Budget & Financial Analyst

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University is seeking a finance professional to coordinate and consolidate complex financial data, forecast the organization’s financials, and develop program budgets to optimize resources.

The role includes training staff, supervising a team, and ensuring accurate reporting in line with audit requirements. A Bachelor’s degree in finance-related field and 4 years of experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a relevant field.
• Requires 4 years of relevant experience.
• Advanced Excel skills including formulas, pivot tables, lookups, data analysis and automation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare budgets, forecasts and financial statements.
• Provide training and guidance on departmental financial processes.
• Supervise staff and ensure quality and accuracy of financial data.
• Analyze and reconcile detailed financial reports and records.
• Assist with audits by preparing files and responding to inquiries.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Reconciliation

Process improvement

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Pivot Tables

VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP

Job description

Responsible for the coordination, consolidation, and preparation of financial information and related analyses in order to forecast financials and develop program budgets that maximize fiscal resources. Provides training and guidance to others as it pertains to departmental financial processes and procedures. Provides lead hand supervision to other staff.

Purpose and Key Functions:

• Analyze financial information to aid in the development and implementation of short-term and long-term financial planning.
• Develop multi-year budgets for review and approval.
• Project revenues and prepare detailed calculations of projected compensation costs and other expenditures.
• Prepare budget appropriation adjustments required after the approval of the original budget.
• Prepare working papers and consolidate information in accordance with financial auditor requirements.
• Develop estimates of time, resources, and budgets for various program activities and events.
• Plan and coordinate timetables and budget processes for budget review with various departments.
• Meet with departments to review resource plans in order to prepare financial projections.
• Coordinate and schedule data flow and financial information required for the preparation and development of detailed financial statements.
• Scrutinize, analyze, and reconcile detailed financial reports and records.
• Monitor and investigate error and exception reports.
• Analyze business processes to ensure efficiency and proper controls for accurate financial reporting and the safeguarding of assets. Recommend changes to improve processes.
• Act as a resource to staff, departments, and external agencies, and respond to inquiries, questions and concerns pertaining to financial issues.
• Provide advice on the restructuring of accounts for proper management control and streamlined reporting.
• Coordinate the collection, verification, analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Interpret and communicate applicable financial policies, procedures and guidelines to others.
• Assist with internal and external audits by preparing audit files and responding to auditor inquiries.
• Develop and deliver training and information sessions.
• Analyze data and assess for reasonableness.
• Develop budgets for review and approval.
• Implement and maintain budgets. Create financial projections and make adjustments to budgets throughout the fiscal year.
• Exercise appropriate controls, monitor, and reconcile accounts.
• Write a variety of documents and reports such as procedure manuals, accounting reports, and financial statements.
• Perform various analyses and reconciliations of accounts.
• Generate reports and account statements and review for accuracy.
• Provide training and guidance to others on relevant accounting procedures and the use of financial systems.
• Generate reports and account statements and review for accuracy.
• Calculate, prepare and issue invoices, cheques, account statements and other financial statements according to established procedures.
• Receive, send, sort, verify, process and prepare various documents such as purchase orders, invoices, cheque requisitions, receivables, and payables.
• Process, verify, and balance financial records and business transactions, such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll.
• Monitor and reconcile statements and participate in the reconciliation of accounts.
• Prepare and generate a variety of scheduled and ad hoc reports.
• Update, maintain, and verify information in a variety of spreadsheets and databases.
• Balance and control cash receipts, including floats, petty cash and cheques.
• Apply standard mathematical skills such as calculations, formulas, and equations to perform a variety of calculations.
• Create spreadsheets including complex formulas and equations.
• Answer complex inquiries via telephone, email, and in person that are specific in nature and require a specialized knowledge of policies and procedures.
• Maintain filing systems, both electronic and hard copy.

Supervision:

Provide lead hand supervision and are responsible for the quality and quantity of work of others.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a relevant field of study.

Requires 4 years of relevant experience.

Assets:

Advanced Excel Skills: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, lookups (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP), data analysis, reporting, and spreadsheet automation.

Reconciliation Experience: Proven ability to perform detailed account, balance sheet, and transaction reconciliations with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

Process Improvement Mindset: Demonstrated experience identifying inefficiencies, streamlining workflows, improving controls, and implementing process enhancements to increase accuracy and productivity.

Analytical Skills: Strong problem-solving abilities with the capacity to analyze large datasets, identify discrepancies, and provide actionable recommendations.

Attention to Detail: Highly organized with a commitment to accuracy and quality in financial and operational processes.

Continuous Improvement Focus: Proactive in seeking opportunities to improve reporting, workflows, and team processes.