Budget & Operations Analyst

Cleveland State University; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH seeks a Budget & Operations Analyst to provide financial analysis, reporting, and budget support for departmental planning and decision-making. Responsibilities include analyzing financial activity, forecasting, reporting, and administering operating, grant, and endowment budgets.

You will collaborate across faculties and campus partners to improve processes and ERP-related reporting and ensure reliable financial information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Experience with financial analysis, data analysis, budgeting, and reporting.
• ERP experience and strong Excel skills (pivot tables, complex formulas).

Responsibilities

• Provide financial analysis, reporting, and budget support.
• Analyze financial activity, forecasts, and variance reports.
• Administer operating, grant, endowment, and discretionary budgets.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus partners to improve financial processes.
• Support ERP initiatives and provide guidance on financial reporting.

Skills

Financial analysis

Data analysis

Budgeting

ERP systems

Excel advanced

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

ERP software

Pivot tables

Complex formulas

Job description

Budget & Operations Analyst

Department: Provost's Office

Position Location: Main Campus

FTE: 1.0

Full Time

Hours per week: 40

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday – Friday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Job Summary

Provides financial analysis, reporting, and budget support to inform departmental planning, resource allocation, and decision-making. Analyzes financial activity, prepares forecasts and reports, evaluates budget performance, and identifies trends and variances to support effective fiscal management. Administers and supports assigned operating, grant, cost-share, gift, endowment, discretionary, and faculty and non-faculty-related budgets. Collaborates with faculty, staff, and campus partners to improve financial processes, support Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and operational initiatives, and provide guidance on financial reporting and procedures. Promotes accurate, timely, and reliable financial information to support departmental objectives and sound stewardship of Cleveland State University (CSU) resources. Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferably in business administration, accounting, finance, information systems, data analytics, management information systems, business analytics, economics or a related field. Coursework, internship experience, project experience, or employment experience involving financial analysis, data analysis, enterprise systems, reporting, budgeting, business processes, or related analytical functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, information systems, data analytics, or a related field.
• Experience working with ERP software, i.e., pivot tables, complex formulas, and deep familiarity with ERP systems.
• Experience in financial modeling and process mapping.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of financial principles, budgeting practices, accounting concepts, and financial reporting methods sufficient to analyze financial data, identify trends and variances, and support sound fiscal decision-making.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, “Customer Focus” attitude, and ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of constituencies while maintaining confidentiality.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to investigate discrepancies, perform root-cause analysis, and develop appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to interpret, analyze, and communicate financial information through reports, dashboards, forecasts, and other analytical tools to support departmental planning and decision-making.
• Ability to learn and effectively use enterprise financial systems, reporting tools, and related technologies to support financial operations, data validation, and process improvements.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and effectively to individuals with varying levels of financial knowledge, including faculty, staff, and administrative leaders.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage large amounts of data, maintain accurate records, analyze and organize information, and prioritize multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when analyzing financial information and supporting fiscal operations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel (advanced knowledge), PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Offer of employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of the University’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or University policies or practices, including but not limited to a criminal background check.