UCP Budget & Planning Integrator

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR); Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

UCAR, with the Office of the CFO, seeks a Budget Analyst III to lead budgeting, financial management, and compliance across UCP centers and programs in the U.S.

You will collaborate closely with the UCP Director of Business Operations and BSS to support strategic and annual planning, including indirect cost budgeting and MTDC development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline plus eight years related experience, or a Master's degree plus six years, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expert skill in budget development and analysis, cost control and development of statistics.
• Advanced knowledge of government contract requirements and UCAR policies.

Responsibilities

• Supports the UCP BSS in providing financial analysis, strategies and metrics for program management and decision-making.
• Designs and implements budget planning procedures and guidelines for UCAR/UCP in coordination with Budget & Planning office.
• Participates in triage meetings and serves as liaison between UCP programs and the Office of the CFO for budgetary support and reporting.
• Collaborates with BSS teams to support proposal development, including budget development and financial analyses.
• Develops and monitors internal financial controls and guidance in compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance and UCAR policies.

Skills

Budget development

Financial analysis

Budget forecasting

Communication skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree + 8 years

Master's degree in finance

Tools

Excel

Workday Financials

MS Office

Google Apps

Job description

Position Type

Regular

Visa Sponsored Job

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible

Yes

Hiring Range

96,266.00 USD - 120,331.00 USD

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes

12:00am MST on 2026-10-05

About the Role

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) - Office of the CFO is seeking for a Budget Analyst III to be integrated into UCAR's Community Programs (UCP). This individual will provide leadership and subject-matter expertise to promote consistent and sound budgeting, pre- and post-award, financial management, and compliance practices across UCP Centers and Programs. They will work closely with the UCP Director of Business Operations to support strategic and annual planning for the UCP Directorate and Centers, including detailed indirect budget development and oversight.

They will also work closely with the UCP Business Shared Services (BSS) team to provide senior-level financial and administrative support for UCP-sponsored research programs and research portfolios and contribute to the development and continuous improvement of award management processes, controls, reporting practices, and research administration standards across UCP.

Within the Office of the CFO, the position directly supports the Lead, Financial Planning and Analysis role by providing timely, accurate forecasts of indirect spending and MTDC generation and providing ad hoc support to the UCAR Budget and Planning team as needed.

Job Description

Application Deadline

• This position will be posted until 12 am MDT on Monday, October 5, 2026

Required application materials
Resume
Cover Letter - Please address how your skills and experience meet the needs of this position (for more information, please refer to the Key Responsibilities and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities sections of this job posting).
Questionnaire (embedded in the application)

Background Checks Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

Integration and Development

• Supports the UCP BSS in providing UCP Programs with financial analysis, strategies and metrics for program management and decision-making
• Designs and implements best practices of budget planning and development procedures and guidelines for UCP in coordination with the UCAR Budget & Planning office and the financial functional area teams within the UCP BSS
• Participates in recurring triage meetings and serves as the liaison between UCP's programs and the Office of the CFO, focusing on budgetary support and ad-hoc reporting needs
• Collaborates with BSS teams to support proposal development, including budget development, financial analysis, and alignment with applicable UCAR and sponsor requirements.
• Applies contract management expertise, including experience with IDIQ contracts, to support UCP programs by monitoring contract budgets and expenditures, financial and progress reporting, performance milestones, and deliverable requirements; collaborates with the Contracts Office and UCP programs to identify and proactively address issues and elevate risks as appropriate.
• Develops and monitors successful internal financial controls and guidance in compliance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance and UCAR policies and procedures
• Develops and produces financial reports, analyses, and special projects as determined by the UCAR Financial Planning and Analysis and UCP Leadership
• Develops and develops a strong understanding of UCAR's financial and business applications and leverages these systems to support accurate, efficient, and consistent financial planning and reporting
• Develop the components of the indirect cost budget and indirect cost rate for UCP, including estimates for Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC), and provides recommendations to executive teams on the allocation of indirect funds to the UCP Programs
• Provides expert financial guidance and serves as a strategic partner to the BSS team, promoting consistent financial practices, strengthening analytical capabilities, and supporting effective financial award management across UCP.

