Budget Analyst

Job Description

The Office of Budget and Planning seeks a Budget Analyst to provide day-to-day financial support, including managing and approving financial transactions, developing and maintaining current and long-range analytical and informational reports and schedules to support ongoing financial budgeting, monitoring and forecasting. The Office of Budget and Planning provides budgetary and fiscal management leadership supporting the effective deployment of financial resources in alignment with the University’s mission and strategic objectives.

Reporting directly to the Associate Director of Budget and Planning, this position will support departmental goals and objectives through effective collaboration and partnership with colleagues and campus stakeholders. Timely and accurate maintenance and interpretation of data and detailed analysis of budgets, funding, and commitments for various initiatives in support of strategic goals and objectives for schools and colleges.

This individual will establish and maintain lines of communication with schools, colleges and other University personnel in support of the development of information required for accurate record keeping, financial analysis, projections and interpretation of policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of professional experience with similar functional responsibilities.
• Experience in higher education setting preferred.
  
  

Job Specific Qualifications

• Must work collaboratively and cooperatively with University personnel at all levels.
• Ability to respond flexibly and positively in all circumstances, working calmly under pressure.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion regarding sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and in written; proven ability to communicate information to a diverse audience in an understandable manner.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to work independently, prioritizing workload under pressure of competing assignments and converging deadlines. 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.
• Excellent computers skills including knowledge of and proficiency in Adobe and Microsoft Office Suite applications: Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Extensive use and understanding of the General Ledger and Hyperion Planning Essbase and Tableau preferred.
• Maintain strong customer focus.
• Willingness to learn new software applications as necessary.
  
  

Responsibilities

Budget And Financial

• Under the direction of the Associate Director, the Budget analyst will assist in the preparation of annual operating budget, salary category detail files, budget comparisons, and variance analysis for schools and colleges.
• Develop and maintain complex spreadsheets and integrated financial models, including 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 judgement in decision-making in coordination with primary Budget and Planning team partner.
• Participate and assist with key aspects of estimated final projections, special projects and scenarios related to the University’s budget plan.
• Assist in monitoring spending, including review of expense requests against budget, identifying variances to ensure 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 RCM year-end closing including reconciliation and review of year-end reports to ensure accuracy.
• Act as a liaison between departments and the Comptroller Office; facilitate the establishment of new chartstrings, correct posting errors and monitor for inconsistencies that may require corrective action.
  
  

Analysis

• Responsible for maintaining comprehensive and timely and accurate information to support financial analysis.
• Assist in identifying and researching questionable entries or omissions to make timely requests for correction for financial reporting and statement presentation.
• Assist with budget analysis, examination of budget proposals and long-range plans for completeness, accuracy and consistency with established procedures and organizational objectives.
• Analyze budget and accounting reports for anomalies, inconsistencies and trends affecting budget needs and to maintain expenditure controls.
  
  

Reporting

• Support University monthly estimated final reporting processes, including variance analysis and preparation of supporting schedules.
• Assist in preparation of annual budget session templates, financial reports and schedules for schools and colleges.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on school/college initiative funding and commitments. Prepare and reconcile ad-hoc reports as requested for internal use.
• Develop, create and maintain complex spreadsheets, pivot tables and ad hoc reports.
  
  

Support

• Provide technical assistance, training, tools and support to schools and colleges on the use of financial system for budgeting and reporting.
• Maintain tools to support accurate and comprehensive financial analysis and budget status reporting.
• Respond to direct inquiries from the University community by advising and counseling regarding budgets, financial transactions and University policy and procedures and best business practices.
• Provide general administrative and analytical support to Assistant Vice President and Directors as needed.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.

About The Syracuse Area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community

Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.