Business Analyst

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary subject-matter expert for departmental accounting and financial systems;
• Evaluate, drive and implement system solutions and integrations (including ERP, financial modules, vendor/invoice systems).
• Reconcile financial accounts and reports;
• Proactively identify discrepancies or inconsistencies, recommend corrective action, and maintain strong control environments.
• Prepare and/or review assigned financial statements, analytical reports and dashboards;
• Identify issues and drive resolution to enable timely and accurate deliverables.
• Interface with internal and external auditors (e.g., district, campus, external audit) to provide information, support audit requests, and ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
• Identify process and system weaknesses;
• Develop and implement innovative approaches (automation, workflow redesign, controls enhancements) to improve accuracy, timeliness and efficiency.
• Cook up month-end and year-end close activities with stakeholders and campus partners, including accruals, journal entries, debit/credit memos, GL reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Oversee the journal entry process, debit/credit memos, logs maintenance, routing for approvals and ensuring timely completion per accounting guidelines.
• Approve and release invoices as assigned by the Finance Manager;
• Ensure vendor payment documentation is complete and compliant with policy.
• Work directly with construction and professional services vendors (for bond-related matters), including vendor file documentation, payment analysis for general contractors, and invoice review.
• Closely collaborate with accounting team members and other departments to support bond-related financial matters;
• Evaluate bond-compliance related to accounting, reporting and invoice approval.
• Execute ad-hoc system or bond-related assignments as directed by management;
• Act as functional lead for system enhancements, integration projects, and cross-functional collaborations.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications & Skills:
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or related field required.
• 5–10 years of experience in accounting, finance, or system/financial-systems roles; experience in higher education, public sector, or bond project environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with enterprise accounting/business systems (ERP, GL systems, vendor/invoice modules) and/or leading system integrations or implementations.
• Proven ability to interpret historical trends, perform financial/variance analysis, create monthly financial reports, and draw actionable insights.
• Strong ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment; thrive in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to engage with all levels of the organization (finance, IT, campus stakeholders, vendor partners).
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data analytics) and comfortable using MS Word and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated project leadership ability — able to lead system-integration/implementation projects to successful conclusion (scope, schedule, stakeholder coordination, testing/validation, training).
• Strong analytical mindset, detail-oriented, process-improvement focus, ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Preferred/Highly Desirable Qualifications:
• Experience with bond accounting, vendor payment analysis, and contract/general-contractor invoice review.
• Familiarity with internal controls frameworks (e.g., COSO), audit preparation, public sector compliance and financial reporting in an educational or governmental environment.
• Experience working with ERP implementations/integrations (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Workday, other financial systems).
• Professional certification (e.g., CPA, CMA) or project-management certification (e.g., PMP) is a plus.
• Experience mentoring/training team members in financial systems usage.