Senior Budget Analyst

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Physical Sciences Division is seeking a Senior Budget Analyst to consolidate the division budget, build financial models, and support departments in budget preparation. Under the direction of the Associate Director of Finance, you will analyze expenditures and forecast resource needs while ensuring compliance with university policies.

A strong background in budgeting, Excel, and nonprofit higher education finance is preferred, with collaboration across departments and

Qualifications

• Minimum a college or university degree in related field.
• 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• MBA or advanced degree in business or related field.
• Demonstrated experience building financial models.
• Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP and pivot tables.
• Experience in a university or not-for-profit environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepares the Division's annual budget by gathering, analyzing, and compiling financial data into spreadsheets shared with departments.
• Evaluates budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and objectives.
• Tracks budget performance by reviewing reports and ensuring funds are utilized effectively.
• Develops and maintains financial models to support budget planning and forecasting.
• Produces reports for the Dean and senior staff and communicates results clearly.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Budgeting

Data analysis

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in related field

MBA or related advanced degree

Tools

Oracle ERP

Orbit reporting

SmartView

Job description

Department

PSD Budget & Finance

About the Department

The Physical Sciences Division (PSD) has a rich history of advancing and defining new fields of discovery in the physical and mathematical sciences, and this tradition of innovation continues today. Our inquiry and impact spans from the edge of the observable universe to human-computer interaction, from biophysical materials science to the geologic record of seawater composition, from gravitational waves to geometric flows, and beyond. The division includes the academic departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geophysical Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. In addition, PSD includes a number of interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, including the Data Science Institute, Enrico Fermi Institute, the James Franck Institute, and the Kavli Center for Cosmological Physics. Many of our scientists have joint appointments at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory as well as joint affiliations with other Chicago-based research institutions such as the Toyota Technological Institute of Chicago, and the Field Museum. Our students build connections with world-leading scientists, collaborate across disciplines, and enjoy the dynamic Chicago and University communities.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Finance, the Senior Budget Analyst prepares the consolidated budget for the Division of the Physical Sciences, works with departments and centers to create and update financial models, and helps departments prepare their budgets. The Senior Budget Analyst performs accounting data collection and analysis, financial reviews and historical trend analysis of related work, and develops and maintains policies and guidelines for accounting data collection and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Prepares the Division's annual budget by gathering, analyzing, and compiling financial data into spreadsheets shared with departments, and provides specialized analysis and administration of the budget
• Evaluates budget estimates and proposals for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with established procedures, regulations, and organizational objectives
• Tracks budget performance by reviewing reports and accounting records ensuring that allocated funds are utilized effectively and appropriately
• Produces specific reports and analysis for various types of data used by the Associate Dean; collaborates with others to develop focused, effective reporting design and metrics
• Examines past budgets and performs research on economic and financial developments that affect spending; communicates progress and results to all stakeholders; understands the context and implications of all projects in addressing business needs
• Responds to requests from across the Division, including the Dean and Associate/Deputy Deans, for special reports and data (such as enrollment, faculty, and admissions), analyzing and interpreting results to prepare clear reports
• Identifies current and future resource planning and allocation issues; develops, leads, and supervises complex studies and analyses that will assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions
• Understands and clearly communicates the conclusions drawn from data analysis
• Designs, implements, and maintains financial models to support budget planning, forecasting, and resource allocation, and to evaluate the potential impact of strategic initiatives
• Reviews estimated expenditures. Develops expenditure projections and periodic budget variance reports. Prepares forecasts as well as analysis
• Has a deep understanding of operational budgets for departments or other operational units
• Reports on variances between the approved budget and actual performance and recommends revised procedures
• Performs other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

MBA, or other advanced degree Educational background with focus in business or related technical field

Experience

• Demonstrated experience building financial models
• Advanced Excel skills, able to manipulate data via sort, VLOOKUP, IF statements, and pivot data
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Accounting, Finance, Budgeting, Financial Analysis, or related experience
• Experience compiling data used for preparing budgets
• Experience verifying electronic records for data integrity
• Experience researching information
• Experience in a University setting or other complex not-for-profit organization
• Familiarity with Oracle ERP system
• Familiarity with Orbit reporting system
• Familiarity with SmartView
• Familiarity with a higher education environment Understanding of how gifts, endowments, and payroll flow into departmen