Analysis and Reporting

• Analyzes financial data and translates into high-value, actionable insights for UCP Directorate and Programs, developing and refining new analyses in response to changing business needs; anticipates and advises on budget strategies
• Provides expert guidance and direction on the development and maintenance of methodologies used for organizational reporting, ensuring overall data integrity
• Ensures financial systems provide timely and accurate data and that the tools and processes are in alignment with the entity's financial requirements
• Develops and monitors financial and non-financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), historical statistics and the appropriate reporting to assess financial performance across UCP
• Monthly monitoring of the UCP indirect budget and ad-hoc analysis of UCP financials
• Provides support across UCP for audit reporting, including multi-year data requests and analysis, where accuracy is critical and turnaround time is short

Decision-Making & Problem-Solving

• Designs and manages complex analysis for the planning and direction of management and evaluates budget and strategic risks.
• Exercises independent judgment on complex matters with broad implications. Responsible for making effective recommendations that are supported by UCAR policy. Makes recommendations for new policies.
• Solves complex problems using innovation and in-depth analysis. Requires integrated understanding of program goals and impacts of decisions.
• Receives direction from management
• Defines job goals and objectives and works with considerable independence under broad management direction. Maintains confidentiality.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

Successful candidates will ensure their application materials speak to the following criteria:

Education and Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant academic discipline, plus eight years related experience, or Masters plus six years, or an equivalent combination of education and experience which qualifies the individual to perform the duties as described

Desired, but not required

• Master's degree in finance, accounting or business-related discipline.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert skill in budget development and analysis, cost control and development of relevant statistics
• Advanced knowledge of government contract/agreement requirements, policies and procedures.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of OMB circulars and UCAR policies and procedures related to budgets and indirect costs.
• Expert knowledge of and skill in managing proposal/budget preparation and submission.
• Advanced skill in planning and implementing effective techniques to achieve organizational goals.
• Proven experience in budgeting and forecasting with direct and indirect costs in a complex federal funding environment
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a matrix managed environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to communicate complex ideas and information effectively using both oral and written presentations to a wide audience from different technical disciplines and backgrounds; experience working with senior leaders on complex financial planning and reporting issues
• Maintain high ethical and confidentiality standards, capable of dealing with sensitive and confidential information
• Expert knowledge of Excel, reporting and financial tools, mastery of MS Office and Google Apps tool suites, experience with Workday Financials or similar financial reporting tools, proficient in preparing and presenting complex financial material

Preferred Qualifications

Hiring Salary Range: $96,266 - $120,331

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Requirements

Cover Letter, Questionnaire, Resume/CV

For full consideration, all application materials must be submitted by 12am (MST) at the start of the application deadline. These should highlight how your skills and experiences align with the responsibilities of this position. We recognize that no candidate will meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you believe your background has prepared you for success in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Supplemental questionnaires are often requested in lieu of a cover letter, where you address critical skills needed for the position. Your answers will be read and weighed equally to your resume and should provide specific, detailed, and informative responses based on your direct and previous work experiences.

Background checks and/or federal screenings are conducted for candidates selected for hire.

Benefits Overview

UCAR offers a comprehensive benefits package: health insurance, dental, retirement plan, leave plans, tuition assistance, and employee assistance programs:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• Generous retirement plan - UCAR contributes of 10% of base salary
• Time Off Plans
  • Minimum 20 days of annual PTO
  • 10 paid holidays
  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave
  • FAMLI Leave
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

UCAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants are not required to provide age-related information (like date of birth or graduation dates) in initial submissions.

For sponsored positions: UCAR can sponsor individuals for H-1B status only if they are already in the U.S. in H-1B status or another visa status that allows them to change to H-1B status within the U.S. UCAR is unable to sponsor new H-1B visas for individuals who are outside the U.S. and need to obtain H-1B status through Consular Processing.

While UCAR does not prohibit the use of AI tools in job applications, we strongly recommend that applicants submit primarily original work.

All roles require compliance with U.S. export control regulations and work location requirements. All hybrid staff are expected to work on-site approximately 3 days per week.