The Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) is seeking a dynamic individual to join our team. OPB serves as a steward of resources and trusted advisor to University leadership to support decision-making and enable strategy.

Reporting to the Senior Director or Director, Budget Planning & Analysis, the Budget Planning Analyst will assist in the development and execution of policies, processes, and practices in the areas of budgeting, planning, and analysis. The Budget Planning Analyst uses a collaborative and consultative approach to working effectively across stakeholder groups to address financial opportunities and challenges for the University.

Essential Duties

 

• Under administrative direction, serves a primary role in facilitating the development and implementation of annual all-funds budgets for assigned administrative and academic units.
• Performs work related to budget variance analysis, commitment analysis, revenue and expense forecasting, what-if scenario analysis, program evaluation, and other efforts that support administration decision-making.
• Evaluates critical cost pools and works with assigned units to identify cost saving measures, including utilities, employee benefits, debt service, and other general operating expenses.
• Builds, maintains, and updates financial models and associated financial analysis. Performs financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research. Participates in the development of less complex mid- and long-range predictive enrollment, space, staffing, and financial models that support strategic planning efforts and executive decision-making.
• Supports analysis of complex proposals led by senior departmental staff.
• Develops data-driven solutions and technical guidance to solve financial, operational, or strategic issues facing assigned units. Develops a strong understanding of the core functionality of Adaptive Planning, the University’s enterprise-wide budget and planning software; capable of providing technical guidance to assigned units to enhance their use of the software for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting needs.
• Ensures financial compliance with University/Board policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations. Compares data from a variety of sources to ensure accuracy using judgment, and relying on knowledge of subject material.
• Gathers information; identifies analysis methodologies; and prepares, develops, and submits written and graphic results of the evaluation of data under the supervision of senior staff.

 Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as Business Administration, Public Policy/Administration, Finance, Economics, or Higher Education Administration and one year of experience in budgeting, financial analysis, or strategic planning; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

 Desired Qualifications

• Evidence of a Master’s degree in related field, such as Business Administration, Public Policy/Administration, Finance, Economics, or Higher Education Administration.
• Relevant work experience, in budgeting, financial analysis, or strategic planning, preferably in higher education. (2 years)
• Experience in using effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including the ability to speak and write with clarity and precision to obtain and convey information related to job responsibilities; comfortable in regular interactions with mid- and senior-level administrators of the university.
• Ability to work independently on routine tasks and with limited, but appropriate, direction on more complex matters. Demonstrated knowledge of strategic and financial planning/modeling principles, methods, and practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices in government and university governance involving fiscal control, budgeting, strategic planning, information analysis, forecasting, reporting, and assessment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Demonstrated knowledge with Workday Financial Management System and/or Workday Adaptive Planning.