Budget Analyst

About the role

The Office of Budget and Planning seeks a Budget Analyst to support the University’s budget development, financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and budget governance functions. The analyst provides financial analysis and decision support to University units, ensuring effective stewardship of resources and alignment with institutional priorities. Working collaboratively with campus stakeholders, this position assists with budget development, monitoring, forecasting, position management, reporting, and financial policy interpretation, reporting to the Director of Budget and Planning.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation of the annual operating budget, salary detail files, budget comparisons, and variance analysis under the direction of the Director.
• Develop and maintain complex spreadsheets and integrated financial models—including operating initiatives and salaries—to inform annual budget preparation, monthly financial reporting, and long‑range forecasting.
• Monitor, review, and process position evaluation requests in accordance with budget and financial objectives, exercising discretion and sound judgment in coordination with the primary Budget and Planning team partner.
• Participate in and assist with key aspects of estimated final projections, special projects, and scenario planning related to the University’s budget plan.
• Monitor spending by reviewing expense requests against the budget, identifying variances, and ensuring expenditures do not exceed available resources.
• Prepare, review, and process journal entries and budget transfers; create and run queries to provide financial and budget‑related information.
• Assist with year‑end closing, including reconciliation and review of year‑end reports to ensure accuracy.
• Maintain comprehensive, timely, and accurate information to support financial analysis; interpret financial results and provide recommendations to university leadership and departmental budget managers.
• Analyze budget proposals and long‑range plans for completeness, accuracy, and consistency with established procedures and organizational objectives.
• Examine budget and accounting reports for anomalies, inconsistencies, and trends affecting budget needs and maintain expenditure controls.
• Support monthly estimated final reporting processes, including variance analysis and preparation of supporting schedules.
• Assist in preparing annual budget session templates, financial reports, and schedules for schools and colleges; provide accurate, timely reporting on school/college initiative funding and commitments.
• Prepare and reconcile ad‑hoc reports as requested; develop, create, and maintain complex spreadsheets, pivot tables, and ad‑hoc reports.
• Provide technical assistance, training, tools, and support to University colleagues on the use of financial systems for budgeting and reporting.
• Maintain tools to support accurate and comprehensive financial analysis and budget status reporting; utilize University AI resources to automate or enhance appropriate work processes.
• Respond to inquiries from the University community by advising on budgets, financial transactions, policy, procedures, and best business practices; provide general administrative and analytical support to the Office of Budget and Planning leadership as needed.
• Participate in training on an as‑needed basis to maintain and improve effectiveness in the position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field, and a minimum of one year of professional experience with similar functional responsibilities.

Skills

• Collaborative and cooperative work style with University personnel at all levels.
• Ability to respond flexibly and positively in all circumstances, working calmly under pressure.
• Good judgment and discretion regarding sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences.
• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to work independently, prioritize workload under competing assignments and converging deadlines, and interpret, plan, and execute work within guidelines.
• Strong attention to detail with a high degree of accuracy, including generation and maintenance of financial summaries.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Extensive use and understanding of Hyperion Planning Essbase and AI tools such as Claude and Copilot (preferred).
• Maintain a strong customer focus.
• Willingness to learn new software applications as necessary.