What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Analyst position at UMass Amherst?
Title: Data Analyst
Executive Area: Information Technologies
College/School/MBU: Information Technology
Department: IT Administration
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule: Full Time
Work Arrangement:Hybrid
Job Summary
Reporting to the Executive Financial Officer & Head of Facilities, the Data Analyst is responsible for the development and analysis of financial reporting tools and inventory asset management dashboards. That supports operational and strategic decision-making across Information Technology that delivers valuable insights into IT operations and investment performance and areas for improvement.
The Data Analyst will collaborate with data and analytics professionals across IT, product stakeholders and leadership transforming data into effective analytic solutions. The position will monitor data quality and performance, identify gaps, and enhance tools that support strategic planning as well as validate data for accuracy and consistency.
The position is also responsible for presentations that effectively communicate key performance indicators (KPIs), trends, and actionable insights to stakeholders and leadership.
Essential Functions
Design, develop, maintain, and enhance interactive dashboards and data visualizations that effectively communicate key metrics, trends, and insights.
Analyze complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, anomalies, and opportunities, and translate findings into meaningful and actionable insights.
Acquire, integrate, and prepare data from multiple sources for analysis and reporting.
Perform data validation and quality assurance to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data; investigate discrepancies and collaborate with IT and other technical partners to resolve data issues.
Develop and maintain KPI calculations, business rules, and reporting methodologies to ensure consistent and accurate reporting.
Identify opportunities to streamline and automate data preparation, validation, and recurring reporting processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders across Administration & Finance to understand business requirements and develop appropriate analytical solutions.
Conduct ad hoc analyses and prepare reports, presentations, and analytical summaries that clearly communicate findings to managers and leadership.
Maintain documentation of data sources, calculations, business rules, reporting processes, and identified data issues and resolutions.
Perform testing and validation of new data sources, data models, system enhancements, and reporting solutions to ensure accuracy and alignment with business requirements.
Other Functions
Perform other related duties and support special projects and initiatives as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting with a minimum of two (2) years' experience as a business or financial analyst.
Experience with data visualization tools, enhance and optimize Power BI dashboards for budgeting and financial reporting.
Technical expertise regarding data models, database design development, data mining, and segmentation techniques.
Advanced skills in designing interactive and visually compelling dashboards and reports that communicate data insights and findings clearly to business stakeholders.
Build and refine inventory tracking dashboards to improve project rollout efficiency.
Support data-driven purchasing decisions by increasing visibility into inventory and usage metrics.
Strong proficiency in SQL, Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, Power Query), Python, or R.
Knowledge of data governance, compliance, and reporting best practices.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
Adept at queries, report writing, and presenting findings.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in business analytics or related field.
Additional Details
Schedule flexibility may be required to support implementations, campus events, and project deadlines.
This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.
Work Schedule and Work Arrangement
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week.
Salary Information
Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 27
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Special Instructions for Applicants
Along with application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.