Business Analyst, Office of Finance & Administration

Northwestern University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition assistance

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, seeks a Business Analyst to support the Dean’s Administration with process and system improvements across finance, administration, HR, facilities, IT, and research operations. The role emphasizes Smartsheet and Microsoft 365 tool development to streamline workflows and reporting.

You will partner with OFA and Feinberg units, translating needs into scalable solutions, documenting requirements, and assisting with test planning and training materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or related field; or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 2 years of functional/business/system analysis or related experience.

Responsibilities

• Document functional requirements, analyze requirements for software and processes, and develop test plans.
• Design, implement, support, and enhance enterprise, vendor, and in-house applications.
• Coordinate with senior staff and project stakeholders to deliver medium-complexity initiatives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Business analysis

Process improvement

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or IT

Tools

Smartsheet

SharePoint

Power Automate

Power BI

Microsoft 365

Excel

Copilot

Job description

Job ID54507

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Department: MED-Administrative Operations

Salary/Grade: ITS/79

Job Summary

The Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Finance & Administration (OFA) advances our mission by providing strategic leadership and operational excellence across finance, administration, human resources, facilities, information technology, research administration, and institutional operations. We partner with faculty, staff, students, and leadership to foster an efficient, innovative, and service-oriented environment that supports discovery, education, and clinical excellence.

The Business Analyst is a member of the OFA team on the Dean’s Administration and supports the development and improvement of processes, systems, and tools for OFA operations and school-wide initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Dean’s Operations, working collaboratively with partners across Dean’s Administration, Feinberg departments and units, and central University administration, the Business Analyst translates operational needs into effective, scalable solutions. The role requires strong experience designing and implementing tools using Smartsheet, Microsoft suite (e.g., Power Automate, SharePoint, Copilot), and related platforms to streamline workflows, improve data management and reporting, and reduce administrative burden across the school.

Performs tasks related to the design, implementation, support/maintenance, and enhancement of NU's enterprise, vendor and in-house developed applications. Documents functional requirements, analyzes requirements in the context of software and processes, develops and executes test plans, assists with and documents business process improvement efforts, and works with production issues. Completes content, process, and procedures for technical and functional system work that is low to medium in complexity.

Typically works with senior staff, but may coordinate smaller or less complex projects independently.

Specific Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

Partners with senior analysts, end users and peers to document and analyze functional requirements, identify gaps and alternative approaches to meet requirements, and ensure all deliverables completed (adhering to approved methodology and documentation standards).

Partners with functional users and technical and reporting staff to determine best approaches, ensuring that approved solutions are implemented in a timely and correct fashion.

Administration

Drafts accurate documentation of process, procedure, and system/application configuration.

Formulates and executes test scripts, implementation project plans, rolls out communications and training materials.

Outlines medium complexity use cases.

Development

Formulates test scripts and performs detailed testing for moderate to complex use cases to ensure that the implemented software functions correctly.

Participates in and may facilitate iterative feedback processes among users, developers, and analysts to ensure software functionality aligns with requirements. Draws on prior implementation experience to engage in discussions.

Performance

Assists in software evaluation and enters moderate to complex configurations to meet user needs.

Collects feedback from users on application performance and escalates moderate to complex critical performance issues with technical resources and management.

Collaborates with technical, reporting and application resources to analyze and resolve moderate to complex production issues in a timely manner. Provides input into possible solutions based on prior system knowledge and basic analytical skills.

Supervises

Provides work direction and/or supervise staff such as subordinates, contractors, vendors, students, etc.

Manages basic projects or work packets ensuring timelines, deliverables and expectations are met.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as computer science, information technology, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years functional/business/system analysis or other relevant experience required.

Enterprise Applications

• Smartsheet
• Infrastructure
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook)
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Analytical
• critical thinking
• decision making
• judgment
• problem solving
• troubleshooting
• use-case analysis
• Project
• budgeting
• collaboration and teamwork
• cost/benefit analysis
• evaluate resources
• facilitate collaboration
• functional documentation
• iterative & incremental development
• organizational skills
• planning
• workflow development & documentation
• write proposals and project charters

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Advanced knowledge of Smartsheet, including development and administration of sheets, forms, reports, dashboards, automations, formulas, cross-sheet references, permissions, and workspaces.
• Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft 365 platform, particularly SharePoint and Power Automate, with demonstrated ability to design, build, and maintain automated workflows and business process solutions.
• Strong business analysis and process improvement skills, including requirements gathering, process mapping, workflow design, testing, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to translate complex business and operational requirements into scalable, user-friendly technology solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify process inefficiencies, recommend solutions, and reduce manual or duplicative administrative work.
• Strong project management skills and ability to independently manage multiple projects involving stakeholders across different functional areas.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences and develop system documentation, training materials, and user resources.
• Familiarity and experience with generative artificial intelligence platforms such as Microsoft Copilot.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a business analyst, systems analyst, process improvement specialist, or similar role supporting business operations and technology solutions.
• Experience designing and implementing Smartsheet and Microsoft 365 solutions across multiple departments or business units.
• Experience leading business process improvement, workflow automation, or digital transformation initiatives in a complex organization.
• Experience working in higher education, healthcare, academic medicine, research, or another complex and decentralized organization.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of additional Microsoft 365 and Power Platform applications, including Power Apps, Power BI, Microsoft Forms, Teams, and advanced Excel functionality.
• Experience integrating Smartsheet, SharePoint, Power Automate, and other enterprise systems to automate business processes and improve data flow.
• Experience designing governance structures, templates, standards, and reusable solutions to support organization-wide use of Smartsheet and Microsoft 365 tools.
• Knowledge of data governance, information security, permissions, access controls, and records management considerations when developing business solutions.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder discovery sessions and translating complex or ambiguous business needs into functional and technical requirements.
• Ability to evaluate existing processes and recommend when to automate, redesign, standardize, or eliminate workflows rather than simply replicating existing processes in a new system.
• Experience developing training, documentation, and change-management strategies to support adoption of new technologies and processes.

Benefits

• At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs.
• For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness

• Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
• We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care.
• Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development

• Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home.
• If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources.
• Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $80,300 to $115,115 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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