Department: PPPL Business Operations
Category: Financial Services and Procurement
Job Type: Full-Time
Date Posted: 2026-10-27
Overview
The Senior Budget Analyst position provides advanced financial analysis and technical expertise to support the Laboratory’s budget development, execution, long-term planning, and indirect cost management. Working independently, the role evaluates financial performance, identifies emerging risks and trends, and translates complex financial information into actionable recommendations for Budget Office leadership. The position serves as a senior functional resource for Oracle financial systems and Budget Office operations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of project funding, cost allocations, and financial reporting. It supports DOE reporting, the annual Incurred Cost Submission, proposal development, and audits through rigorous analysis and validation of financial data. The role also strengthens internal controls and operational effectiveness through process improvements, automation, and technical guidance to colleagues.
A U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is tackling the world’s toughest science and technology challenges using plasma, the fourth state of matter. With more than 75 years of history, PPPL is a leader in the science and engineering behind the development of fusion energy, a potentially limitless energy source. PPPL is also using its expertise to advance research in the areas of microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, and sustainability sciences. Whether it be through science, engineering, technology or professional services, every team member has an opportunity to contribute to our mission and vision. Come join us!
Responsibilities
Financial Analysis / Budget Formulation & Execution (55%)
- Lead and perform complex financial analysis supporting the Laboratory’s budget formulation and execution processes, multi-year/outyear planning, and development and analysis of provisional and actual indirect rates.
- Develop, maintain, and independently analyze financial schedules, models, forecasts, and supporting data used to evaluate budget performance, cost trends, funding requirements, indirect cost recovery, and projected financial results.
- Perform monthly analysis of indirect cost recovery at provisional rates; identify and investigate significant trends and variances, assess potential financial impacts, and develop clear explanations and recommendations for management.
- Monitor financial performance against budget and forecast, proactively identifying emerging issues, risks, or inconsistencies requiring management attention and supporting development of corrective actions or revised projections.
- Prepare and perform quality review of financial reports, schedules, and analyses for submission to DOE and other stakeholders, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and appropriate supporting documentation.
- Serve as a key contributor to the annual Incurred Cost Submission, supporting the Associate Budget Director in the preparation, reconciliation, analysis, and validation of financial data and supporting schedules.
- Provide advanced analytical and financial support to the Associate Budget Director and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, including independently researching and responding to complex or time-sensitive DOE and management data calls.
- Interpret financial results and translate complex financial data into clear, concise and meaningful information for Budget Office leadership and other stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
Oracle ERP System – Funding, Data & Report Validation, Project/Award Setup and Budget Office Functions (30%)
- Serve as a senior Budget Office resource for Oracle ERP activities within the team’s area of responsibility, applying in-depth knowledge of financial processes, system functionality, and underlying accounting and funding relationships.
- Independently establish and maintain projects and awards and execute complex financial system updates, including cost allocation tables and other Budget Office-controlled financial data, ensuring appropriate configuration and accuracy.
- Manage monthly project funding updates as funding is received; reconcile and validate system funding against DOE and other authoritative funding records and independently research and resolve discrepancies.
- Perform detailed validation of indirect and allocated cost calculations; identify anomalous results, determine root causes, assess financial impacts, and coordinate resolution of system, data, or process issues.
- Execute and independently validate assigned month-end and year-end Budget Office close activities, including reconciliations and review of financial results for completeness and accuracy.
- Analyze system-generated financial data and reports for integrity and consistency and identify opportunities to strengthen controls, reporting, and operational efficiency.
- Serve as a key Budget Office participant in testing system enhancements, upgrades, configuration changes, and defect corrections; develop test scenarios, validate results, document issues, and assess potential downstream financial impacts.
- Provide subject-matter guidance to Budget Office staff and other stakeholders regarding Budget Office processes and the appropriate use and interpretation of Oracle financial data.
Other Responsibilities (15%)
- Provide financial and analytical support to Principal Investigators in the development and submission of proposals to DOE and other sponsors, including review of budgets, cost assumptions, funding requirements, and financial data for reasonableness and consistency.
- Support internal and external audits by independently preparing analyses, reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation; research and respond to auditor inquiries within assigned areas.
- Develop, maintain, and enhance Budget Office procedures, desktop instructions, analytical tools, and documentation to strengthen consistency, internal controls, knowledge transfer, and operational effectiveness.
- Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and improve financial analysis, reporting, data validation, and Budget Office processes and support implementation of resulting improvements.
- Provide technical guidance and knowledge transfer to less-experienced analysts and serve as a resource for complex financial, system, and process questions.
- Lead or independently execute special projects and complex financial analyses as assigned by Budget Office leadership, the Associate Budget Director, or Deputy Chief Financial Officer.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Mathematics or similar field.
- 5-8 years’ of progressively responsible experience working in a budgeting/accounting environment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Experience with Oracle financials, including PPM and EPM cloud a plus.
- Experience with DOE financial management, federal contracting, indirect costs, or government cost accounting, preferred.
- Experience in the development and maintenance of complex financial spreadsheets.
- Experience using artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, or automation tools to support financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, data validation, or process improvement.
- Knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills; ability to explain and quantify the impact of alternative decisions/scenarios to address business issues.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel, both internal and external to the Laboratory.
- Ability to independently research, interpret, analyze, and compile data, and present results.
- Ability to work well under pressure and successfully meet deadlines/deliverables working outside normal hours as needed.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and Google Workspace applications.
Position Details
- Standard Weekly Hours: 40.00
- Eligible for Overtime: No
- Benefits Eligible: Yes
- Probationary Period: 180 days
- Essential Services Personnel: No
- Physical Capacity Exam Required: No
- Valid Driver's License Required: No
Salary Range: $87,200 to $139,400