Financial Coordinator 2

Financial Coordinator

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.

Our directorates related to Mission Support & Operations include Office of General Counsel, Business Services, Communications and External Engagement, Operational Systems, Communications and Information Technology, and Performance Management.

The Business Services Directorate (BSD) provides crucial financial, procurement and sales, and project management services to PNNL, as required under our management and operations contract for operating the Lab on behalf of the Department of Energy. Our goal in offering these services is to ensure efficient, effective, and compliant business operations that enhance PNNL's scientific impact.

BSD presents exciting opportunities for financial professionals seeking career growth. We foster a dynamic environment where individuals can develop their skills, take on leadership roles, and contribute to high-impact projects. By working with multidisciplinary teams, professionals have the chance to broaden their expertise, engage in continuous learning, and advance their careers while contributing to the groundbreaking scientific work at PNNL.

Responsibilities

The Financial Coordinator contributes to PNNL through financial support of project management. Jobs on this hierarchy require specific expertise and knowledge of standards, practices, and procedures typically acquired through specialized training and/or work-related experience and/or formal technical education. Jobs in this job family are individual contributors and are responsible for the end results achieved through own work. The job family level (S3-P4) is determined by the degree of expertise and judgment required of the job and the mission need for a specific job.

Financial Coordinators (FC) are essential business partners who deliver financial and business coordination services while embedded with projects, operational functions, and institutional activities. By applying knowledge of business systems and project management principles, FCs provide accurate reporting and actionable recommendations that optimize performance and resource allocation. Through strong collaboration with Project Managers, technical teams, business offices, and external stakeholders, FCs drive efficiency and impact across research initiatives, operational priorities, and institutional investments.

This role ensures that business activities align with key stakeholders and organizational strategy, goals, commitments, policies, and procedures. They guide projects to successful completion, with existing or acquired knowledge of PNNL organizations, requirements, functions, and business systems. This position primarily supports the business services for projects and portfolios in PNNL's research directorates.

FCs play a pivotal role by providing business services throughout the entire project lifecycle—capture, planning, execution, and closeout—while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and compliance standards. FCs combine financial acumen with analytical expertise.

An FC succeeds by possessing or acquiring a number of skills:

• Provide financial and business coordination across the full project lifecycle (capture/proposal, planning, execution, closeout), ensuring alignment with organizational goals and compliance requirements.
• Independently develop and manage budgets, forecasts, accruals, and spend plans across multiple projects; analyze variances, identify trends/drivers, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Solve moderately complex business services challenges with minimal guidance, applying judgment and creativity to remove roadblocks and improve project execution.
• Apply a working understanding of scope, schedule, and budget interactions to anticipate impacts, evaluate options, and support timely corrective actions.
• Coordinate proposal development and submissions by interpreting sponsor requirements, integrating business inputs (e.g., budget assumptions and statement of work elements), and partnering with cross-functional teams.
• Support cost estimating and pricing activities, ensuring appropriate treatment of direct vs. indirect costs and clear communication of assumptions and impacts.
• Prepare clear, decision-useful reporting (monthly/quarterly/annual) and draft financial/business content for review by project leadership and senior staff.
• Support procurement and subcontract actions and contribute to reconciliations, funding reviews, and closeout activities; identify efficiency opportunities and recommend process improvements.
• Use tools such as Excel/Power BI/SharePoint and internal financial/project systems to track and analyze data; perform basic-to-intermediate troubleshooting to resolve issues and streamline routine workflows.
• Build strong partnerships with project teams, operations, internal partners, and external stakeholders; communicate proactively, provide timely updates, and offer basic direction to project staff as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• MS/MA or higher -OR-
• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant financial experience -OR-
• AA and 12 years of relevant financial experience -OR-
• HS/GED and 14 years of relevant financial experience.
• Qualifying experience in financial support of budget management, financial analysis, and tracking & reporting of cost and spend may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous or current Financial Coordinator/Project Coordinator (or similar) experience.
• Experience supporting business services in a federal research, national laboratory, government contracting, or academic research environment, with familiarity with sponsor-driven compliance, reporting, and financial management expectations.
• Experience in business services including finance, project controls, and/or contracts, supporting multiple projects or a portfolio, including work across the project lifecycle.
• Proficiency using Power BI, Excel, and SharePoint, along with the ability to learn and effectively use internal enterprise financial/project systems for tracking, analysis, and reporting; capable of basic-to-intermediate troubleshooting and identifying opportunities to streamline routine processes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including preparing clear project financial updates for internal stakeholders and (as needed) external sponsors.