Financial Operations Lead

About NavaNava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple, effective, and accessible to all. Since 2013, federal, state, and local government agencies have trusted Nava to build transformative digital services to help people access public benefits. Meeting our mission is an opportunity to restore trust between people and public institutions. We focus on populations that are the least protected because the stakes are higher.

As a client services company, we work with government agencies to improve how people apply for benefits, navigate their health care, and more. We bill for our time, selling our expertise and problem-solving methodology to government clients. Our clients hire us to help improve their products and services so that their users and beneficiaries have a better customer experience.

These end-users—the humans who benefit from our work—are at the core of everything we do. We research beneficiaries’ needs to help our government clients better deliver on their missions, providing everyone at Nava opportunities to do meaningful, impactful work.

Position Summary

The Financial Operations Lead will play a critical role in overseeing and managing the financial operations of Nava’s projects . This position requires a strong understanding of government contracting, financial management, compliance regulations, and project accounting. The Financial Operations Lead will work closely with the finance team, project managers, and the accounting team to ensure accurate financial reporting, compliance with contractual obligations, and the effective management of financial resources.

What You’ll Do

• Financial Oversight & Reporting:
• Lead the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis processes for government contracts and projects
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial data, including monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing activities.
• Support the Controller in preparing financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports
• Maintain the integrity of financial data in accounting systems and project management software
• Compliance & Audit Preparation:
• Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) requirements, and other relevant government contracting regulations
• Support internal and external audits
• Maintain detailed financial documentation to support contract requirements and ensure traceability
• Budgeting & Cost Management:
• Develop and monitor project budgets, ensuring adherence to cost guidelines and financial performance objectives
• Track and analyze direct and indirect costs, ensuring cost control and identifying areas for efficiency improvements
• Work with project teams to track performance against budget and provide financial insights for decision-making
• Project & Billing Management:
• Oversee the financial administration of projects, including pricing, billing, invoicing, and collections
• Review and approve contract modifications, ensuring all financial implications are assessed and recorded properly
• Ensure timely and accurate submission of invoices to government agencies and manage any billing issues or disputes

Required skills

• 4 years of experience in finance
• Experience with project accounting
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide actionable insights
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with experience presenting financial data to senior leadership and government stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines

Desired skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
• Proficiency in financial management software (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Unanet)
• Experience with government contracting