Finance & Research Analyst- Hybrid Opportunity

The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the center of a world-class liberal arts education at Stanford University. H&S encompasses 23 departments—from Art and Art History, English, and History to Economics, Mathematics, and Biology—as well as 23 interdisciplinary programs. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.
Description
The Department of Biology is at the center of life sciences research at Stanford. Biology's mission is to lead in understanding life, from molecules to cells, and organisms to ecosystems.
Biology has an immediate opening for a full-time Finance & Research Analyst. This position is responsible for the review, administrative, fiscal accounting, and customer service activities during all stages of the award (both pre- and post-award) made to Biology Principal Investigators for internal and external sponsors. In addition, this person will perform moderately complex finance functions and/or activities. The RA reports directly to the Manager, Research Administration.
About The Position
Work under minimal supervision to manage the proposal preparation and/or post award activities on grants, contracts, program projects, and federal grants, both routine and complex. Perform, independently, moderately complex financial functions related to budgeting and forecasting requiring specific knowledge, skills and broad application of policies, precedents and systems within context of internal policies and external regulations.
CORE DUTIES*:

• Participate in and contribute to process improvements. Lead other staff in group projects. Support new initiatives; cooperate and adapt to changes and processes.
• May participate as a mentor and provide cross-training as needed. Serve as a back-up to other functions.
• Participate with principal investigator in the preparation of the administrative components of proposals within parameters of sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines. Oversee and communicate submission process, both paper and electronic, review documents for completeness and compliance.
• Participate in contract closeout process; submit final reports and certificates. Compile information and documents needed for audit inquiries.
• Understand, apply, and advise on university and government policies for projects.
• Serve as a resource on subject area and overall technical resource to principal investigator and other university staff.
• Serve as liaison and active partner between principal investigators, Office of Sponsored Research, research groups, and other departments; respond to sponsor inquiries.
• Develop and communicate reports supporting project status; create effective forecasting and decision aides.
• Collaborate with Office of Sponsored Research to ensure awards are set up properly and cost-sharing requirements are fulfilled; initiate cost transfers.
• Develop, prepare, and finalize project budgets, and provide budget justification.
• Review and approve expenditures, advise on post award spending and commitment activity, and oversee compliance related to fund and revenue.

Other Duties Include

• Perform finance functions, including structured analysis; conduct data mining; identify, clarify and investigate discrepancies and exceptions; proactively develop solutions and processes.
• Contribute to development and maintenance of desktop procedures and process documentation for area of responsibility.
• Resolve issues within immediate work unit; apply ingenuity and creativity to problem analysis and resolution and recognize exceptions.
• Resolve transactional inquiries, escalate broader issues and respond in a professional and timely manner.
• - Other duties may also be assigned
• Run and analyze moderately complex financial reports, often from multiple systems; assist in preparation of management information reports.
• Maintain, reconcile, review, combine, and validate moderately complex financial data sets, including large volumes of data, financial reports, financial databases and key financial information.
• Develop budget, forecasting, and analyses to be used by internal management for key activities or decision making.

Minimum Requirements
Education & Experience:
Bachelor's degree and three years of job related experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Basic knowledge of governmental regulations.
• Strong accounting skills; knowledge of accounting principles.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of procurement needs, including sole-sourcing, cost analyses, vendor requirements, and small business reporting.
• Understanding and ability to apply basic accounting skills and concepts.
• Knowledge of property management requirements related to Stanford or non-Stanford title of equipment and fabrications.
• Competency in project management and ability to contribute as part of a project team.
• Ability to work well independently, but also to seek or offer assistance when needed.
• Extreme attention to detail.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to complete Cardinal Curriculum I and II within first year in role.
• Ability to review a proposal or manage a project with understanding of the overall scope and goal of each sponsored project.
• Excellent analytical skills; demonstrated proficiency in business applications, such as Word and Excel, and web-based tools.
• Use knowledge and demonstrated experience of financial systems.
• Excellent oral, written, and communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal audiences and client groups.

Certifications And Licenses

• Certified Accountant or Auditor or similar credential desired.
• Cardinal Curriculum I and II must be completed to remain in this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently sit, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation and perform desk-based computer tasks, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing up to ten pounds.
• Rarely lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing 11-20 pounds.
• Occasionally stand, walk, grasp forcefully, use a telephone, write by hand and sort and file paperwork or parts.
• - 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 his or her job.

Working Conditions

• This position will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered for an option of telecommuting (hybrid of working on-site and off-site), subject to operational need.

Work Standards

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.

The expected pay range for this position is $80,000 to $108,000 per annum.
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.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
Applicants are required to upload a cover letter and resume to be considered for this opening.