General Summary Description of Position:

The Program Financial Associate (PFA) reports to the Head of PMO. This role is part of NOIRLab’s Management Support Services (MSS) unit which consists of the NOIRLab Portfolio Management Office (PMO), the NOIRLab Finance team, the Document Management group, as well as other shared business services. NOIRLab is a matrixed organization with an annual budget of $116M managed and executed through five Programs and supported by four Service areas.

The Program Financial Associate (PFA) is an early career position with end-to-end responsibilities with their assigned Program(s) and/or Services(s). The PFA assists with the production of a wide range of tailored Financial Management services, planning and analytical support. The PFA assists in helping Leaders/Managers to understand the financial health of their Program and/or Service and providing the information needed for informed decision making. Within the assigned Program and/or Service the PFA assists more senior PFAs in coordinating the efficient budget planning and reporting which enable the management of NOIRLab’s resources, supporting the use of the NOIRLab Cost model, and for ensuring the overall coherence of Programs and Services budget planning and internal controls within NOIRLab. The PFA specifically supports their Program and/or Service by assisting the process of developing, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting budgets and actual cost. The PFA also supports the production of reports and analyses for internal and external reporting.

The PFA assists other Center PFAs within the NOIRLab Finance unit on all aspects of managing the overall financial planning, analysis and control processes of NOIRLab.

Essential Functions:

Finance management support:

• Assist other analysts in the development and maintenance of tailored end-to-end financial management and analytical services and reporting products for the assigned Program(s) and/or Service(s).
• Assist in the maintaining a tailored dashboard tracking the financial health of Program and/or Service budgets and related business processes.

Budget Development:

• Assist other analysts, for the assigned Program and/or Service, in supporting the preparation of the annual NOIRLab Program Operating Plan (POP) and associated Quarterly and Annual external reports to NSF.

Forecast Development:

• Assist the development of up to date in-year and multi-year forecasts and rolling budgets, taking into account evolving Program/Service scope, and with the most recent cost information, assumptions and estimates at completion.
• Assist the maintenance of workforce assumptions, to be hired plans and detailed tracking of workforce changes for quarterly forecasting and rolling budget updates and associated reporting.

Proposal Development:

• Assist other analysts in developing the budget for proposals for new scope/ funding opportunities and provide full end-to-end support from translating scope into corresponding labor and non-labor budget items, developing basis of estimates and providing the financial expertise needed to submit a compliant, realistic, and fully costed project estimate at completion.

Financial Analysis and Reporting:

• Support the process of analyzing:
  • Variances between budget and actuals
  • Finance & accounting issues
  • Budget Risks
  • Funding availability
• Assist the design, development and implementation of new reports and analyses in response to changing requirements, management needs and emerging issues.

Compliance:

• Assist NOIRLab internal controls and compliance with NOIRLab internal procedures, contractual requirements and AURA policies and procedures.
• Assist in guiding managers on the application of OMB Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, 2CFR200 (Uniform Guidance), Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and/or Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) to NOIRLab Program and/or Service activities.
• Provide contributions along with other PFAs, CAS and the Federated PMO to develop and implement continuous improvement of NOIRLab financial planning, analysis and control systems and procedures.

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Undergraduate degree in a Business Administration, Finance, Accounting; or equivalent relevant experience.
• 2+ year(s) experience in a Financial Analyst or Accounting role.
• Expert-level knowledge of Excel and experience working with complex sets of data.
• Outstanding analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and cooperate with a wide range of staff and managers.
• Passion to learn and grow, and interest to streamline processes.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Experience in federally sponsored research or non-profit settings, specifically with government contracting, program pricing or program controls.
• Experience with collaboration tools (e.g., Google Docs, Confluence, Asana, JIRA).
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment, in an international organization and/or in a high technology industry sector.
• Some knowledge of Spanish.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is mostly carried out in an office environment. Long periods of sitting may be required. Given the international nature of NOIRLab, you will need to travel to the various observatory sites (Arizona, Chile and Hawai`i), and occasional work at high elevation summit sites may be required (summit elevations range from 6,800 feet to 14,000 feet).

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment.

Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/

AURA offers a mix-model workspace (in office, hybrid, or remote if eligible) and stimulating environments for all.

NSF’s NOIRLab is the preeminent US national center for ground-based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data products and services for a diverse and inclusive community. NOIRLab operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs: Gemini, Rubin, MSO (CTIO and KPNO), and CSDC; with approximately 400 employees at facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Hawai’i, and Chile.

At NOIRLab we are committed to diversity and inclusion; our managing organization, AURA, as a leader in the astronomical community, develops and supports programs that advance our organizational commitment to diversity, broaden participation, and encourage the advancement of diversity throughout the astronomical scientific workforce. Learn more at http://www.aura-astronomy.org/diversity.asp

Preference will be given to qualified internal candidates.

The position will remain open until filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by 2/10/23.

Please list 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process) and attach: a cover letter and a CV or resume in English, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname. Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to employment@aura-astronomy.org.

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org

COVID-19 Policy Update: AURA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy that requires all employees to be vaccinated including being up to date on boosters, unless qualified for an exemption based on medical or religious reasons. All new employees will be required to comply with this policy and will be required to present proof of full vaccination or submit a completed request (including supporting documents, if applicable) for an exemption at least five (5) business days prior to their start of employment. Individuals who fail to meet this deadline may have their employment start date delayed.

This is a requirement for all employees working onsite or from home (telework or hybrid remote work schedule). Currently the vaccination requirement does not apply to any future AURA employees working in Chile, regardless of their nationality or type of contract.

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of over 40 US institutions and three international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. AURA is responsible for managing the operations of the NSF’s NOIRLab, the National Solar Observatory, and the construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory under cooperative agreements with the National Science Foundation and operations of the Space Telescope Science Institute under contracts with NASA.

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.