Careers

Principal Resource Analyst - 95448

Organization:  CF-Office of Chief Financial Officer

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's (LBNL, https://www.lbl.gov/) Office of Chief Financial Officer Division has an opening for a Principal Resource Analyst to join the team.

Matrixed from the OCFO Field Finance or Budget Office Departments to an assigned area/division, operating within the Lab’s financial policies and procedures and working under consultative direction of an assigned supervisor/manager, independently provide complex, detailed and comprehensive program/project budget management, planning and analysis services. This includes providing financial support and moderately complex consultative advice to scientific investigators and their research programs/projects or operations managers covering parts of the assigned division’s annual funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), other direct sponsors, and/or the Laboratory’s Operations Division. This position may either be performed in an individual contributor or in a supervisor/work lead capacity.

Opportunities across our organization may support client groups in the following areas:

• Biosciences
• Computing Sciences
• Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Energy Sciences
• Energy Technologies Area
• Physical Sciences Area
• Operations

What You Will Do:

Working under the consultative direction of an assigned supervisor/manager, you will work independently and will have the following key responsibilities that are complex in scope:

Budget Management, Planning & Analysis Services: 

• Oversee highly complex program/project/functional activities from inception to close-out, including the formulation, execution, projection and analysis of budgets, funding, costs and commitments, and associated staffing levels. 
• Leveraging technical knowledge in developing highly advanced funding forecasts and spend plans for both PIs, Program Managers as well as external sponsors; analyze variances by identifying root causes, and revising forecasts as necessary.
• Develop highly complex standard and ad hoc financial reports and analyses for both PIs, Program Managers as well as external sponsors; Develop highly complex financial data models in support of the overall area or division financial objectives
• Exert significant latitude in resolving highly impactful issues, including cost allowability and compliance with the terms and conditions of DOE and other funding sponsor contracts; Exercise judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).
• Process, evaluate and approve financial transactions, including commitment of funds consistent with delegated authorities including both financial and personnel actions maintaining appropriate documentation. 

Teamwork, Communications & Customer Service:

• Demonstrates deep and broad capabilities in representing the mission and strategic direction of both OCFO and matrixed organizations.
• Establishes and maintains robust collaborative working relationships with internal and external customers/partners including area/division management, and leverages these relationships in difficult and complex situations.
• Demonstrate accountability, and prioritizes assignments to meet complex organizational objectives, ensuring comprehensive customer service while promoting financial stewardship.
• Anticipates and understands the political impact and sensitive nature of highly complex issues and facilitates the development and execution of strategic solutions when necessary.                                           
• Demonstrates effective communications skills, both written and verbal, that incorporates the appropriate focus/synthesis and nuance, and ensures information and ideas obtained from others are appropriately integrated and disseminated to key stakeholders and direct reports if appropriate.   

Financial Advisory and Consultative Services:

• Advise and consult with both PIs, Program Managers, Division Management and external sponsors on complex budget policies, processes and procedures, and provide solutions pertaining to funding shortfalls or other critical financial events.
• Develop and provide resolutions and highly impactful strategies for managing major financial variables resulting from widely varying research contract terms, high levels of funding uncertainty, varying sponsor financial guidelines and funding cycles, specialized sponsor reporting requirements; provide advanced budget planning and analytical services. Erroneous decisions or recommendations would normally result in the inability to reach crucial organizational objectives and may have a prolonged effect.
• Understand, interpret and apply extensive knowledge of various sponsor policies, contract terms, cost accounting standards and other policies of a highly complex nature, which may include a broad range of federal financial regulations. Failure to provide accurate fiscal management could adversely affect major institutional planning and the Lab’s ability to effectively compete for funding.

Proposal Development and Coordination: 

• Oversee proposal process and develop detailed, multi-year proposal budgets of various dollar amounts including subcontracting, justifications, and administrative documentation for programs of moderate to high complexity.
• Interact with funding agencies and collaborating institutions, including internal and external senior stakeholders. Communicate with Contracting Officers and PIs regarding various elements of the Proposal to Cost (P2C) life cycle; serve as an advisor to stakeholders on institutional and agency policies and procedures and identify key features, advantages and disadvantages of various funding instruments.
• Provide comprehensive contract and grant preparation and coordination support. Coordinate proposal development work with research project team and stakeholders/customers.
• Evaluate documents to ensure consistency between technical and financial sections, meet sponsor and solicitation requirements, and comply with sponsor, the Division, LBL, UC and DOE policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Forecast resource requirements, costs and spending patterns based on proposed work scope, prior similar work, and timeline in order to ensure full cost recovery. Analyze and advise PI regarding alternative budget scenarios and recommended alterations to budgets.
• Develop highly complex and fully costed budgets in multiple formats as defined by agency and individual proposal submission guidelines. Modify and/or develop budget presentation spreadsheets and documents where applicable.

