Space Analyst

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Along with many of the University’s core departments, the Office of Research Administration (ORA) is based at Stanford’s Redwood City campus, featuring state-of-the-art buildings, a recreation and fitness center, dining pavilion, and central Bay Area location, five miles away from the historical Stanford campus (see https://redwoodcity.stanford.edu).

This Opportunity As a member of the Cost and Management Analysis (CMA) team within the Office of Research Administration, the Space Analyst is responsible for developing the space base, building depreciation, lease costs, and land improvement costs for the University's indirect cost (IDC) proposal submissions to the federal government.

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

As part of the space inventory process, the Space Analyst develops and maintains comprehensive training documentation and assists training for over 300 departmental space coordinators on process requirements and the cost implications of functional code usage. Serving as the owner and administrator of the electronic PI Lab Usage System (ePLUS), the analyst assists and collaborates with university Principal Investigators (PIs) to properly identify laboratory space used for research purposes in indirect cost studies.

The Space Analyst annually coordinates and manages the capital building assessment process for building depreciation and land improvements, partnering with multiple university departments and external assessors to ensure accurate valuations.

This position requires extensive collaboration with diverse university stakeholders across campus and regular engagement with internal and external auditors. The Space Analyst performs ad hoc financial analyses to support cost justification and inform strategic business decisions. Success requires a good understanding of complex financial concepts and the ability to communicate and defend analytical findings to inform management decisions, withstand audit scrutiny, and support negotiations with the Office of Naval Research.

This work encompasses diverse financial and regulatory complexities. Critical competencies for success include strong project management and interpersonal skills, sound problem-solving abilities, a compliance-oriented mindset, large dataset analysis capabilities, effective time management, comprehensive knowledge of relevant regulations and their cost study implications, and rigorous documentation practices.

This position is eligible for an onsite or hybrid work arrangement, and reports directly to the Senior Director of Cost and Management Analysis.

The expected pay range for this position is $125,000 to $148,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. 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.

Core Duties:

• Perform highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; multi-dimensional and complex reconciliations and related analysis; prepare or review and approve complex transactions and higher level dollar value transactions.
• Research, and synthesize data; interpolate results from large amounts of data, identify trends in data, draw conclusions, develop solutions, present and implement recommendations, and create follow up analysis.
• Develop complex budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; design and run ad hoc reports.
• Identify and resolve unique issues with substantial significance; recognize exceptions, and conduct in-depth analysis using advanced technical knowledge and experience. Recommend and develop solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintain broader organizational and university perspective in decision making.
• Review, design, and implement appropriate internal control programs, research new regulations, and implement approved changes. Manage compliance program for area of responsibility, interpret internal policy and external regulations, and create and/or review complex compliance reports.
• Lead and execute unit or cross functional projects and teams, make decisions regarding projects and programs affecting operational effectiveness, policies, or processes.
• Engage in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; make recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls. Define requirements, develop and implement complex test cases, perform testing and analyze results.
• Lead and support unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives.
• Provide training on new financial systems. Represent organization to client group(s) and external partners; serve as subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise.
• Assess client and business needs, and formulate recommendations to determine approach to managing and completing processes.
• May supervise, train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed. Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and six years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

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 management.
• Strong project management skills and ability to contribute to or lead part of a multi-functional team.