Financial Analyst, IS-0501-9/11

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is hiring a Financial Analyst to provide financial analysis, reporting, and accounting support. The role supports budget execution, financial data integrity, compliance, and guidance for Observatory staff, while liaising with research administration and property and procurement teams.

What you'll do:

• Supports financial analysis and reporting function for various Institutional funding sources including federal appropriation, trust funds, direct and indirect activities related to federally sponsored and foundation awards, gift, endowment, discretionary funds, and business activities including Central Engineering Cost Center
• Assists in design and development of new financial reports and the layout improvement to existing reports, incorporating data composition enhancements, and utilizing data visualization techniques
• Performs reconciliation and validation of data to ensure accuracy and integrity
• As an integral part of the team, we actively participate in the year-end close-out process collaborating closely with members of both the Budget and Financial Analysis Services and the Business Operations group
• Provides various support related to internal and external audit requests
• Supports the preparation and dissemination of guidance material to all Observatory staff, aiming to provide support, clarity, and explanation of significant regulatory requirements, policies, procedures, and associated changes
• Exhibits a comprehensive understanding of guidance outlined in the OMB circular 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), NSF and NASA proposal guidelines, and other financial policies and practices in support of sponsored research
• Provides various support related to internal and external audit requests
• As an integral part of the team, we actively participate in the year-end close-out process collaborating closely with members of both the Budget and Financial Analysis Services and the Business Operations group
• Performs routine financial analyses to identify trends, variances, and anomalies
• Prepare standardized financial reports, reconciliations, and summaries for supervisor review
• Assists in monitoring obligations, expenditures, and available balances

What they're looking for:

• One year of specialized experience at least equivalent to the Grade 07 level, performing duties similar to those described above
• Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or completion of all requirements for an LL.M degree from an accredited college or university
• Professional and comprehensive knowledge of the policies, precedents, goals, objectives, regulations, and guidelines of a functional area such as financial oversight, budget formulation, and/or budget execution sufficient to analyze and evaluate continual changes in program plans and funding and their effect on financial and budget program milestones; and analyze financial and budgetary relationships to develop recommendations for financial and/or budgetary actions
• Working knowledge of Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OMB circular 2 CFR 200, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), GAAP, SAO, and SI policies, processes, procedures, and regulations sufficient to issue instruction or guidance on financial matters affecting sponsored projects or division/department spending or reporting
• Comprehensive knowledge of theories, regulations, current/revised guidance, management policies, and practices, including financial facets of SAO's sponsored projects awards, institutional (administrative and research) allotments, cost centers, federal budgets (one-year and no-year), endowments, and discretionary accounts
• Knowledge of current requirements of financial interfaces with research sponsors
• Knowledge of and skill in the use of enterprise financial information systems and other software tools and the ability to produce meaningful and accurate evaluations and concisely compiled financial analyses
• Knowledge of standard business communication techniques is sufficient to analyze, articulate, and understand issues or concerns related to financial matters
• Knowledge of the SAO and SI planning- programming-budgeting information systems to advise and support a variety of budgeting functions required to conduct SAO's wide variety of scientific research programs
• General knowledge of the operations of scientific research programs of SAO divisions and of their budgetary restrictions and requirements

Benefits:

• Trust employees’ benefit program may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), and Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).