Senior Financial Manager

The Mission Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Senior Financial Manager working part-time on-site at a location in the Arlington or Falls Church, VA area. The potential candidate will provide support to the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Office of the Director of Business Operations by providing expertise for all Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) activities. The applicant will provide support in budgeting, identifying, tracking, and analyzing cost, and related data for both routine and special projects/reports. This support includes interaction with the Office of the Undersecretary of War Comptroller, Washington Headquarters Services, and Acquisition & Sustainment Components.


Essential Functions:

• Assist the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Office of the Director of Business Operations oversee budget formulation and execution of the office’s appropriated budget to meet and exceed Comptroller execution benchmarks
• Support incoming and outgoing funding documentation processes for; Purchase Requests, Intragovernmental Transactions, and Interagency Agreements
• Process and integrate financial data across government financial systems such as Defense Agency Initiative (DAI) and G-Invoicing
• Track and allocate funds, as well as query and analyze financial reports to identify trends and issues
• Conduct follow-up actions and ensure funding packages are complete and properly stored
• Develop professional relationships with stakeholders to best understand funding needs and requirements
• Prepare budget exhibits (e.g. R1-R4) within the Comptroller Budget Exhibit database; assist with the development of budget Issue papers; and support documentation for Program Decision Memorandums; and generate and maintain files within DAI financial system
• Prepare and participate in midyear reviews; address unliquidated obligations; and monitor obligation and expenditure rates

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of related Department of War (DoW) accounting / financial management / project management or a combination of experience is required
• Applicants must hold an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility to apply for this position
• Excellent writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledgeable of DoW roles, missions, and organizational structure
• Expertise in Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to manage and prioritize numerous assignments
• Organization and time management skills
• Experience in interfacing, communicating, and collaborating with government personnel

Preferred Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline that is relevant to the contract
• 20 years of financial management, to include program management functions and hands-on experience with current DoW-used financial management tools
• At least five years of recent (within the last seven years) experience with the OSW program management and PPBE processes
• Advanced Microsoft Excel functions (pivot tables, macros, linked spreadsheets)
• Knowledge and experience in these DoW-used financial management tools including the Defense Agencies Initiative and the U.S. Treasury’s G-Invoicing system
• Experience with DoW fiscal and appropriations law

Compensation & Benefits: Pay Ranges: From $170,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that you may bring to the position. We mostly reserve the upper half of our compensation bands for internal growth. During all call with one of our recruiters or hiring managers, they can further clarify the salary range and total compensation. ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at

COMPANY INFORMATION:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership generates greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at

Please apply at for the Senior Financial Manager position.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.