Principal Associate, Planning and Budget

Principal Associate, Planning and Budget (Hybrid)

Department Overview
Pew’s Finance department is committed to serving as an excellent steward of financial resources; providing accurate, reliable, timely, and cost effective finance and accounting related products and services; and delivering extraordinary customer service on a sustained basis.

The Finance department desires to ensure each position is fully aligned with Pew’s mission, strategic priorities and results-oriented culture; and filled by a person with the competencies, skills, experience, and adaptability necessary to deliver extraordinary results on a sustained basis. The Finance department strives to provide a great workplace for competent, highly motivated, customer service and results-oriented people whose leadership qualities and core values align with the Pew’s high-performing and mission-driven culture.

Pew’s Finance department is comprised of two areas, (1) Controller and (2) Planning and Budgeting, Contracts and Procurement, and Treasury Services. Controller is comprised of (i) accounting and financial reporting and (ii) payroll and payment services. Planning and Budgeting, Contracts and Procurement, and Treasury Services is comprised of (i) planning and budgeting for program and operations; (ii) contract and procurement services; (iii) grant management; and (iv) investment management and banking services.

Position Overview

The Principal Associate, Program Planning and Budget reports to and supports the Manager, Program Planning and Budget in providing program units with full-service budgeting and financial services. The Principal Associate will work directly with the program area’s staff to create and monitor the program budgets and forecasts; provide accurate and timely financial reporting; ensure compliance with adopted policies and procedures and donor reporting requirements; and provide a high level of customer service to management and program staff. The Principal Associate will also serve a cross-cutting function, monitoring commitments and spending across program and supporting program ad hoc reporting needs.

The ideal candidate will possess relevant nonprofit accounting and finance knowledge and experience, including budgeting, program reporting, donor reporting and financial analysis, as well as display a can-do attitude focused on process improvement and building internal relationships with program staff. Skills required include but are not limited to, strong customer service, interpersonal and communications skills, excellent Excel skills, and strong problem solving and analytical skills. The ideal candidate works well in a team environment, will enjoy learning about the business as it grows and will apply this knowledge to process improvements.

The position, based in Pew’s Washington, DC office, participates in Pew’s hybrid work program with core days in the office and the flexibility to telework the remaining days. Staff also enjoy four telework “flex weeks” per year.

Responsibilities

Program Planning and Budget:

• Deliver high quality customer service; build and maintain positive, productive relationships with business partners in program to develop fiscally responsible budgets and to enhance services and reporting provided to internal customers.
• Serve as the finance point person for assigned program areas, including portfolio leadership, coordination, and other program support teams.
• Educate program staff regarding budget protocols, spending guidance, and financial report review; and ensure timely and accurate upload of all budgets into Peoplesoft.
• Serves as a strategic partner to project directors to develop program budgets that align with organization vision and priorities; prepares budgets for executive review and approval, in consultation with program staff.
• Work with program staff to monitor spending against budget; present spending progress to leadership; explain material budget variances; highlight areas of concern and propose options to address these concerns; and perform analytics to inform timely and accurate decision-making.
• Prepare quarterly reporting for organizational leadership that encompasses both program and operating expenses, which is used at quarterly board of directors meetings.
• Serve a cross-cutting role, liaising with the Planning and Budget staff to maintain organizational reporting. Responsibilities include tracking commitments and spending across program, tracking Pew’s restricted trusts spending, tracking organizational donor spending, and supporting other ad hoc reporting needs.
• Serve as a back-up to the Manager, Planning and Budget and a mentor and resource to junior staff.

Requirements

• Generally, requires 6 years of experience, and a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting or equivalent experience in accounting/finance, advanced degree preferred.
• Excellent Excel skills
• Experience with budgeting, variance analysis, and financial reporting is a plus
• PeopleSoft Financials experience a plus.
• Business process improvement experiences a plus.
• Strong analytical and customer services skills
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills including the ability to effectively interface with staff, management, and external partners.
• Recognized ability to work independently and meet multiple deadlines by effectively showing subject matter expertise and maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail.

Work Authorization:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without the need of a visa sponsorship.

Salary Range

The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on Pew’s commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex (including pregnancy), nation of origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.