Office Director-Controller & Financial Operations

Posting Title

Office Director-Controller & Financial Operations

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

This position performs responsibilities as a center director/Controller in the OCFO - Financial Operations Group. This position provides leadership for exempt and non-exempt staff in all areas of operations, including accounting services, financial reporting, and compliance. This role is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that NREL’s internal policies, procedures, and internal business systems are in compliance with federal, state, local government, Department of Energy (DOE), and other regulatory requirements.  

• Provide strong leadership for multi-functional teams, consisting of exempt and non-exempt staff (includes staff hiring, development, and mentorship).
• Ensure processes are established and operating effectively to record transactions that are accurately reflected in the accounting records in compliance with GAAP, other accounting guidelines and internal policies and procedures.
• Provide staff with technical advice and guidance related to their respective areas.  
• Oversight for accurate and timely preparation and submission of audit and tax filings for Alliance and NREL.
• Develops and implements solutions to the most complex problems related to OCFO issues affecting the Lab.
• Responsible for timely submission of all monthly and annual financial data, reports, and statements to external and internal customers.
• Implement internal controls to ensure compliance with OMB Circular A-123.
• Advise senior management in matters relevant to functional areas.
• Develop and implement updates to NREL accounting policies, procedures, and systems relevant to changing business needs and industry practices while ensuring compliance with all applicable contract requirements, regulations, and DOE orders.
• Serve as point of contact and subject-matter-expert for cross-functional projects.
• Research complex, technical accounting issues and provide analysis of GAAP, FAR/DEAR, FTR regulations, and other statutory standards to determine impact on financial accounting operations; Provide recommendations to apply applicable principles to new and unusual situations.
• Define team’s goals and objectives to align with OCFO and Lab goals; Evaluate and perform team’s annual performance appraisals; Provide recommendations to management during annual compensation increase cycle.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and 10-years’ experience in technically related research discipline; Or, Master’s Degree and 9-years’ experience in technically related research discipline; Or, PhD and 7-years’ experience in technically related research discipline. At least 6 years of management, budget, administrative, program strategy development and implementation experience required.

Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE (L or Q) Security Clearance.
Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE O 472.2A for additional information.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Previous management and budget administration experience required.
• Program strategy, development and implementation experience required.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration is required.
• Extensive knowledge of Oracle modules, USBank SinglePoint banking system.
• Extensive Microsoft product skills (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint), and a working knowledge of Oracle GL workflow.
• Deep knowledge and application of GAAP and finanical controls.
• Advanced level Excel skills.
• Extensive knowledge of the issues and best practices in the applicable field of expertise. 
• Solves variety of multi-dimensional problems in absence of guidelines or precedents.
• Models and embeds NREL values.
• Keeps abreast of key issues affecting respective Center/Office industry discipline(s).
• Builds effective teams; creates strong morale and spirit; shares wins and successes.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles and values, both directly and through subordinate management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with a variety of customers and management levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Detail oriented and proactive in issue identification and solution implementation.
• Accuracy, timeliness and meeting critical deadlines is a must.
• Strong business acumen and leadership skills with ability to work well and influence people across organization and drive solutions through to conclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and direct personnel with diverse skills, work styles and values, both directly and through subordinate management.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA Preferred.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: Office Director / Annual Salary Range: $169,000 - $304,200

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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