Senior Financial Analyst/Senior Space Analyst

About Stanford

Stanford University is one of Silicon Valley's largest employers - and one of the most unique. Our mission is to educate future leaders and promote interdisciplinary, world-class research and teaching. This passion makes Stanford an intensely creative, rewarding, and challenging place to work. At Stanford University, not only are you part of an exceptional team that values innovation and education, but you also become part of a culture that brings out the best in you. Stanford is committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity, collaboration, and professional growth. Our culture offers career development programs, competitive pay that reflects market trends and benefits that increase financial stability and promote healthy, fulfilling lives. 

Research—the creation of new knowledge—is key to Stanford’s educational mission. Stanford research has led to breakthrough remedies, devices, tools, and concepts, and hundreds of initiatives solely for the betterment of humanity. Among the inventions and discoveries that have resulted from Stanford research are MRI technology, DNA cloning, the Pill, heart transplantation, and digital music. 

The premier function of the Office of Research Administration (ORA) is to provide an array of high-quality services and expertise to support the research mission and sponsored projects administration at Stanford University. ORA is composed of Cost and Management Analysis; Property Management Office; Research Administration Policy and Compliance; Sponsored Receivables Management; Client Advocacy and Education; Organizational Insights; and the Office of Sponsored Research.  ORA also provides oversight for the Stanford Electronic Research Administration (SeRA), eCertification, Clinical Research Invoicing System for Participants (CRISP), Electronic PI Lab Use Survey (ePLUS) systems. ORA manages the administrative processes related to a broad spectrum of research related agreements as well as the entire lifecycle of sponsored research from proposal submission and award negotiation through financial reporting and award closeout. ORA submits over 5,000 new proposals annually and manages more than 7,500 active sponsored projects with a total budget exceeding $1.98 billion. 

This position may be considered for domestic (US) remote work.

This Opportunity 

As a team member of Cost and Management Analysis (CMA) in the Office of Research Administration, this senior financial analyst role (working title: Senior Space Analyst) is responsible for developing the space base, building depreciation, lease cost, and land improvement cost for the submission of the indirect cost (IDC) proposal to the federal government.

This role conducts and manages the University Space Inventory for buildings on and off the campus ensuring compliance with the Space Inventory Instructions and space mapping guidelines in accordance with the OMB Uniform Guidance. The analyst uses the Comprehensive Rate Information System (CRIS) to develop cost pools and allocate costs for the indirect cost proposal.

As part of the space inventory process, the Senior Space Analyst prepares and maintains training documentation and trains over 300 department space coordinators to understand the process and the cost impact of using functional codes. As the owner and administrator of electronic PI Lab Usage System (ePLUS), the analyst works with university Primary Investigators (PIs) to identify lab space usage for the indirect cost study.

Annually, the Senior Space Analyst coordinates and manages the capital building assessment process for building depreciation and land improvements with multiple university departments and an external assessor.

The Senior Space Analyst will work with a wide variety of university groups and departments across campus. There will also be extensive interface between this position and both internal and external audit entities. Conducting ad hoc analyses to support cost justification and business decisions is an integral part of this role. The candidate must be able to deal with complex financial concepts and be able to explain and support analyses through management’s decision support, audits, and negotiations with the Office of Naval Research.

The work for this role spans a broad array of complex financial and regulatory issues. Strong interpersonal skills, problem solving, ability to analyze large data sets, compliance mindset, understanding of applicable regulations and their impact to the cost study, time management, meeting deadlines, and extensive detailed documentation of the work are critical to the success of this role.

This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Cost and Management Analysis.

Core Duties:

• Perform highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; conduct multi-dimensional and complex reconciliations and analysis; prepare, review, or approve complex transactions and high dollar value transactions.
• Research and synthesize data for space and building depreciations; develop complex financial reporting, analyses, and forecasting scenarios. Perform root-cause analysis and synthesis, draw conclusions, and propose solutions.
• Prioritize, identify, and resolve strategic and department issues; recognize exceptions, recommend, and develop resolutions and implement solutions.
• Design and implement an effective process or system of internal controls for area of responsibility utilizing strategic analysis of interrelationships of financial processes, policies, and procedures; manage compliance program for space and building depreciation, interpret internal policy and external regulations.
• Analyze problems in business-critical systems, such as the Comprehensive Rate Information System, and identify risks, solutions, and strategies; act as business owner of projects.
• Represent organization to client groups and leaders; serve as subject matter expert in space analysis.
• Assess client and business needs, and formulate recommendations to determine approach to managing and completing processes.
• May coach, train, and review the work of other staff, as needed. Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.
• Manage internal and external audits related to responsibilities.
• Other duties may also be assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree and six years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience. Master’s degree in relevant fields is preferred.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced proficiency in business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel.
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems; internet and computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Advanced professional communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and all levels of management.
• Strong project management skills and ability to contribute to or lead large multi-functional teams.
• Knowledge of the OMB Uniform Guidance or experience in the Facilities and Administration (F&A) rates is desired but not required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*: 

• Constantly sitting.
• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, writing by hand, sort/file paperwork.
• Occasionally stand/walk, lift/carry objects weighing 11-20 pounds.
• Rarely reach/work above shoulder.

WORKING CONDITIONS:  

• Routine extended working hours during peak cycles; travel to school/unit sites across university.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• 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.
• 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 .

This role is open to candidates anywhere in the United States. Stanford University has five Regional Pay Structures .

The compensation for this position will be based on the location of the successful candidate. The expected pay range for this position is $127,000 to $185,000 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.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources at [email protected] . For all other inquiries, please submit a contact form .
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.