NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology

Financial Analyst

Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or related field
  • 7+ years of experience in accounts payable, accounting, tax reporting, or related financial operations
  • Experience in automated accounts payable environments, including supplier management and P2P processes
  • Knowledge of income tax reporting requirements, including IRS Accountable Plan and 1099 reporting
  • Familiarity with sales and use tax regulations
  • Understanding of fiscal year-end processes and accounting accruals
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and video conferencing tools

Responsibilities

  • Manage high volume of complex payment requests and transactions
  • Audit payment requests for compliance and accuracy
  • Evaluate supplier tax status and determine income tax treatment
  • Interpret federal and state tax regulations for reporting requirements
  • Analyze transactions for proper application of taxes and fees
  • Assist in fiscal year-end activities and audits
  • Develop and maintain training materials for payment processes

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Generous paid time off including vacation and parental leave
  • Retirement savings plans
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Access to onsite counseling services and sick time
Full Job Description
Job Summary

The Payment Services Analyst supports the Payment Services Specialty Team and reports to the Tax Reporting Manager. This position performs advanced accounts payable and payment compliance functions in a highly automated, digital environment. The Analyst is responsible for auditing and analyzing complex payment transactions to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with Institute policies, accounting standards, and applicable federal and state tax regulations.

The role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and apply tax and accounting regulations. Significant interaction with campus departments and vendors is expected, including training and outreach to end users on systems, policies, and procedures.
Essential Job Duties
Payment Processing & Compliance
  • Manage and prioritize a high volume of complex payment requests, reimbursements, confidential payments, GL entries, and related transactions
  • Audit and analyze complex payment requests, reimbursements, confidential payments, and GL transactions for policy and regulatory compliance
  • Evaluate supplier tax status and determine appropriate income tax treatment and withholding, when applicable
  • Interpret and apply federal and state tax regulations; determine correct reporting requirements (e.g., 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 592-B, 1042-S)
  • Analyze transactions for proper application and accrual of use tax and e-waste fees
  • Determine appropriate payment methods (P-Card, wire, e-Pay, direct deposit, or check) and coordinate changes with Supplier Management
  • Review daily invoice hold and exception reports; research and resolve issues in a timely manner
  • Research and resolve complex payment, tax withholding, system interface, and supplier-related issues
  • Perform reconciliation of Payment Services' GL accounts including journaling process; monitor and resolve reconciling items
  • Perform AP fiscal year-end activities and coordinate AP functions with Finance; review system accruals and prepare manual accruals; assist auditors with schedules and inquiries as needed
  • Perform invoice corrections, including expenditure type and GL adjustments
  • Perform invoice corrections such Expenditure Type and GL adjustments; prepare journal entries and manual usage for adjustments
  • Maintain and manage schedules of vendor retention accounts for all active construction projects
  • Maintain accurate records to support audits and compliance requirements
  • Stay current on tax regulations, procurement policies, and system enhancements
Program Administration
  • Administer the monthly recurring cell phone allowance program
  • Manage program setup and maintenance in TechMart, including adding and removing participants
  • Maintain enrollment forms and supporting documentation for audit purposes
Documentation & Process Improvement
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of desktop procedures, guidelines, and training materials
  • Document business processes to promote consistency and best practices
  • Participate in process improvement initiatives and cross-functional collaboration
Customer Interaction & Campus Outreach
  • Provide high-quality customer service and maintain strong working relationships with campus partners and vendors
  • Train end users on TechMart and payment-related policies; conduct monthly training sessions and one-on-one Zoom training as needed
  • Updating training materials and user guides as needed
  • Communicate policies and procedures related to payment processing, tax reporting, and withholding
Other Duties
  • Perform special projects and other duties as assigned
Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, or a related field
  • Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in accounts payable, accounting, tax reporting, or related financial operations
  • Experience working in a full-cycle, automated accounts payable environment, including supplier management and payment processing in a P2P environment
  • Knowledge of income tax reporting requirements, including IRS Accountable Plan and 1099 reporting
  • Experience with sales and use tax regulations
  • Understanding of fiscal year-end processes and accounting accruals
  • Familiarity with supplier tax documentation (W-9, W-8 series forms)
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
  • Proficiency with Zoom or similar video conferencing tools
  • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in a higher education environment
  • Experience with Oracle Financials, Procure-to-Pay (P2P) systems, and data warehouse tools
  • Knowledge of federal and state tax compliance, including 1099, 592-B, and 1042-S reporting
Required Documents
  • Resume.


Hiring Range

$80 - $84K per year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.

About NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center located in Pasadena, California. It is managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for NASA. JPL is responsible for the design, development, and operation of robotic spacecraft and instruments used for space exploration. The laboratory has been involved in many historic missions, including the Mars rovers, Voyager missions, and the recent Juno mission to Jupiter. JPL has a strong focus on research and development, with a large number of scientists and engineers working on cutting-edge technologies. The laboratory also has partnerships with several universities and research institutions, providing opportunities for collaboration and education.
Learn more about NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Size
6,000 employees
Industry

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