Academic Budget Analyst II

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Academic Finance, the Academic Budget Analyst II provides analytical and operational support for academic budgeting, financial reporting, and financial data management within the Office of the Provost. This position prepares financial analyses, reporting tools, and tracking systems that support academic financial planning and operational decision-making. The Academic Budget Analyst II assists with recurring financial reporting, maintains financial databases and tracking tools, and supports budgeting processes and financial reviews for academic units.

Financial Systems & Tools Environment: This position works with institutional financial systems and analytical tools including ERP financial systems, reporting platforms, Microsoft Excel, Tableau, AirTable, and project tracking tools such as Asana to prepare financial reports and maintain financial tracking systems.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate is a detail‑oriented finance professional who demonstrates solid analytical skills and dependable support in academic budgeting. They bring proficiency in financial analysis, reporting, and data visualization, applying tools such as Excel and Tableau to produce clear, accurate reports. This candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, ensuring consistency in financial tracking and contributing to effective decision‑making. They balance technical ability with strong organizational and communication skills, presenting financial information in ways that support colleagues and leadership.

Workplace Requirements

Must be able to work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time. This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Pay

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with a beginning salary of $70,000 - $80,000 annually based on experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or related field.
• Two or more (2+) years in budgeting, financial analysis, or financial reporting, with higher‑education experience strongly preferred.

Skills

• Collect, interpret, and analyze financial and budget data with accuracy.
• Proficiency with pivot tables, formulas, and core financial functions to prepare analyses and reports.
• Ability to use Word and PowerPoint to prepare clear financial reports and presentations.
• Experience with financial systems or budget planning platforms for reporting and reconciliation.
• Build dashboards and graphical reports using Tableau or similar tools.
• Familiarity with Asana or similar workflow platforms to manage assignments and deadlines.
• Experience maintaining financial tracking systems such as AirTable.
• Manage multiple assignments, maintain tracking systems, and present financial information clearly.
• Apply basic accounting principles and financial reporting practices in academic finance.

Preferences

• 4–5 years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting or financial reporting, ideally in higher education.
• Ability to navigate and reconcile data across enterprise financial systems and reporting platforms.
• High‑level skills including lookup functions, multi‑sheet models, and scenario analysis.
• Build dashboards and trend analyses that support leadership decision‑making.

Essential Functions

• Financial Reporting & Analysis: Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual budget vs. actual reports for academic units. Support preparation of financial reports used in budget review meetings and leadership discussions. Assist with financial analyses, budget projections, and special projects as assigned.
• Data Visualization & Reporting Tools: Develop annual faculty salary graphs for budget meetings using Tableau. Create dashboards and visualizations illustrating financial trends and budget performance. Maintain reconciliation templates and financial tracking tools.
• Budget Operations & Financial Administration: Prepare academic budget adjustments for submission to the central Budget Office. Reconcile financial data to ensure consistency between budget planning tools and official financial systems. Prepare journal entries, fund balance transfers, and budget adjustments.
• Financial Data Tracking & Faculty Recruitment: Maintain AirTable tracking for adjustments to SF, AMF, and Core funding. Reconcile school budget guidelines with AirTable adjustments to ensure alignment. Compile faculty recruitment financial templates from schools for consolidation and review.
• Operational Systems & Documentation: Update department Wiki documentation for financial processes and procedures. Track project assignments and workflow using Asana. Prepare content for the academic budget website, including assisting in development and ongoing updates.
• Perform additional responsibilities at a comparable level to support evolving academic budget operations and institutional financial needs.