NHS Human Services, Inc.

Req #: 244181

Department: APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY

Job Location Detail: This position will allow for a hybrid schedule, with no more than 60% of effort during a workweek being performed at a remote location.

Posting Date: 03/27/2025

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $5,500- $7,000 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230119_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state, and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities, and unique resources in an environment noted for academic excellence, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The Department: The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a Finance Compliance Analyst to support the Finance Operations Manager in managing the operational, financial, and budgetary activities within the Laboratory. With a robust and extensive research portfolio, the APL received approximately $99 million in new sponsored Contracts & Grants in Fiscal Year 2023, and the continued success of the Laboratory relies heavily on the integral role of Finance Operations. The substantial volume of sponsored work necessitates the implementation of stringent financial controls to ensure compliance with applicable policies and regulations. This underscores the critical importance of robust financial accounting operations in maintaining the APL’s excellence and integrity.

The Office of Financial Management is creating an in-house Finance Operations Team, as a unit within the Laboratory’s Business and Finance Department. The Finance Compliance Analyst will implement and carry out key financial management products and processes for the Laboratory. The Finance Compliance Analyst will function as a subject matter expert and will ensure business continuity for the compliance of regulatory requirements and policy across all financial transactions and reporting activities. This includes extensive knowledge of University policy and procedure, and the ability to implement internal controls and procedures to safeguard University assets, prevent fraud, and ensure accuracy in financial reports. The successful application of lean principles by this incumbent will streamline processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve efficiency.

See Yourself at APL (https://seeyourselfapl.uw.edu/) as a member of the Business and Finance Department! We are seeking to hire two full-time Finance Compliance Analysts to join the team. These positions have a salary range of $66,000 to $84,000 per year ($5,500 - $7,000 monthly), along with great employment benefits and competitive total compensation incentives.

The Position: The Finance Compliance Analyst will be independently responsible for supporting and monitoring Laboratory funding, ensuring completeness of various budgets. This involves conducting high-level and ad hoc financial analyses, forecasting, and reviewing financial performance against metrics to report to the Deputy Executive Director, Assistant Director, and the Finance Operations Manager. This position also upholds a customer-first service model through effective resolution of financial inquiries and systems support, using insights from UW Connect ticket trends to suggest process improvements. This position is expected to contribute to a team atmosphere in working with all internal and external customers and provide thoughtful suggestions for continued improvement in work processes.

As a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), the Applied Physics Laboratory is subject to rigorous compliance, operational, and policy requirements not found in other UW units that drive multiple financial and payroll intricacies. This position must possess sound knowledge of UW, State, and Federal grants management and federal accounting regulations and be able to communicate and apply these policies and laws consistently.

Finance Compliance Analyst Responsibilities: As a Finance Compliance Analyst, your responsibilities will include:

Financial Accounting Compliance & Effectiveness: • Oversee and ensure compliance with accounting standards, University policies, and regulatory requirements in all financial transactions and reporting activities. • Independently develop and implement robust internal control procedures to safeguard University assets, prevent fraud, and ensure accuracy in financial records. • Apply lean principles and methodologies to streamline accounting processes, reduce administrative burden, and improve efficiency in financial operations. This includes participating in work groups, offering suggestions to streamline and simplify systems and procedures, improve processes, and operations. • Ensure internal controls are implemented and are in compliance with policies and procedures set at the Federal, State, and UW levels, including audit documentation.

Financial Management, Analysis, & Forecasting: • Collaborate with the Assistant Director and Finance Operations Manager to support the planning, allocation, and financial monitoring of Laboratory resources. This includes overseeing the tracking and reporting of key financial frameworks, such as the Prorated Direct Cost (PDC), Fixed Fee, and Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) budgets, which collectively total approximately $20 million and support a workforce of 90 staff. Utilize Workday Financials to extract and analyze data necessary for budget development and spend analyses, ensuring the accuracy and completeness of financial inputs. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with financial policies, conducting detailed variance analyses, and providing actional recommendations to optimize resource allocation and achieve funding objectives while aligning with organizational goals. • Independently conduct complex financial, statistical, and business analyses, business and financial forecasting, and financial spreadsheet modeling, using a broad range of tools and technologies. • Measure financial and operational performance on a routine basis, and create presentations and reports for the Deputy Executive Director, Assistant Director, and Finance Operations Manager and using financial and operational metrics, including performing ad-hoc audits of financial metrics used for data accuracy. • Review balances across various Workday Worktags to ensure adherence to approved budget, and compliance with University policies and procedures. Independently resolves regular and complex accounting problems by researching and analyzing transaction data and providing appropriate recommendations and assistance.

