Financial Analyst - Cosmos COS-00320-024

ASCEND Aerospace & Technology, LLC (ASCEND) is an All-Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) Joint Venture (JV) between Aerodyne Industries, LLC and Amentum Technology Inc., that leverages our 12+ year collaboration as award-winning NASA contractors. Through our ASCEND partner companies, we have 62+ years of experience working for NASA and currently manage 5,500 employees across nine NASA Centers. With this foundation of expertise, we are dedicated to helping every mission succeed - today and into the future.

Job Description

Aerodyne Industries is seeking a Financial Analyst I/II to support financial operations for the NASA COSMOS contract at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. This position will assist with government contract accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, cost analysis, and invoice reconciliation. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work with large datasets in a fast-paced government contracting environment.

Description of Duties

• Support monthly financial reporting, including NASA Form 533 (NF533) cost reports, budget tracking, and variance analysis.
• Assist with contract cost accounting activities, including labor, subcontractor, travel, materials, and other direct costs.
• Reconcile financial data between accounting systems, financial reports, and supporting documentation.
• Monitor contract expenditures, funding balances, and budget performance across multiple task orders.
• Support preparation and validation of government contract invoices and associated billing documentation.
• Assist with financial forecasting, estimates to complete (ETCs), and budget updates.
• Review labor charges, expense transactions, and subcontractor costs for accuracy and proper allocation.
• Develop and maintain Excel-based financial reports, tracking tools, and supporting schedules.
• Support month-end close activities and investigate financial discrepancies.
• Coordinate with program management, accounting, and subcontractor teams to ensure accurate and timely financial information.
• Perform timesheet reviews and labor audits to ensure accurate timekeeping, proper charge code utilization, and compliance with company policies and government contract requirements.
• Identify and research labor charging discrepancies, coordinate corrections, and support internal and external audit requests.

Successful candidates will

• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Excel and comfortable working with large datasets or be willing to learn.
• Have a basic understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, and reconciliations.
• Be organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively across business teams.
• Be willing to learn government contract accounting requirements, financial systems, and NASA reporting processes.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Business Specialist I: 3-5 years of relevant accounting, finance, or analytical experience.
• Business Specialist II: 6-8 years of relevant accounting, finance, or analytical experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, PivotTables, and data analysis.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Ability to obtain and maintain NASA PIV credentials for access to Johnson Space Center.

Desired Requirements

• Experience in government contract accounting or financial management.
• Familiarity with cost-reimbursement contracts, including Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) and Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF).
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) cost accounting requirements.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint or similar accounting systems.
• Experience preparing NASA Form 533 (NF533) financial reports.
• Advanced Excel skills, including Power Query, Power Pivot, or financial data modeling.
• Experience with contract billing, reconciliations, budgeting, and cost variance analysis.
• Familiarity with government contract funding, task orders, and work breakdown structures (WBS).
• Experience with employee timekeeping systems, labor charging reviews, and government contract audit requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status .

Final compensation is determined through a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors, including the candidate’s educational background, specialized technical expertise, and relevant professional experience. We also consider internal equity, prevailing market data, and specific contractual or funding requirements to ensure competitive and equitable offer alignment