relevant experience, expert Excel and ERP skills, and the ability to communicate complex financial insights to senior leadership and auditors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and financial systems; GAAP knowledge.
• Strong communication skills and ability to present to leadership and auditors.
• Experience leading cross‑functional, multi‑disciplinary teams on complex finance projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform analytical finance and control functions; handle reconciliations and high‑value transactions.
• Develop complex financial analyses, forecasts, and long‑range planning.
• Design financial reports and ad hoc analyses for senior leadership and audits.
• Lead strategic initiatives and optimize internal controls across processes.
• Prepare training materials and provide training to staff on financial systems.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Advanced communication

Project management

Finance analysis

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Eight years of relevant experience

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Along with many of the University’s core departments, the Office of Research Administration (ORA) is based at Stanford’s Redwood City campus, featuring state-of-the‑art buildings, a recreation and fitness center, dining pavilion, and central Bay Area location, five miles away from the historical Stanford campus (see https://redwoodcity.stanford.edu). As a member of the Cost and Management Analysis (CMA) team within the Office of Research Administration, the Senior Space Analyst is responsible for developing the space base, building depreciation, lease costs, and land improvement costs for the University's indirect cost (IDC) proposal submissions to the federal government.

This role conducts and manages the University Space Inventory for all on-campus and off-campus buildings, ensuring compliance with Space Inventory Instructions and space mapping guidelines in accordance with OMB Uniform Guidance. The analyst utilizes the Comprehensive Rate Information System (CRIS) to develop cost pools and allocate costs for indirect cost proposals.

As part of the space inventory process, the Senior Space Analyst develops and maintains comprehensive training documentation and conducts training for over 300 departmental space coordinators on process requirements and the cost implications of functional code usage. Serving as the owner and administrator of the electronic PI Lab Usage System (ePLUS), the analyst collaborates with university Principal Investigators (PIs) to properly identify laboratory space used for research purposes in indirect cost studies.

The Senior Space Analyst annually coordinates and manages the capital building assessment process for building depreciation and land improvements, partnering with multiple university departments and external assessors to ensure accurate valuations.

This position requires extensive collaboration with diverse university stakeholders across campus and regular engagement with internal and external auditors. The Senior Space Analyst performs ad hoc financial analyses to support cost justification and inform strategic business decisions. Success requires mastery of complex financial concepts and the ability to effectively communicate and defend analytical findings to inform management decisions, withstand audit scrutiny, and support negotiations with the Office of Naval Research.

This work encompasses diverse financial and regulatory complexities. Critical competencies for success include strong project management and interpersonal skills, sophisticated problem‑solving abilities, a compliance‑oriented mindset, large dataset analysis capabilities, effective time management, comprehensive knowledge of relevant regulations and their cost study implications, and rigorous documentation practices.

This position is eligible for an onsite or hybrid work arrangement and reports directly to the Senior Director of Cost and Management Analysis.

The expected pay range for this position is $165,000 to $175,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Description:

Provide specialized expertise requiring technical finance knowledge to perform complex, technical finance functions, ranging from budget accruals and maintaining complex data models to developing, assessing and improving internal control and subject area systems.

Responsibilities

Core Duties

• Perform highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; multi‑dimensional and complex reconciliations and related analysis; prepare or review and approve complex transactions and higher level dollar value transactions.
• Research, and synthesize data for broad areas; develop complex financial analyses, budget and forecasting scenarios, long‑range planning and analyses. Perform root‑cause analysis and synthesis, draw conclusions, and propose solutions.
• Develop complex financial reports and presentations, design and run ad hoc reports, and prepare or review complex transactions to support the stewardship of university resources. Provide consultation to senior leadership to interpret results.
• Prioritize, identify, and resolve strategic and unit/department issues; recognize exceptions, recommend and develop resolutions and implement solution. Ensure effective and efficient delivery and integration of all financial services for area of responsibility.
• Design an effective system of internal controls for area of responsibility utilizing strategic analysis of interrelationships of financial processes, policies, and procedures; implement and ensure compliance programs.
• Lead multiple complex, high‑visibility process innovation projects. Develop, champion and implement strategic initiatives with significant impact. Empower action, remove obstacles, enable constructive feedback and support from leaders, and reward and recognize progress and achievements.
• Develop, assess, and continuously improve systems and processes to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls. Design and provide training on new financial systems.
• Analyze problems in business critical systems, and identify risks, solutions, and strategies; act as business owner of project.
• Represent organization to client group(s) and leaders: serve as subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise.
• Assess client and business needs, and formulate recommendations to determine approach to managing and completing processes.
• May supervise, train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed. Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expert proficiency in business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel.
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems; internet and computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Advanced professional communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and all levels of management.
• Advanced project management skills and ability to lead large multi‑functional teams.