Customer Service Excellence, Process Improvement, and Systems Support: • Serve as subject matter expert for financial inquiries submitted through UW Connect, monitoring and triaging incoming tickets to ensure accurate categorization, appropriate prioritization, and effective resolution routing. • Leverage extensive financial expertise to provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive solutions to complex inquiries, maintaining a customer-centric approach to ensure a high level of satisfaction and trust in service delivery. • Perform detailed root cause analyses for financial issues raised through UW Connect, applying advanced diagnostic techniques to resolve problems effectively and prevent recurrence. • Analyze UW Connect metrics and trends to identify recurring issues, gaps in processes, and areas for improvement. Present actionable insights and recommendations to the Assistant Director and Finance Operations Manager based on key performance indicators (KPIs), such as response times, resolution efficiency, and customer feedback. • Drive continuous improvement by using data-driven insights to design, recommend, and implement enhancements to financial processes and customer support workflows, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and an improved user experience. • Serve as a primary point of contact, in collaboration with the Finance Operations Manager, for troubleshooting issues related to Workday Financials. Assume responsibility for addressing and resolving problems promptly to ensure seamless financial operations. For issues requiring escalation, collaborate with the Assistant Director, Finance Operations Manager, and the appropriate UW Finance teams to ensure swift resolution. Provide expert support and guidance to system users, ensuring that all actions are executed in compliance with University policies, and that users are equipped for efficient and accurate system usage.

Foundation Data Model (FDM) and General Ledger Management: • Serve as the primary steward of the Laboratory’s Financial Data Model (FDM), ensuring its accuracy, completeness, and ongoing alignment with the University’s financial reporting structures and chart-of-accounts framework. As the cornerstone of the Laboratory’s financial ecosystem, the FDM enables precise financial reporting, compliance with accounting standards, and adherence to University policies. Responsibilities include maintaining the integrity of the FDM's hierarchy structure to support clear categorization of financial data and informed decision-making. Collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate requests for FDM changes, assessing the impact of proposed modifications on financial reporting and operations, and implement updates that uphold the consistency and reliability of the Laboratory’s financial data architecture. • Develop and implement a scalable FDM that can grow with the Laboratory, accommodating new programs, funding sources, and organizational changes. This includes collaborating with the Financial Operations Manager and Assistant Director to anticipate future needs and plan for FDM expansions or modifications. • Manage journal entries with a strict adherence to Federal regulations and University policies, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Conduct thorough reconciliations of ledger accounts, verifying that all entries comply with relevant financial standards and institutional guidelines. • Oversee the monthly close cycle in Workday at a Balancing Unit level, ensuring that all financial activities are completed in accordance with Federal and University compliance requirements. • Manage and execute accounting adjustments for the transfer of costs, ensuring all transactions are compliant with Federal regulations such as 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance, and University policies. This includes verifying the appropriate treatment of costs and ensuring accuracy and compliance in all cost transfer activities. • Manage and oversee reclassification journal entries related to Fabrication projects, ensuring the accuracy of financial entries to maintain correct accounting between Workday accounting books and capital project ledger accounts. This includes verifying that all reclassifications are precise and compliant with University standards and policies.

Various Finance Program Management: • Oversee the Laboratory’s cash program, ensuring the timely deposit of checks and cash in strict accordance with University policy. Ensure all receivables are accurately recorded in Workday, maintaining precise and compliant financial records. • In addition to core responsibilities, undertake other duties as assigned to address the evolving needs of Workday Financials and its related processes. This may include participating in special projects, implementing process improvements, and providing additional support to ensure the ongoing efficiency and effectiveness of financial systems and operations.

General Requirements: A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field and at least three to five years of professional finance or accounting experience. Qualifications include:

• Strong understanding of accounting principles and regulatory requirements. • Ability to interpret, apply, and communicate institutional, administrative, and fiscal compliance guidelines and practices. • Experience interpreting and applying federal, state, and institutional policy. • Demonstrated ability to respond quickly to challenges, assessing options, and exacting the best plan for resolution. • Demonstrated collaborative and independent problem-solving. • Flexibility to manage multiple and competing deadline-driven priorities in a dynamic environment. • Commitment to and orientation towards excellent customer service focused on proactivity and responsiveness. • Excellent written and verbal communication with a focus on clear, concise, solution-centered messaging. • Ability to teach, troubleshoot, and mentor staff and peers. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite of applications and software, with intermediate to advanced Excel skills.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. While not required, you’ll stand out if you have: • Familiarity and understanding of University of Washington budgetary policies and procedures and Federal grant and contract policies and procedures. • Experience with Workday Financials. • Familiarity with a major research university setting. • Proficiency in using remote communication tools, both synchronous and asynchronous (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom). • Demonstrated ability to adapt to new software, web-based applications, and tools.

About APL: The Applied Physics Laboratory is a research unit at the University of Washington. Our research expertise is in ocean physics and engineering, ocean and medical acoustics and imaging, polar science, remote sensing, and signal processing. We conduct research and development that is sponsored by a variety of federal and state agencies and take great pride in our long-standing status as a US Navy-designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Our work takes place not only on the University of Washington campus and medical centers, but in field locations around the world – at sea, in the air, and on polar ice caps. We apply rigorous scientific inquiry and engineering excellence in pursuit of solutions to important problems for the good of our region, nation, and world.

We are focused on building and sustaining a laboratory where all students, staff, and collaborators can realize success. We believe every member of our team enriches our research enterprise by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver solutions. We invite you to explore our laboratory, to find answers to Common Questions (https://seeyourselfapl.uw.edu/common-questions/) about the University’s application process, and to See Yourself at APL (https://seeyourselfapl.uw.edu/) .

About the University of Washington’s Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.