Financial Analyst

Financial Analyst, Office of Budget, and Finance

Regular, Full-time, Market Range MR12

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications and nominations for the position of Senior Financial Analyst in the Office of Budget and Finance. UTK is seeking candidates who could contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and inclusion goals of the university.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor – Budget, Planning and Analysis, the Senior Financial Analyst provides analytical, budget and accounting support for financial, budgeting, planning, and reporting activities for the Knoxville Campus and the UT Space Institute. This position will perform and provide insightful analysis to drive management actions, strategic initiatives, and the University’s planning process; design, develop, manage, update, and improve upon financial reporting at the University and unit level; engage and interact with various levels of leadership and stakeholders; becoming a trusted advisor; directs and oversees components of the University’s budget, consolidating information through models, allocating University resources, and supporting budget operations; supporting the maintenance of the university incentive-based Responsibility Centered Management (RCM) model; supporting budget operations; supporting the maintenance of the University budget planning software with associated modules such as scenario planning, long-range planning, ad hoc assignments and other duties as determined by the AVC.

Duties and Accountabilities:

RCM Budgeting – 15%

• Takes an active role in the operation and management of the University's RCM Revenue Based Budgeting model and annual budget process.

• Includes the development and documentation of policies, change management and update procedures impacted by the RCM model.

• Devises and implements a consensus approach to the development, review, modification, and acceptance of annual budget.

• Develops, maintains, and communicates budget and financial policies, procedures, templates, and forms used by units.

• Prepares and delivers presentations to units.

• Leads training sessions.

• Effectively explains complex financial issues and their underlying logic to units in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

Budge Operations and Financial Planning – 30%

• Proactively develops, operationalizes, monitors, and appropriately stewards budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.

• Translates budget and financial planning outputs into financial statement results.

• Identifies the relationships between business drivers and accounts for their effects on financial statements.

• Solicits, complies, and analyzes inputs in support of the University RCM budget.

• Collects, prepares, analyzes, reviews, and approves budget adjustments, fund transfers and resource allocations.

• Maintains budgets in the enterprise resource planning systems.

Financial Reporting & Forecasting – 30%

• Designs, builds, evaluates, implements, documents, and maintains reporting packages that inform and provide insight into the financial health of the University and its units.
• Designs, develops, prototypes, implements, and maintains University-wide forecasting process to enhance decision support.
• Identifies the questions needed to be answered, curates the sources of data and builds the necessary tools and processes to institutionalize the deliverables.
• Executes reporting and forecasting activities in accordance with established schedules.
• Synthesizes and communicates information in a timely, proactive, and quality-driven manner.

Modeling & Analytics – 15%

• Conceptualizes, scopes, and conceives analysis/model designs that will efficiently and effectively answer questions.
• Develops, maintains, and documents models and templates.
• Evaluates and validates models and interprets model results.
• Identifies and assesses trends, determining root cause and drivers.
• Conducts variance analyses and reporting, working to determine the underlying causes and makes recommendations for corrective actions in line with university policy and standards.
• Provides decision support to leadership through effective modeling, analysis, and projections, developing alternatives when necessary.

Continuous Improvement & Other Duties – 10%

• Effectively leverages the use of applicable and appropriate technologies to plan and execute work.
• Actively learns technology systems including back-end setup.
• Continuously explores opportunities for improvement, increasing efficiency and maximized effectiveness.
• Identifies, articulates, and implements requirements for technology solutions impacting budget, analytics, and finance.
• Prepare and present ideas for improvements to supervisor or unit AVC.
• Performs ad hoc projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

Intermediate knowledge of higher education budget, finance and planning techniques; Possess comprehensive computer skills and be able to generate financial reports, analyze data, and convert data into useful information for executive decision-making; Able to interpret data created by models and make recommendations based on the interpretation of the data to supervisors and unit AVC; A proficient knowledge in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Power Query and other data transformational tools and techniques; Must be able to apply statistical and quantitative modeling techniques in a variety of scenarios; Must possess strong organizational skills; strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external management and university faculty and staff; the ability to manage, lead and/or complete projects, directing the work of others and facilitate successful and timely completion; must be able to work in a collaborative, team environment; must be self-motivated, respectful toward fellow BPA team members and other University staff, and able to self-direct the work.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, analytics, accounting, or other related field of study
• 5 years of relevant, progressively responsible work experience of which 3 years’ experience involving financial analysis, budgeting, or modeling
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Power Query and other data transformational tools and techniques
• Experience with large enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Oracle, Workday).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, finance, analytics, accounting, or other related field of study
• Experience with Responsibility Center Management (RCM) budget model environment.
• Experience with cloud-based budget, financial planning, and analysis software (e.g., Oracle, Workday)
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Power BI, Power Query and other data transformational tools and techniques
• Higher education, governmental or non-profit accounting or budgeting experience
• Certified Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FP&A), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accounting (CMA).

Expected Hiring Range

• $70,385 to $93,846 annually

Applicants should submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience along with a resume and three (3) professional references.