Budget Analysts

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah invites applications for Budget Analyst, III within Huntsman Cancer Institute's Finance team in Salt Lake City. This role supports research, outreach, and education department heads and PIs, handling budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to optimize resources throughout the year.

The Budget Analyst, III reports to the Director of Budget Management and requires strong analytical skills, advanced knowledge of Excel, fund accounting, and financial systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in financial analysis or related field.
• Experience in higher education research environment with fund accounting knowledge preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Excel, PeopleSoft, Anaplan, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Develop an in-depth understanding of supported departments’ work and objectives.
• Prepare financial plans and budgets, ensuring alignment with HCI objectives.
• Assist in annual budget preparation and regularly monitor budget adherence, identifying areas for cost optimization.
• Monitor activities/grants monthly for overspending and work with department head/PI to promptly address.
• Analyze financial data to identify trends and areas for improvement and explain variances.
• Develop and maintain financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Analyze financial data and build financial models to support decision-making.
• Prepare and present financial reports and analyses to department heads, PIs, and senior leaders, highlighting key findings and recommendations.
• Ensure department heads and PIs understand their sources of financial support and funding use restrictions.
• Develop a deep understanding of HCI /UU financial systems and available data sources; develop data queries and reports as needed.
• Communicate financial information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Respond to ad hoc questions and data requests.
• Assist with annual budget reporting, as needed, including investigation of and compilation of variance explanations.
• Assist with the preparation and tracking of the commitment schedule and recruitment budget.
• Review monthly transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Prepare journal entries for intra-fund transfers and expense corrections.
• Open, update, and inactivate chartfield activities and grants.
• Calculate salary caps and payroll distributions to comply with federal grant requirements.
• Review purchases and contracts to ensure sufficient cash and budget are available.
• Generate accounts receivable invoices for assigned shared resource recharge centers.
• Ensure correct payroll distributions are maintained in the system of record
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial planning, reporting and analysis.
• Participate in the design, implementation, and review of financial and accounting systems.
• Develop and refine budgeting and forecasting methodologies to improve accuracy.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to gather information and develop insights.
• Provide support and guidance to other finance team members.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Communication skills

Excel

PeopleSoft

Anaplan

PowerPoint

Fund accounting

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Tools

Finance software (Excel, PeopleSoft, Anaplan)

Job description

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Budget Analyst, III role on HCI’s Finance team allows us to support HCI’s research, outreach, and education department heads and principal investigators (PIs). The Budget Analyst, III has a critical role in the annual budget process as well as enabling the teams they support to optimize their financial resources throughout the year. The Budget Analyst, III reports to HCI’s Director, Budget Mgmt.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to cancer prevention, care, and survivorship for all communities within the area we serve – which includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming – with impact worldwide.

In your cover letter or during your interview process, we invite you to share how your professional experiences have prepared you to serve as a member of our team as we work to reduce the cancer burden experienced by all people and communities. This may include description of your prior experiences related to research, prevention, clinical care, community engagement/outreach, training, administration, or other areas relevant to Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission and this position.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

• Develop an in-depth understanding of supported departments’ work and objectives.
• Prepare financial plans and budgets, ensuring alignment with HCI objectives.
• Assist in annual budget preparation and regularly monitor budget adherence, identifying areas for cost optimization.
• Monitor activities/grants monthly for overspending and work with department head/PI to promptly address.
• Analyze financial data to identify trends and areas for improvement and explain variances.
• Develop and maintain financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Analyze financial data and build financial models to support decision-making.

Reporting

• Prepare and present financial reports and analyses to department heads, PIs, and senior leaders, highlighting key findings and recommendations.
• Ensure department heads and PIs understand their sources of financial support and funding use restrictions.
• Develop a deep understanding of HCI /UU financial systems and available data sources; develop data queries and reports as needed.
• Communicate financial information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Respond to ad hoc questions and data requests.
• Assist with annual budget reporting, as needed, including investigation of and compilation of variance explanations.
• Assist with the preparation and tracking of the commitment schedule and recruitment budget.

Accounting

• Review monthly transactions to ensure accuracy.
• Prepare journal entries for intra-fund transfers and expense corrections.
• Open, update, and inactivate chartfield activities and grants.
• Calculate salary caps and payroll distributions to comply with federal grant requirements.
• Review purchases and contracts to ensure sufficient cash and budget are available.
• Generate accounts receivable invoices for assigned shared resource recharge centers.
• Ensure correct payroll distributions are maintained in the system of record

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial planning, reporting and analysis.
• Participate in the design, implementation, and review of financial and accounting systems.
• Develop and refine budgeting and forecasting methodologies to improve accuracy.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to gather information and develop insights.
• Provide support and guidance to other finance team members.

Budget Analyst, III

Develop, analyze, and execute budgets that allocate current resources and estimate future financial requirements. Examine, analyze, and determine profit increases and efficiency improvements. Provide assistance and advice regarding the preparation of organizational and departmental budgets. Analyze department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls. Consolidate departmental budgets into operating and capital budget summaries. Monitor and review the budget to determine if allocated funds are appropriately spent. Considered highly skilled and proficient in discipline. Conducts complex, important work under minimal supervision and with wide latitude for independent judgment.

This is a Career-Level position in the General Professional track.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT : 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels

Budget Analyst, III : Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.

Experience

3-5 years of experience in financial analysis or a related field. Prefer previous experience in higher education research environment with knowledge of fund accounting and grants.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
• Advanced knowledge of financial software (e.g., Excel, PeopleSoft, Anaplan) and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of fund accounting principles and financial reporting standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize workload and manage time effectively.

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

University Human Resource Management

250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Contact us: [phone] By Email: [e-mail]