Financial Analyst 2

Abundance Network; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University’s Land, Buildings & Real Estate (LBRE) invites a Financial Analyst to join the FP&A team. You will perform budgeting, mid-year forecasts, and capital planning while explaining variances to stakeholders across campus.

You will design ad hoc analyses, develop reports, and advocate efficiency improvements, leveraging new tools and AI where appropriate to support decision-making across Sustainability, Utilities, Infrastructure, and Facilities Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and four years of relevant experience.
• Strong Excel skills and GAAP knowledge.
• Experience with financial systems and data analysis.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Perform ad hoc analyses of large data sets to support budgeting and forecasting.
• Develop annual department budgets and mid-year reforecasts with variance explanations.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and fund-type requirements.
• Create reports and presentations for management and external partners.
• Identify process improvements and contribute to change initiatives.
• Provide consulting to client groups and support negotiations with external partners.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Multitasking

Financial systems knowledge

Learning new tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Oracle

Adaptive Planning

Excel

Job description

Welcome to Land, Buildings & Real Estate:

Land, Buildings & Real Estate (LBRE) is the operational core of Stanford University’s physical campus. LBRE constructs and maintains the Stanford campus, where advancements across the academic spectrum are made possible. Our work is founded upon the collective value of dedication, innovation, expertise, teamwork, and continuous improvement. We are committed to serving the university’s academic mission, as well as preserving and enhancing Stanford’s 8,180 acres, and pride ourselves on supporting the teaching and research of the university as “Caretakers of a Legacy.”

Who we are:

Finance & Administration (F&A) provides the foundation for Land, Buildings & Real Estate (LBRE) operations including budgets, capital funding coordination and documentation, information technology systems, authority and approvals, internal controls, compliance, accounting and reporting and human resources for LBRE. We are the liaison with other university financial departments, Research Administration, Human Resources, the Cabinet and Board of Trustees.

Within F&A is the Finance for Operations group, which is comprised of three teams: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Finance Operations (FinOps) and Finance P2P. This position is part of the FP&A team.

Who you are:

You have a passion for all things math, systems and business. You realized that Finance perfectly blends these together and this is why you pursued a career in Finance! You are also a financial analyst who is highly analytical and communicates effectively with anyone within an organization. You possess strong interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal.

You have a proven track record of using analysis to influence decision‑making, and can successfully articulate insights and outcomes to executives and peers. That means that you can take financial data and translate that into a story that is understandable for our non‑technical staff and leave the financial jargon out of it when necessary.

You are more than comfortable with technology, both financial systems and non‑financial systems. Experience with Adaptive Planning is a plus but not required, you’re a fast learner who can quickly pick up new tools and operate independently with minimal supervision. You embrace technology, recognizing its value as a powerful complement to financial analysis. You’re also open to leveraging emerging tools, including AI, to enhance efficiency, uncover insights, and drive smarter decision‑making.

You like to share your knowledge with others because you thrive in a collaborative environment. While you may be new to a role or even new to using a system, once you learn it, you enjoy sharing that knowledge with team members.

You are meticulously detail oriented, insatiably curious, and full of integrity.

Who will you support:

There are many departments at LBRE, your primary focus will be on, but not limited to, Sustainability, Utilities, and Infrastructure, and Facilities Operations.

In addition to Core Duties, what work will you do**:

• Financial planning and analysis for various LBRE departments; develop detailed annual budget, full‑mid‑year reforecast, capital plan, critically investigate and write up informative variance explanations. Present high level summary of recommendations to stakeholders.
• Interpret, implement and ensure compliance with university policies and procedures (particularly as related to service centers and various fund types).
• Perform and design ad hoc analyses of large complex data sets. Reconcile multiple complex clearing accounts.
• Develop reports and presentations of complex financial data and metrics for management and third parties.
• Participate in critical analysis of existing systems and processes, and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Identify and resolve unique issues with substantial significance; recognize exceptions.
• Participate in developing solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintain broader organizational perspective in decision making.

What we are looking for:

• Demonstrated knowledge of financial systems and aptitude to learn new systems
• Strong verbal and written communication, and presentation skills
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to work independently and as a team player
• Proven ability to perform with a high degree of accuracy under tight deadlines and ability to effectively multitask.

Preferred but not required:

• Proficiency with Oracle systems in general
• Proficiency with Adaptive Planning
• MBA or CPA

**Additional duties as applicable to the role

Direct or perform prospective analytical, problem solving and evaluative work applicable to the full range of university financial and management operations. Work includes collecting and analyzing data, formulating and evaluating alternative solutions, and preparing reports. This series differs from the Accounting job series where the work is process oriented and focused on accurate financial data accumulation.

Core Duties:

• Perform and design ad hoc analyses of large complex data sets: reconcile complex accounts. Identify and resolve complex issues which may span multiple areas.
• Construct and assemble data for budgeting and decision making; develop conclusions, and present high level summary of recommendations. May develop annual budget for individual department/unit.
• Conduct analysis and resolution, and recognize exceptions. Participate in developing solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintain broader organizational perspective in decision making.
• Execute internal control programs established by management, research new regulations, and recommend and implement approved changes. May manage compliance program for area of responsibility, and create complex compliance reports.
• Develop reports and presentations of complex financial data and metrics for management and third parties.
• Participate as a member of a project team; support new initiatives. Make decisions determining approach to managing and completing processes.
• Contribute to unit and organization strategy; assist in the development of change management plans and materials as needed.
• Develop and maintain desktop procedures and process documentation for area of responsibility.
• Define requirements, develop and implement complex test cases, perform system testing and analyze results.
• Participate in critical analysis of existing systems and processes, and identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Provide consulting advice to client group(s); serve as a resource on matters that require specific technical, financial, or subject matter expertise; support negotiations with external partners.
• May supervise, train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed. Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and four years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced proficiency in business applications, such as Microsoft Office suite, especially Excel.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial systems; internet and computer literacy.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Strong communication skills, including ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences and client groups.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to contribute to or lead part of a multi-functional team.