Subcontract Preparation:

• Advise and assist PIs and technical staff in the review and development of all materials necessary to support R&D subcontracts, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and consultant agreements.
• Conduct procedural evaluation of work scope, budget and schedule provided by potential subcontractors.
• Develop and review sole source justification, technical evaluation of costs, conflict of interest, and purchase requisition.
• Coordinate placing procurement requisition into the Lab’s procurement system, tracking active subcontract activity, and extension requests with LBL procurement staff and others.

Ad Hoc Reporting and Analysis:

• Develop a wide array of highly complex ad hoc analyses for area/division stakeholders in support of critical financial objectives and/or major programs/projects.

Special Projects and Cross-Training:

• Assist assigned supervisor/manager with annual information/budget submissions to the Lab’s Budget Office.
• Accept assignments on a rotational basis and other duties as assigned by the supervisor.  
• Undertake training on an ongoing basis to promote continual service improvements.

Supervision of Division Resource Analysts:

• Provide leadership, supervision and workload management for assigned division resource analyst(s), working in financial management and budgets.
• May contribute to the recruitment process, and provide career and skill development guidance, as well as evaluate ongoing performance.
• Assign work and provide guidance on financial policies, procedures, and practices.
• May lead area/division initiatives to identify and address problems with financial management policies and procedures within the area/division and in the interface between the division and the CFO and other LBNL business units.
• Review the quality control of work products prepared by assigned staff members with respect to compliance with the funding agency’s guidelines, and compliance with LBNL, DOE and UC policies, processes and guidelines.

CFO Field Finance Unit – Institutional Support Activities:

• May contribute to the development of financial services strategies for the financial staff that aligns with the OCFO Strategic Roadmap and Area financial management needs to assure that staff meets the needs of the client Areas while fulfilling their fiduciary stewardship responsibilities.

What is Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or economics, and/or the equivalent of a minimum of 6 years related experience including experience in a research, academic or large/complex organization.
• Advanced knowledge of and applied experience with business, budgeting and accounting principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).  Knowledge of cost accounting standards (CAS) and other Federal processes and regulations.
• Advanced knowledge, experience and achievement in planning and managing portfolios of complex budgets funded from multiple sources having varying contract terms and conditions.
• Substantial experience with spreadsheets and financial databases, such as Excel, and PeopleSoft financial applications and other relevant software applications. Extensive experience with Excel data analysis functions. Experience in creating standard and ad hoc reports and presentations, including the use of charts and graphs.
• Demonstrated experience in handling difficult, sensitive situations and conflicting priorities.
• Experience with leading and supervising a team. Provide staff with guidance and training to ensure assigned areas/divisions are provided with quality, comprehensive and effective services/deliverables.
• Specialist in providing financial advice and consultative services, including short and long-range financial planning, estimating, budgeting, cost and effort tracking, analysis and forecasting, indirect rate development, monitoring expenses appropriateness, tracking and reporting and project close-out.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem solving skills.  Ability to multi-task and deliver timely accurate and complete work on tight deadlines.
• Proven ability to interact with a broad range of customers, including scientists, other divisional resource analysts, other LBNL departmental staff. Demonstrated experience in handling difficult situations and conflicting priorities. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent in accounting, finance, business or related field.
• Knowledge of DOE, UC, LBNL and SPP financial policies and procedures and reporting requirements.
• Deep knowledge of contract and grant proposal administration; reviewing & interpreting solicitations, proposal preparation, and understanding of research administration guidelines of federal and non-federal sponsors.
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft financial applications.

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This position will work from home initially due to COVID-19. The on-site work location will be at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA and/or Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) — Bldg. 971, 6401 Hollis St., Emeryville, CA.

How To Apply

Apply directly online at http://50.73.55.13/counter.php?id=227425 and follow the on-line instructions to complete the application process.

Based on University of California Policy - SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program and U.S Federal Government requirements, Berkeley Lab requires that all members of our community obtain the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible. As a condition of employment at Berkeley Lab, all Covered Individuals must Participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program by providing proof of Full Vaccination or submitting a request for Exception or Deferral. Visit covid.lbl.gov for more information.

Berkeley Lab is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA, https://diversity.lbl.gov/ideaberkeleylab/) and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Equal Opportunity and IDEA Information Links:

Know your rights, click here (http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm) for the supplement: Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf) under 41 CFR 60-1.4.