Senior Financial Analyst

Department
 

Provost Budget and Strategic Initiatives

About the Department
 

Under oversight of the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Office of Investments is responsible for managing the investment assets of the University. The endowment invests in diversified asset classes including global stocks and bonds, real estate, natural resources, private equity, and absolute return strategies. Six functional teams oversee the management of the portfolio—public markets and absolute return, private equity, real assets, risk, strategy, and operations.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Financial Analyst will provide strategic, analytic, and project management support for the University of Chicago Budget Office, which reports directly to the Provost. The Senior Financial Analyst will work collaboratively with financial managers and experts in units across the University, including academic unit financial leaders and Financial Services staff. The Senior Financial Analyst will also serve as the primary financial liaison to the Budget Office for assigned units and will be responsible for providing those units with budget development and financial management in conjunction with annual and monthly University budget processes. Supporting the development and integration of university-wide financial data analytics and reporting as part of the University’s long-term strategic financial plan will also be a major objective of the Senior Financial Analyst.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the development of operating budget targets for major units and analyzes unit submitted forecasts and proposals for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Works closely with units to understand actual to budget variance and develop recommendations for programmatic changes or cost containment strategies to avoid deficits.
• Assists in the development, interpretation and implementation of highly complex financial/accounting concepts and advanced techniques for financial planning and forecasting.
• Performs business case analyses and provides quantitative modeling support for various financial management projects in the Budget Office and the Office of the Provost.
• Prepares presentations to convey financial and administrative matters to leadership and members of the University community.
• Creates financial models that employ scenario analysis for future University planning and budgeting decisions.
• Develops and implements metrics and methodologies toolkits for evaluating financial performance for both the University and specific administrative and academic units.
• Coordinates with all levels of management and individuals across the University to gather, analyze, summarize, and prepare recommendations regarding financial plans, operating forecasts and other complex financial matters.
• Builds and maintains complex financial models using Excel, Hyperion, and other analysis and reporting tools and systems as necessary.
• Participates in use case testing and analytical support for changes to University budgeting and financial management systems and supports design and implementation efforts for future systems.
• Reports on variances between the approved budget and actual performance and recommends revised procedures.
• Supports unit-specific financial operations, including accounting, budgets and financial controls, and purchasing.
• Manages the day-to-day finance transactions, oversees financial commitments, and executes all financial data-tracking and reporting.
• Collaborates with relevant University departments and supports the Director, Financial Administration with developing and tracking expenditures against the annual budget.
• Performs work that contributes to the financial goals for unit initiatives and academic programs and assists in the drafting of the unit’s budgets, providing analytical support for routine budget projections and analyzing budget estimates and proposals.
• Ensures budget proposals and monthly forecasts are accurate, complete, and in compliance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives.
• Working within the University procurement system, manages expenditures; tracks against annual budget.
• Processes invoices, payments, and/or transfers for internal and external partners.
• Evaluates and plans budgets, working within the University financial system and an Access database.
• Formulates monthly reports for program and operating staff.
• Monitors and reconciles monthly reports to ensure accuracy, addressing accounting errors, as needed.
• Creates pivot table reports in Excel as needed.
• Helps to maintain a Financial Administration manual for staff with relevant University policies and procedures.
• Liaise as necessary with staff and Financial Services.
• Serves as a resource for team members.
• Reconciles and processes tuition and revenue transfers.
• Administers staff GEMS (employee corporate card) program.
• Analyzes and prepares budgets, creates accounts, and works with the financial accounting system to allocate, authorize, monitor, and control expenses.
• Prepares monthly reports, conducts and corrects errors in accounts using existing procedures that are in place, and provides advice on the financial impact of human resources and academic affairs decisions.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or relevant field.

Experience:

• Experience in a university setting, or other not-for-profit enterprise.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of financial computing and database software application.
• Knowledge of various financial principles, practices, and applications including budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting.
• Experience with accounting systems and budget systems required Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Competencies

• Attention to detail.
• Organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated time management ability to deliver high-integrity products within established deadlines.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.