Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

Job Description

Provide leading class financial management support to Lab leadership, researchers, support personnel and peers.  This Financial Analyst position will serve as a rates and pricing specialist, focused on the development, monitoring, and analyses of Lab overhead rates and/or standard labor rates, NREL’s Cost Accounting Standards Board Disclosure Statement, and related policies and procedures. 

Will work within a dynamic, high-performing, and leading class CFO organization closely collaborating with other CFO analysts and managers to solve complex financial planning, programming, budgeting, and execution tasks, as well as improve institutional processes.  This position, as a member of the lab support team, has opportunities to engage in many areas of the Lab’s business from decision support and compliance to project and funding administration.

Responsibilities for this role may include, but are not limited to:

Budget Formulation and Planning:

• Assist Lab leadership with decisions on changes to the cost accounting structure and/or standard labor rate structure, which may include providing innovative ideas or solutions, problem solving, conducting complex analyses, helping others understand regulations, and developing plans to execute approved changes.
• Provide support to the NREL annual financial planning processes to include providing direction to Business Managers and fellow analysts, developing templates and forms, consolidating inputs to multi-year rate proposals, performing ad hoc analysis, and communicating impacts and results.
• Assist managers with analysis needed for development of reasonable budget and/or targets each fiscal year.
• Develop, monitor, and report on Lab metrics.
• Consult on or assist with the development of DOE (FOA) and Non-DOE (SPP) proposals and cash flow analysis.
• Monitor and evaluate reasonableness and accuracy of ongoing financial plans for programs and projects, as well as assist Business Manager with analysis to support the development of lab forecasts for productivity, affordability, and cost.

Budget Execution:

• Develop and/or maintain monthly financial tracking and monitoring reports for overhead rates, standard labor rates, and Lab-wide budget execution.
• Analyze plan versus actual cost data and discuss any issues with the applicable managers.
• Communicate on a regular basis with Lab Leadership, Program Managers, Project Leaders, Task/Subtask Leaders, Business Managers and Financial Analysts regarding significant financial requirements and data calls.

Finance Policies and Procedures:

• Provide technical financial guidance on matters related to project pricing and rates application.
• Assist with the development and/or maintenance of policies and procedures for Financial Planning & Analysis group.
• Support Laboratory policies by assisting leaders in their understanding of fiscal management responsibilities.

Financial Administration:

• Perform the setup, execution, and administration of cost allocations in Oracle EBS.
• Participation in the creation of and audit support for the annual incurred cost submission.
• Work closely with project leaders to maintain updates to project cost breakdown structures using Oracle Enterprise Business Systems.
• Create, support, monitor, and update various time-phased budget plans, as required.
• Provide ad hoc reporting for personnel when any financial data requests occur.
• Assist with training of new staff to understand financial responsibilities of their roles.
• Assist with supporting external and internal audit requests including detailed support, effective answers, and the occasional audit report response.

Basic Qualifications

Relevant Bachelor's Degree in and 9 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience in Finance, Accounting, or similar. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience in Finance, Accounting, or similar. Or, relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience in Finance, Accounting, or similar. Or, relevant JD and 4 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures, and practices related to financial management in a government contracting environment as well as excellent leadership, project management and problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to use various software programs at an advanced level, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Previous experience with financial management & budgeting in a government contracting environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with Microsoft Power BI.
• Previous experience with U.S. Cost Accounting Standards, including CASB Disclosure Statements.
• A general understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and their relation to the timing of cost, accruals, and pre-payments.