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Subject Matter Expert III 2026P-0435

12+ Months, Full-Time
Sterling, VA
Posted 2 weeks ago

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a senior-level Activity-Based Costing and Cost Modeling Consultant to support a federal client’s ABC structure, cost allocation processes, financial analytics, and reporting environment. This role is ideal for a finance, economics, analytics, or federal cost management professional who understands how cost models, activity codes, labor/time data, cost allocation rules, and dashboards support leadership decision-making.

The consultant will help maintain and improve the client’s existing ABC structure, support CostPerform-related cost model activities, review ABC code usage, validate cost allocation logic, and recommend practical improvements to strengthen reporting accuracy, usability, and decision support. This position is important because the client relies on ABC and related financial tools to better understand the cost of programs, activities, organizational structures, and workforce resources.

The ideal candidate brings both technical and business judgment: the ability to work with cost model structures and data, explain issues clearly to non-technical stakeholders, identify process or coding weaknesses, and recommend improvements that can be adopted by federal staff.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Senior ABC and Cost Modeling Consultant will provide specialized advisory and analytical support for federal activity-based costing, financial/business analytics, cost modeling, and reporting. The consultant will help the client maintain ABC structures, update cost models, validate coding and cost allocation rules, support Tableau dashboards and reports, and respond to staff questions related to ABC processes and system use.

The consultant should be detail-oriented, organized, and self-driven, with the ability to work in an environment where requirements may evolve as the Government refines its ABC, BOEM, or MMA structure needs. The role requires someone who can quickly understand existing cost structures, identify gaps or inconsistencies, document findings, coordinate with client stakeholders, and propose practical improvements without overcomplicating the solution.

This consultant may also support optional work related to BOEM ABC structure development, training materials, coding improvement recommendations, and potential consolidation of BSEE and BOEM ABC structures into a new MMA structure. Because this work may involve multiple offices and leadership stakeholders, the consultant must be comfortable facilitating discussions, reconciling inputs, and translating financial and operational concepts into clear decision-support materials.

Expected tools and processes may include CostPerform, Tableau, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, federal financial or timekeeping systems such as FBMS and Quicktime if available, ABC coding structures, cost allocation methodologies, data validation processes, dashboard review cycles, SOPs/job aids, and training materials.

Anticipated Day-to-Day Activities

  • Maintain and update ABC cost model structures, tables, assumptions, and allocation rules.
  • Review ABC coding patterns and identify inconsistent, outdated, duplicative, or underused codes.
  • Validate cost allocation logic and recommend improvements to strengthen accuracy and usability.
  • Support CostPerform-related analysis, model updates, testing, documentation, and issue resolution.
  • Analyze workforce, position-costing, activity, and financial data to support cost visibility.
  • Create, review, or improve Tableau dashboards, reports, and management briefing materials.
  • Respond to ABC-related staff questions and help users understand coding, reporting, or system processes.
  • Document business rules, process steps, model assumptions, data sources, and recommended changes.
  • Facilitate working sessions with finance, program, analytics, and leadership stakeholders.
  • Develop training materials, job aids, quick-reference guides, and user support content.
  • Support BOEM ABC structure design, coding recommendations, and training development, if requested.
  • Assist with potential BSEE/BOEM ABC structure consolidation into an MMA structure, if requested.
  • Prepare findings, issue logs, decision papers, crosswalks, and executive-ready recommendations.
  • Coordinate with Ascension and client leads to track progress, risks, assumptions, and open decisions.

Job Features

Job CategoryConsulting
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business analytics, public administration, data analytics, or a related field. | Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief findings and recommendations to client stakeholders. | Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and produce high-quality deliverables with limited supervision.
REQUIRED SKILLS10+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience.
TECHNICAL SKILLSStrong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONSDirect experience with CostPerform or similar cost modeling software. | Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or similar business intelligence/reporting tools. | Familiarity with federal financial, accounting, budget, or timekeeping systems, including FBMS, Quicktime, ABC, or similar systems. | Experience supporting Department of the Interior, BSEE, BOEM, or other federal financial management environments. | Experience designing or improving ABC structures, coding taxonomies, cost allocation rules, or organization/activity crosswalks. | Experience developing training materials, user guides, SOPs, or job aids for financial systems or reporting processes. | Advanced degree in finance, economics, accounting, analytics, public policy, or a related field. | Certifications such as CPA, CGFM, PMP, CBAP, Tableau certification, or financial management-related credentials are a plus.
SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTU.S. citizenship may be required depending on final contract requirements. | Ability to pass federal background investigation and suitability requirements. | Public Trust or agency suitability clearance may be required. | No Secret or Top Secret clearance is identified in the RFI.

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