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Government Accounting Financial Analyst (Level II and Senior)

Woodward · Niles, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about an incurred cost submission or DCAA audit you supported. What was your role?

What they are checking: Whether they have real audit experience and know how to prepare clean support for government auditors.

Tell me about a time you found an error in a financial report before it went out. What happened?

What they are checking: Whether they review their work carefully and raise issues even when timing is tight.

How do you keep up with changes in FAR, DFARS and CAS requirements?

What they are checking: Whether they stay current in a field where rule changes directly affect compliance.

What would you do

Actual indirect rates are running higher than the provisional billing rates. What does that mean and what do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they understand rate variance impacts on billing and cash and know to raise them early.

An engineering manager charges time to the wrong contract. How do you handle the correction?

What they are checking: Whether they follow proper timekeeping correction rules, since mischarging on government work is a serious compliance issue.

About the work

Walk me through how indirect rates are built for a government contractor, from cost pools to billing.

What they are checking: Whether they understand overhead, G&A and fringe pools and how they flow into contract billing.

What makes a cost unallowable under FAR Part 31, and how do you keep those costs out of billed rates?

What they are checking: Whether they can identify unallowable costs and know the controls that keep them out of government billing.

How do Cost Accounting Standards affect the way a company like Woodward accounts for costs?

What they are checking: Whether they understand CAS consistency and allocation rules and why disclosure statements matter.

How would you explain the difference between a cost-plus and a firm fixed price contract from an accounting view?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how contract type changes cost tracking, risk and revenue recognition.

What Excel or ERP skills do you use most when building rate models or reconciliations?

What they are checking: Whether they have the hands-on tools to do detailed, accurate cost work.

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The full job description

As published by Woodward.

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Estimated annual base pay: Level II: $72,000 (minimum) – $93,000 (midpoint) – $115,000 (maximum) Senior: $85,000 (minimum) – $110,000 (midpoint) – $136,000 (maximum) All Levels are eligible for the benefits below: • All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity. • 401(k) match (4.5%) • Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%) • Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members • 12 paid holidays • Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire • Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave • Paid parental leave • Adoption Assistance • Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits • Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life • Member referral bonus • Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending • Voluntary benefits, including: • Home / Auto Insurance discounts • Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave Government Accountant Level II: Key Responsibilities: • Financial Reporting: Preparing and maintaining complex financial reports for government contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with government accounting standards. • Cost Accounting: Managing cost accounting processes and systems for government contracts and grants, including tracking expenses and ensuring compliance with government regulations. • Reporting: Prepare Forward Pricing Rates Proposals and the annual Incurred Cost Submission with minimal assistance to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations (FAR, CAS, etc.). Perform monitoring of direct rates, indirect rates, and factors for changes that would require supplemental disclosure and negotiation of new rates with the government. • Compliance: Ensuring compliance with government regulations and requirements related to financial reporting, billing, and cost accounting. • Audit Support: Lead CAS and proposal audits and other compliance activities related to government contracts and grants, including providing documentation and responding to auditor inquiries. Key Skills: • Government Accounting: Expertise in government accounting principles, practices, and regulations, including knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). • Financial Reporting: Ability to prepare and maintain complex financial reports for government contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with government accounting standards. • Cost Accounting: Knowledge of cost accounting processes and systems for government contracts and grants, including tracking expenses and ensuring compliance with government regulations. • Budgeting and Forecasting: Ability to prepare and analyze budgets and forecasts for government contracts and grants, including revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures. • Compliance: Knowledge of government regulations and requirements related to financial reporting, billing, and cost accounting, and the ability to ensure compliance. • Audit Support: Ability to assist with audits and other compliance activities related to government contracts and grants, including providing documentation and responding to auditor inquiries. • Technical Skills: Proficiency in financial software, Excel, and other analytical tools. • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders. • Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and accuracy, including the ability to identify errors and discrepancies in financial data. • 1. Leadership: Ability to manage and mentor junior accounting staff, as well as work collaboratively with other members of the accounting team and cross-functional departments within the organization. Other Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting (strongly preferred) or Finance Senior Government Accountant: Key Responsibilities: • Financial Reporting: Preparing and maintaining complex financial reports for government contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with government accounting standards. • Cost Accounting: Managing cost accounting processes and systems for government contracts and grants, including tracking expenses and ensuring compliance with government regulations. • Reporting: Independently prepare Forward Pricing Rates Proposals and the annual Incurred Cost Submission to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations (FAR, CAS, etc.). Perform monitoring of direct rates, indirect rates, and factors for changes that would require supplemental disclosure and negotiation of new rates with the government. • Compliance: Ensuring compliance with government regulations and requirements related to financial reporting, billing, and cost accounting. • Audit Support: Leading and coordinating complex audits and other compliance activities related to government contracts and grants, including providing documentation and responding to auditor inquiries. Key Skills: • Government Accounting: Expertise in government accounting principles, practices, and regulations, including knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). • Financial Reporting: Ability to prepare and maintain complex financial reports for government contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with government accounting standards. • Cost Accounting: Knowledge of cost accounting processes and systems for government contracts and grants, including tracking expenses and ensuring compliance with government regulations. • Budgeting and Forecasting: Ability to prepare and analyze budgets and forecasts for government contracts and grants, including revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures. • Compliance: Knowledge of government regulations and requirements related to financial reporting, billing, and cost accounting, and the ability to ensure compliance. • Audit Support: Ability to lead and coordinate audits and other compliance activities related to government contracts and grants, including providing documentation and responding to auditor inquiries. • Technical Skills: Proficiency in financial software, Excel, and other analytical tools. • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders. • Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and accuracy, including the ability to identify errors and discrepancies in financial data. • Leadership: Ability to manage and mentor junior accounting staff, as well as work collaboratively with other members of the accounting team and cross-functional departments within the organization. Other Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting (strongly preferred) or Finance This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).   All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee). Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.

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