Pricing Officer, Washington

Pricing Officer, Washington

Pricing Officer
Job Family: Finance and AccountingJob Grade: 8Job Category: Exempt
Summary:
The Pricing Officer's main role is to provide pricing support for donor solicitations through hands-on development/creation and review of pricing models and documentation for proposal opportunities of various sizes and complexities. The Pricing Officer works closely with staff at headquarters and in the field to ensure compliance and the generation of high quality cost and pricing proposals for Pact's projects around the world. The Pricing Officer will also develop pricing strategies by performing cost analysis.
The Pricing Officer reports to a Finance Manager
Specific Duties:

• Provide support for bid/no-bid decisions, analyzing solicitations and participating in bid review and gate review meetings, with the aim to support the development of competitive pricing strategies.
• Ensure efficient layout, development, and production of compliant budgets, including cost models/templates, formats, and pricing rationale in accordance with solicitation instructions, technical approach, corporate policies and CAS/FAR requirements. Work with country offices (finance and technical teams) and proposal managers to develop or support the development of budget and budget notes based on capacity/availability/skill level of country office staff.
• Develop, modify, and customize budget checklists and other templates to ensure all internal and external cost/pricing requirements are met.
• Follow up with international/domestic program, technical and financial staff to obtain and/or verify financial and budget information to ensure quality of complex budgeting models.
• Collaborate with different departments to ensure that budgets and budget notes provide a donor-oriented high quality pricing proposal and also properly interface with our internal financial and accounting systems.
• Identify pricing solutions through cost/benefit analysis of different scenarios or best practices to inform/propose to the cost proposal team through collaboration with program and technical staff at HQ and overseas.
• Perform finance review of the cost proposals (budget and budget notes) and identify preliminary costing/pricing requirements before the budget process starts through collaboration with program and technical staff at HQ and overseas.
• Coordinate with proposal managers/technical staff to ensure required cost data is thorough, accurate, and submitted on schedule.
• Interface/coordinate with subcontractors to ensure budgets received are reasonable, realistic, and, in collaboration with proposal managers, that the budgets are compliant with donor's requirements and the technical approach.
• Conduct final cost review with senior management prior to submission of proposals.
• May assist on assembly, final production, and quality control of pricing proposals.
• Work closely with Finance Operations and Agreement Management to set up the most adequate billing methodologies and assure full cost recovery throughout project execution.
• Prepare cash flow analysis when needed, with the focus on analyzing payment schedule and working capital needs.
• Gather and analyze project historical data and information on price competitiveness for use in the development of competitive cost estimates and proposals.
• Provide Finance support in development of cost-related responses to post-submission donor questions/requests for revision. May act as primary interface with donors or government agencies regarding proposal reviews.
• May perform peer reviews of proposals.
• Provide assistance and guidance to lower level Cost/Pricing Specialists, Proposal Coordinators and country office finance staff.
• Maintain archive of electronic cost proposal files.
• Provide training and constant mentoring to the proposal and country office finance teams regarding budgeting and financial analysis.
• When necessary, travel internationally to assist the country offices budgeting teams with budget preparation (understanding the activities to be undertaken on the project and the resources involved, and collecting local data and quotes).
• Oversee international staff capacity building in relation to the budget development, traveling to the country offices when necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA and at least 6 years of relevant experience (or equivalent)
• Experience in estimating and pricing mid- to large-size contracting mechanisms for USAID and non-USAID projects
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally up to 30%

Preference for:

• MBA
• Skill in general accounting including budgeting and financial analysis, as well as the proven ability to handle financial and quantitative information with accuracy, precision, and confidentiality
• In depth understanding of DBA, FAR, and CAS as well as working knowledge of GAAP and federal award regulations (OMB Circulars A-122, A-133), as well as fund and project accounting experience
• Deep knowledge of Excel and working knowledge of QuickBooks, ACCPAC, SUN, and/or Vision Excel
• Proven experience in using technology and research skills to problem solve.
• Progressive experience in an international nonprofit environment
• Overseas work experience a plus
• Fluent English and proficiency in another language

Skills and Abilities: Behavioral Competencies

• Strong in all areas

Leadership

• Ability to sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with internal colleagues and contacts in donor and peer organizations
• Strong understanding of Pact's strategy and how tasks contribute to the greater good
• Consistently works within internal process and procedures
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Engagement in corporate initiatives

Project Management

• Strong planning and time management skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to make a presentation
• Ability to problem-solve difficult issues
• Ability to multitask with ease, adapting to frequently changing priorities
• Good negotiating and conflict resolution skills
• Strong understanding of budgets

Technical Skills

• Good experience in one of Pact's technical areas or a support function
• Working knowledge and understanding of donor policies and regulations
• Competence using common desktop applications and internal systems