Senior Budget Analyst - Financial Management and Budget

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Senior Budget Analyst in Albany, NY to manage a $558.0M budget, analyze financial data, and optimize institutional resources. The role offers an opportunity to drive significant process improvements and contribute to strategic decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of relevant experience required.
• Ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within the diverse campus.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and analyze the $558.0M Campus All Funds Budget.
• Collaborate with fiscal managers on budgetary challenges.
• Develop workforce plans that optimize staffing.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Finance or related field

Tools

Peoplesoft

Oracle Business Intelligence

Microsoft Suite

Job description

Location: Albany, NY Category: Professional Posted On: Mon Jun 2 2025 Job Description:

The Senior Budget Analyst is pivotal in advancing the institution's operational efficiency and strategic priorities. This position manages and analyzes the $558.0M Campus All Funds Budget, ensuring alignment with institutional goals while addressing fiscal challenges and delivering actionable solutions. As an integral member of the Budget Office team, the Analyst demonstrates exceptional skill in gathering and interpreting campus-wide financial data to optimize resources and drive informed decision-making. Collaborating closely with fiscal managers and the Budget Director, the role integrates staffing, budgeting, and strategic initiatives seamlessly.

Over the past few years, the role has evolved significantly due to operational efficiencies, technological advancements, and adopting an all-funds budget management approach. These developments have streamlined processes, enabling the Analyst to emphasize high-level analytics and data-driven strategies that align with institutional priorities and enhance campus-wide resource management. The Analyst evaluates spending and revenue patterns, creates impactful presentations, and assesses transfer requests to ensure policy compliance and workflow efficiency.

Workforce planning remains a cornerstone of the position. The analyst collaborates with stakeholders to design workforce plans that leverage available resources, address institutional needs, close critical gaps, and optimize staffing. Additionally, the Analyst oversees position management by maintaining accurate, policy-compliant data, addressing vacancy inefficiencies, and tracking progress in improvement initiatives. Through comprehensive data analysis and reporting, the Analyst develops high-impact recommendations that mitigate financial risks and identify opportunities for institutional growth.

Operating within federal, state, and institutional regulations, the Analyst upholds compliance and integrity in financial strategies. The role leads the development and implementation of campus-wide best practices and standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency and efficiency across business office operations while aligning with SUNY policies. The Analyst drives process improvement initiatives, fosters collaboration across departments, and is a trusted advisor to fiscal managers.

The Analyst contributes to professional development and institutional growth by mentoring fiscal stewards, leading cross-departmental projects, and creating innovative tools to enhance workflows and reporting processes. By formalizing training materials and implementing new strategies, the Analyst supports a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and exceptional service to campus constituents.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Budget Development & Management
  • Develop, monitor, and analyze the multiple components of the $558.0M Campus All Funds Budget.
  • Establish and oversee budgets for campus units, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
  • Solve budgetary challenges by coordinating with departments and stakeholders, creating actionable solutions that balance competing priorities.
  • Gather, analyze, and interpret data related to campus revenue streams and expenditures across all funds to guide decision-making and strategy.
  • Advise the Budget Director on resource optimization by collaborating with campus units and fiscal managers to drive alignment across staffing, budgeting, and strategic initiatives.
• Financial Data Analysis & Reporting
  • Perform comprehensive analyses of spending and revenue patterns to produce actionable recommendations to maximize unit and campus resources.
  • Deliver detailed reports and impactful presentations, driving strategic decisions at all campus levels.
  • Evaluate revenue and expenditure transfer requests, identifying solutions to ensure these transfers are appropriate, aligned with financial policies, and efficient.
  • Analyze complex data related to workforce trends, budget utilization, and financial risks.
  • Provide high-impact recommendations that address critical gaps, mitigate risks, and support organizational success.
  • Prepare unit-level and campus-wide reports that present clear opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Workforce Planning and Position Management
  • Assess staffing needs and workforce trends; design and execute workforce plans that align with institutional goals.
  • Collaborate with campus stakeholders, leadership, and human resources to identify and address workforce gaps, initiate resolutions, and close priority gaps.
  • Position Management
    • Oversee and implement position data, correcting discrepancies and ensuring policy compliance.
    • Work with human resources and departments to implement position changes aligned with workforce strategies.
    • Identify inefficiencies in vacancy rates, initiate solutions, and track progress for improvement.
• Process Improvement, Stakeholder Collaboration and Training and Growth
  • Drive operational improvements across financial processes by implementing innovative strategies with campus business offices and stakeholders.
  • Build relationships and lead cross-departmental collaboration to align stakeholders on key initiatives.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor, delivering actionable solutions and guidance to campus fiscal managers.
  • Training and Growth
    • Lead projects that strengthen departmental operations and inform broader institutional strategies.
    • Mentor fiscal stewards across campus, ensuring consistent application of best practices and fostering a culture of learning.
    • Create innovative tools and processes to enhance workflow and reporting across campus departments.
    • Develop and formalize comprehensive training materials to ensure clarity, consistency, and effectiveness in onboarding and skill-building processes.
• Compliance & Policy Implementation
  • Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines for funding, maintaining integrity in financial strategies and processes.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of campus-wide best practices and standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency and consistency in business office operations.
  • Ensure all practices, processes, and decisions comply with SUNY policies, procedures, and guidelines, aligning with institutional and system-wide standards.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

• Reports to : Assistant Vice President for Finance
• Supervises the following positions: none
• May supervise employees as assigned (if no direct reports at time of filling position): students

Job Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data
• Experience in higher education or public sector budgeting
• Excellent communication and presentation skills to deliver detailed reports and recommendations
• Strong problem-solving abilities to address budgetary challenges and workforce gaps
• Ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders and departments
• Adaptability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
• In-depth understanding of federal, state, and institutional regulations and guideline
• Ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Proven track record of driving process improvements and operational efficiencies
• Experience with Peoplesoft
• Experience with Oracle Business Intelligence
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• Five to seven years of relevant experience
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:

• 7 to 10 years of experience in budget management or financial analysis.
• Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.

Working Environment:

• Dynamic and Collaborative working environment
• The role involves both individual tasks and team collaboration, requiring a balance of independent work and group meetings
• Dynamic and Collaborative working environment
• Emphasis on ethical practices, transparency, and accountability in financial operations
• A culture that values strategic thinking, innovation, and data-driven decision-making

Additional Information:

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: SL-4, Assistant for University Financial Analysis, $85,000-$95,000

Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not an E-Verify employer.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=188697