Financial Analyst 3 - 136368

The Marine Physical Laboratory Division at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is seeking a Financial Analyst 3.

The Financial Analyst 3 is responsible for comprehensive fiscal management at CORDC, maintaining the center's overall budget and tracking expenditures at both the programmatic and individual project levels. This role supports short- and long-term financial planning, produces monthly and annual financial reports, and ensures sound financial oversight in collaboration with the Technical Program Manager, Principal Investigators, and CORDC senior leadership.

Working both independently and in coordination with the MPL Business Office, the Financial Analyst performs complex financial analyses and prepares ad hoc reports that reflect dynamic funding scenarios. The position requires strong analytical skills, sound judgment, discretion, excellent communication, and a working knowledge of University policies and procedures.

The Financial Analyst oversees the allocation of payroll, travel, supply, and equipment expenses across a range of funding sources, while monitoring spending rates, project end dates, and potential liens from open purchase orders or subcontracts. The incumbent maintains strong working relationships with CORDC staff, the MPL Business Office, and the Contracts and Grants Office, and serves as a mentor to other fiscal staff, supporting overall project management within the center. This role includes identifying the need for no-cost extensions or re-budgeting requests and ensuring that all financial documentation complies with sponsor and agency requirements. The Financial Analyst works closely with awardees to support financial reporting and documentation for proposals and ongoing projects. The incumbent also supports proposal preparation by drafting budgets, assembling budget backup, and preparing justifications in collaboration with Research Administrators and technical staff.

The Financial Analyst manages the fiscal oversight of sponsored projects supporting approximately 50 staff, post-docs, and researchers. Responsibilities include generating center-wide budget reports, conducting financial trend analyses, tracking spending patterns, identifying potential issues, and proposing data-driven solutions. Additional responsibilities include financial data analysis, forecasting expenses, cost accounting for fabrications, managing equipment inventory, and supporting department P-card activity. The position also involves solving moderately complex financial scenarios with creative and practical solutions while maintaining financial integrity across all CORDC operations.

Uses skills as a seasoned, experienced professional with a full understanding of industry practices and organizational policies and procedures; resolves a wide range of issues in imaginative as well as practical ways. Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Contacts are both internal and external to the department.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Major in accounting, economics, business administration, or an allied field, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Masters Degree preferred.

• Thorough knowledge of finance policies, practices, and systems. Ability to perform complex financial analyses and customized reporting. Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports.

• Ability to independently gather required information to organize, and perform financial analysis assignments. Demonstrated experience in auditing financial data, identifying issues and developing recommendations. Demonstrated financial, budgetary and analytical expertise.

• Proven ability to effectively present information verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner. Demonstrated strong ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals, exercising tact, diplomacy and to build consensus across diverse group. Demonstrated ability to respond in a timely manner.

• Proven ability using spreadsheet and database software for complex financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports. Proven ability to prepare programmatic and financial operating budgets. Excellent mathematical skills with the ability to perform complex calculation and prepare, develop and analyze expenditure reports, data projection, for consistency, allocability and accuracy.

• Proven interpersonal skills with peers throughout the organization; strong service orientation and critical thinking skills; and attention to detail. Proven ability using organizational skills to multi-task in a high volume environment. Demonstrated problem solving and negotiation skills with the ability to exercise discretion. Excellent writing and analytical skills for various audiences under tight deadlines.

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities. Ability to manage significant volume of transactions. Ability to organize workload priorities, manage multiple project simultaneously, be flexible in responding to stressful situations, cope with unexpected job demands and deal with frequent interruptions. Demonstrated effectiveness in high-pressure situations, adept at realigning efforts to meet operational needs while managing frequently changing and competing priorities while exercising sound judgment and taking initiative.

• Ability to function as a member of a team. Proven ability to work with a wide range or individuals. Effectively work with and communicates with internal program and project managers, external collaborators and the MPL business office for all pre and post award financial management. Capable of performing at a high level within a team environment.

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting University resources. Demonstrated ability to read, analyze and understand terms and conditions of the award agreement rto identify potential problems. Maintains current knowledge of compliance regulations in all areas of research administration. Understand research administration guidelines of Federal and non-federal sponsor supporting research.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.