Finance Liaison

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 48,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah seeks a Finance Liaison/Budget Analyst III to manage budgets, analyze financial performance, and support PIs and department heads. You will monitor grants, prepare reports, and refine forecasting methods in a collaborative healthcare research setting.

The role emphasizes cost optimization, data-driven decision support, and compliant financial operations within the Huntsman Cancer Institute and UU system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or 4 years of related work experience) in Finance/Accounting.
• 3–5 years of financial analysis experience; higher education experience is preferred.
• Strong analytical, modeling, forecasting and communication skills; fund accounting knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop budgets aligned with HCI objectives and funded programs.
• Prepare financial plans, monitor adherence, and identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Analyze monthly data, explain variances, and build budgeting models.
• Prepare and present financial reports to department heads and PIs.
• Ensure correct grant and funding usage; support ad hoc data requests.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve processes and controls.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Financial modeling

Forecasting

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organization

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

Excel

PeopleSoft

Anaplan

PowerPoint

Job description

Finance Liaison

Job Summary

The Budget Analyst, III role on HCI's Finance team allows us to support HCI's research, outreach, and education department headsand 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, BudgetMgmt.

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 joblevels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Analysis:

• Develop anin-depth understanding of supported departments' work andobjectives.
• Prepare financial plans and budgets, ensuringalignment with HCI objectives.
• Assist in annual budget preparationand regularly monitor budget adherence, identifying areas for costoptimization.
• Monitor activities/grants monthly for overspendingand work with department head/PI to promptly address.
• Analyzefinancial data to identify trends and areas for improvement andexplain variances.
• Develop and maintain financial models forbudgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Analyze financialdata and build financial models to supportdecision-making.

Reporting:

• Prepare and presentfinancial reports and analyses to department heads, PIs, and seniorleaders, highlighting key findings and recommendations.
• Ensuredepartment heads and PIs understand their sources of financialsupport and funding use restrictions.
• Develop a deep understandingof HCI/UU financial systems and available data sources; developdata queries and reports as needed.
• Communicate financialinformation clearly and concisely to both technical andnon-technical audiences.
• Respond to ad hoc questions and datarequests.
• Assist with annual budget reporting, as needed,including investigation of and compilation of varianceexplanations.
• Assist with the preparation and tracking of thecommitment schedule and recruitmentbudget.

Accounting:

• Review monthly transactions toensure accuracy.
• Prepare journal entries for intra-fund transfersand expense corrections.
• Open, update, and inactivate chartfieldactivities and grants.
• Calculate salary caps and payrolldistributions to comply with federal grant requirements.
• Reviewpurchases and contracts to ensure sufficient cash and budget areavailable.
• Generate accounts receivable invoices for assignedshared resource recharge centers.
• Ensure correct payrolldistributions are maintained in the system of record

ProcessImprovement:

• Identify and implement process improvementsto enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial planning, reportingand analysis.
• Participate in the design, implementation, andreview of financial and accounting systems.
• Develop and refinebudgeting and forecasting methodologies to improveaccuracy.

Collaboration:

• Work closely withcross-functional teams to gather information and develop insights.
• Provide support and guidance to other finance team members.

Budget Analyst, IIIDevelop, 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 Professionaltrack.

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 workexperience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following joblevels: 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: 3-5years 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.

Requisition Number: PRN46112B

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Department: 01259 - HCI Finance

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: 47,600 - 90,400

Close Date: 10/30/2026