Sponsored Programs Budget Analyst II

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research • Boulder, CO

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is excited to welcome a Sponsored Programs Budget Analyst II to our Business Shared Services (BSS) team! The BSS team centralizes the financial management of research proposals and awarded funds within UCAR Community Programs (UCP), delivering consistent, high-quality support for all pre- and post-award activities. In this role, you’ll support the Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (CPAESS) Program, which partners with federal agencies and businesses to hire critical scientific staff enabling a more robust workforce. As a trusted advisor and partner to principal investigators you’ll administer every stage of the award lifecycle. From coordinating proposals to managing active awards, you’ll provide expert level financial analysis for contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants, including expense monitoring, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting. This is a fast-paced and dynamic team-oriented role where problem solving and effective communication are paramount. You’ll collaborate closely with Center and Program leadership to support our sponsored programs and maximize program outcomes through strategic financial insight. You’ll translate complex financial data into actionable guidance and ensure compliance with federal and sponsor requirements and institutional policies. If you love numbers, learning new things, and helping others succeed, you’ll thrive here. We’re looking for someone who can juggle multiple priorities, adapt quickly, and embrace challenges. The successful candidate will be able to identify and resolve grants administration issues through strong knowledge and application of the OMB Uniform Guidance, FAR, sponsor requirements, and generally accepted cost principles. The BSS team is a close-knit mission-driven team that values collaboration, growth, and great relationships. We support one another, celebrate wins, and see every challenge as a chance to learn. If this sounds like fun we’d love to get to know you. Come bring your expertise and energy to a team that’s shaping the future of Earth System Science.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant academic discipline, plus; 5 years of related experience, or; A Master’s degree, plus three 3 years of related experience; Or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Advanced skill in administering task orders / contracts and adhering to strict requirements.
• Advanced skill in proposal/budget preparation and submission via federal and UCAR proposal platforms and management systems.
• Advanced skill in budget development and analysis, cost control and development of relevant statistics.
• Advanced skill in financial analysis and the use of spreadsheet applications to develop and present status reports.
• Intermediate working knowledge of government award requirements (cooperative agreements, grants and contracts) including knowledge and application of OMB Uniform Administrative Guidance and UCAR policies and procedures.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including proven ability to translate complex information into easily understood language.
• Sensitivity and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to work independently and also able to work effectively in a team situation.
• Ability to identify information sources for solving problems and anticipate organizational problems before they arise and respond appropriately.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with NOAA contractual vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Manage the award lifecycle for a portfolio of direct awards primarily issued via contract vehicles. Provide backup support on cooperative agreements, grants, or other funding vehicles.
• Utilize UCAR financial systems to conduct timely monthly monitoring of accounts, reviewing for accuracy and managing the tracking, reconciling, and forecasting of expenses/staff allocations.
• Design and conduct monthly and ad hoc review and analysis of award portfolios to monitor award activity, compliance with UCAR policies, federal and sponsor requirements, OMB Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and generally accepted cost principles and audit requirements.
• Design and conduct recurring and ad hoc financial reporting to sponsors and CPAESS leadership.
• Proactively identify issues/risks and develop data informed recommendations/actions. Appropriately inform/consult with CPAESS leadership.
• Coordinate administrative actions, including data entry and maintenance of business systems and files and the coordination of programmatic award reports.
• Serve as lead proposal administrator for proposals within the assigned portfolio.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators on development of proposal timeline and roles/responsibilities.
• Lead development of budget and budget narrative, and coordinate team members on other proposal supporting documents.
• Enter proposal data in UCAR business systems and sponsor platforms.
• Partner with UCP Proposal Office and UCAR Contracts as needed.
• Ensure proposal compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Serve as a financial subject matter expert to various federal stakeholders in areas of award allowability and compliance.
• Track and coordinate sponsor inquiries and requests associated with assigned award portfolios.
• Prepare budgets and projections requested by sponsors.
• Develop and present recurring and ad hoc budget reports, analysis and other information to sponsors.
• Develop and conduct reporting for monthly, quarterly, and year-end statistics and trends.
• Maintain statistics and metrics and ensure that consistent and accurate data are used.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of data tracking and analysis, as needed.
• Co-create complex business processes with an eye toward continuous improvement, efficiencies and customer service.
• Develop and maintain documented desk procedures with examples for work activities.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and refinement of standardized best practices for BSS.
• Conduct and participate in BSS meetings, trainings, and serve on BSS Working Groups.
• May represent BSS or CPAESS on committees that influence organizational policies and procedures.
• Analyze new policies and procedures for relevance and/or impact to the CPAESS business model.
• Perform other special projects as required by management or sponsoring agencies.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive work culture within the program and with other parts of the organization.

Benefits

• UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits . In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance, UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development.
• These include: Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities.
• UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one.
• Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions).
• 10 paid holidays.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary.
• EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees