College Business Analyst Principal

University of Kentucky; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 64,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kentucky's College of Education is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and solutions-oriented Director of Business Operations to serve as a key leader within the College Business Center. This position strengthens financial operations, supports sound business decisions, mentors staff, and advances high-quality service across the college.

The successful candidate will lead analysts and business officers, provide guidance on budget planning and reporting, oversee processes, and

Qualifications

• Progressively responsible experience in business administration and financial management.
• Experience mentoring and leading analysts and staff.
• Ability to interpret policies and advise on budgets and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysts and business officers within the College Business Center.
• Provide guidance on budget planning and financial reporting across units.
• Oversee business processes and ensure university and college policies are applied consistently.
• Develop and promote process improvements and staff development across the organization.

Skills

Detail oriented

Financial acumen

Project management

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

SAP

Tableau

Excel

Education

BA

Tools

SAP

Tableau

Excel

Job description

Job Title

College Business Analyst Principal

Working Title

Director of Business Operations

Department Name

8G000:College of Education

Location

Lexington, KY

Grade Level

48

Salary Range

$64,210-105,914/year

Contract Type / Position Time Status

Full-time Staff

Required Education

BA

Required Related Experience

7 yrs

Required License/Registration/Certification

None

Physical Requirements

Sitting and/or standing for long periods of time; performing repetitive motion tasks; effectively communicating with individuals from diverse backgrounds and varied professional levels.

Shift

Typically Days: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m, Monday – Friday

Job Summary

The College of Education is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and solutions-oriented Director of Business Operations to serve as a key leader within the College Business Center. This position plays a vital role in strengthening financial operations, supporting sound business decisions, mentoring business staff, and advancing consistent, high-quality service across the college.

In this highly visible role, the Director of Business Operations will lead and support analysts and business officers, provide guidance on budget planning and financial reporting, oversee business processes, and help ensure university and college policies are implemented consistently and effectively. This position is ideal for a professional who enjoys mentoring others, improving processes, building trusted partnerships, and using financial insight to help academic units operate efficiently and strategically.

The successful candidate will have progressively responsible experience in business administration, financial management, budgeting, accounting, or a closely related field, preferably within a higher education, public sector, or complex organizational environment. Experience interpreting policies, supporting compliance, preparing financial reports, and advising leaders on budgetary or operational decisions is strongly preferred.

Strong candidates will demonstrate advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and professionalism. The role requires a service-oriented communicator who can explain complex financial information clearly, build effective working relationships, and provide dependable guidance to faculty, staff, department leaders, and college administration.

The ideal candidate will also bring demonstrated leadership, mentoring, training, and project management abilities. They should be comfortable leading process improvements, supporting staff development, promoting consistent business practices, and fostering a collaborative team environment. Proficiency with financial systems and reporting tools, including SAP, Tableau, Excel, and related business applications, is highly desirable.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Detail Oriented, financial acumen, project management, good communication skills, ability to multi-task, SAP, Tableau, Excel

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Yes

Preferred Education/Experience

Experience in leading a finance team at a University, non-profit, or large organization in process development, enhancement, and efficiency.

Deadline to Apply

11/13/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

1. * How many years of experience do you have managing budgets in a University setting?
   • None
   • More than 0, up through 1 year
   • More than 1 year, up through 3 years
   • More than 3 years, up through 5 years
   • More than 5 years
2. * How many years of experience do you have supervising employees?
   • None
   • More than 0, up through 1 year
   • More than 1 year, up through 2 years
   • More than 2 years, up through 3 years
   • More than 3 years, up through 4 years
   • More than 4 years
3. * How many years of experience do you have in financial management including state & federal funds, income funds, restricted funds, auxiliary funds, budgeted commitments, etc.
   • None
   • More than 0 years, up through 2 year
   • More than 2 years, up through 5 years
   • More than 5 years, up through 8 years
   • More than 8 years, up through 12 years
   • More than 12 years
4. * Tell us about a time you had to lead or influence a group of business, finance, or administrative staff through a complex process change. How did you build buy-in, ensure consistency, and measure whether the change was successful?

   (Open Ended Question)

5. * Describe a situation where you identified a financial, compliance, or operational issue that others had not yet recognized. What steps did you take to analyze the problem, communicate the risk, and implement a solution?

   (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents