Financial Analyst 3 - Fundamental Physics Directorate

Position Overview

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s Business Services Division (BSD) has an exciting opportunity for a financial analyst in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO). Reporting to the Senior Business Manager for the Fundamental Physics Directorate, you will have the opportunity to apply a variety of skills ranging from providing financial analysis related to the preparation of proposals and budgets, approving and monitoring expenses, analyzing and translating financial results into accurate forecast and business drivers, analyzing and managing service center cost and recovery, procurement subcontracts, evaluating controls and compliance with government accounting requirements, and supporting improvement of OCFO processes. You will also provide management decision support using PeopleSoft, Workday Adaptive, MicroStrategy, SQL, and Excel-based tools.

This position is expected to maintain an effective and engaged working relationship across all finance functions at SLAC (peers within and outside of the team, business managers, finance managers, cost account managers (CAMS), Principal Investigators, directorate management, Controller’s Office, etc.). The ideal candidate is skilled in balancing customer service and support with controls and compliance.

The Fundamental Physics Directorate (FPD) at SLAC is one of the lab’s six science mission directorates, focusing on Basic Energy Science Quantum Information, Fusion Energy Science, High Energy Physics, and Nuclear Physics programs. The FPD mission is to understand how the universe works at its most fundamental level by discovering the most elementary constituents of matter and energy and exploring the basic nature of space and time itself. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, operated by Stanford University, is one of 17 Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Perform complex finance functions and/or activities with programmatic impact on the institution, requiring professional expertise and application of internal policies and systems and external regulations. May manage a key area within a finance operation or department/unit.
• 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; interpolate results from large amounts of data, identify trends in data, draw conclusions, develop solutions, present and implement recommendations, and create follow up analysis.
• Develop complex budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; design and run adhoc reports.
• Manage the proposal preparation and/or post award activities for a large volume and diverse set of complex federal and non-federal sponsored research projects, involving multiple sub-awards, principal investigators, and/or cross-school initiatives.
• Prepare complex proposals within parameters of sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines. Oversee and communicate submission process, both paper and electronic; resolve issues relating to proposal preparation and submittal process.
• Review and approve expenditures, advise on post award spending and commitment activity, and oversee compliance related to fund and revenue.
• Identify and resolve unique issues with substantial significance; recognize exceptions and conduct in-depth analysis using advanced technical knowledge and experience. Recommend and develop solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintain broader organizational and university perspective in decision making.
• Review, design, and implement appropriate internal control programs, research new regulations, and implement approved changes. Manage compliance program for area of responsibility, interpret internal policy and external regulations, and create and/or review complex compliance reports.
• Lead and execute unit or cross functional projects and teams, make decisions regarding projects and programs affecting operational effectiveness, policies, or processes.
• Engage in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; make recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls. Define requirements, develop and implement complex test cases, perform testing and analyze results.
• Lead and support unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives.
• Provide training on new financial systems. Represent organization to client group(s) and external partners; 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.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and six years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Advanced 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 management.
• Strong project management skills and ability to contribute to or lead part of a multi-functional team.
• MBA, project management certification, or similar credential desired.
• SLAC employee competencies:
• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. May work extended hours during peak business cycles.
• Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.

Work Standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1—General Policy and Responsibilities:
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies
• As an organization that receives federal funding, SLAC and Stanford University have a COVID-19 vaccination requirement that will apply to all university employees, including those working remotely in the United States and applicable subcontractors.

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• Classification: Financial Analyst 3
• Grade: J, Job Code: 4453
• Duration: Regular Continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $108,000 to $138,000 per annum. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. 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.