Financial Specialist

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click Apply and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. POSITION SPECIFICS We are searching for detail-oriented Financial Specialists join our Financial Reporting Department within the Materials and Manufacturing Office at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. In these roles, you will support the research endeavors of ARL by providing efficient and high-quality financial management to ARL programs. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply. You will: Provide support with post award management on mid-level complex program contracts which includes providing monthly reports on status of funds, Level of Effort (LOE) monitoring, manpower planning, and review of travel expenses to match labor and sponsor reports Support PI's on the completion of ETC (Estimate to Complete Budgets) of basic programs/small scale contracts using Propricer and SIMBA, and assist in establishing best practices and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Collaborate with technical staff to track resource expenditures against project schedule, and compare spending with planned work to ensure program deliverables Assist with the management of the financial requirements of contract close out Provide support for Principal Investigators to ensure the verification of financial information for reporting through the use of SIMBA Analyze and verify funding sources to ensure appropriate spending and billing practices Assist the Program Finance Manager (PFM) with the submission of professional development, strategic bid, proposal, and other special requests Assist the PFM with the preliminary preparation of monthly financial key indicators as reported to ARL Leadership Team Review expenses and ensure compliance with University policies Required skills/experience areas include: Strong financial background in accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and/or variance analysis Advanced Microsoft Excel knowledge/skills Demonstrated problem solving, analytical and organizational skills Past success in providing ideas in written form for clear comprehension to an audience Ability to adapt and change in a fast-paced environment Demonstrated ability to work through difficult problems, using proper steps to define and formulate ideas to reach a solution Preferred skills/experience areas include: Prior experience in government contracting, research administration, and/or DoD PowerPoint, Outlook, and financial systems, such as SAP or similar Successful completion of the PSU ACES research support program Strong interpersonal skills Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required Your working location will be hybrid on-site/work from home, located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None ARLs purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu. BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen. SALARY & BENEFITS The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $51,000.00 - $74,000.00.**THE PROPOSED SALARY RANGE MAY BE IMPACTED BY GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENTIAL** Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. 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