Senior Financial Analyst

Socket.dev; Ithaca (MI); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst/Finance Specialist III on the Ithaca campus with hybrid work options. The role focuses on financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and creating analytical models to support decision‑making across divisions.

Recommend improvements, manage complex reports, and ensure compliance with university policies while collaborating with budget, financial services, and units across campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of relevant experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, accounting, or a related financial function.
• Ability to provide guidance, perform data analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, to support data analysis and decision-making.
• Ability to learn and leverage emerging technologies to develop reports and analytical solutions.
• Experience with financial systems, reporting tools, and databases.
• Knowledge of financial management principles, budgeting practices, and internal controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining automation of processes and complex financial modeling to improve service delivery and reporting.
• Collaborating with unit directors and managers to prepare monthly forecasting and quarterly/annual financial reporting.
• Serving as the key point of contact for financial information and providing data analysis to inform decisions.
• Ensuring the financial statements’ integrity and adherence to university policy and procedures.
• Developing detailed budgets for units and creating complex models including overhead cost recovery.
• Providing reports and presentations for ad hoc requests for divisional financial information and audits.
• Interpreting university policies to guide team members and develop long-range forecasting models.
• Preparing and analyzing financial reports and trends to support operating objectives.
• Cultivating relationships within Budget & Planning, Financial Services, and SSC.

Skills

Microsoft Excel

Data analysis

Financial forecasting

Budgeting

Communication skills

Project management

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting

3+ years of relevant experience

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

OBIEE Answers

Job description

This position is located on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York. You will be expected to work in Ithaca, although you may be permitted to perform a portion of your work remotely.

Note:

No Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Who we are:

Located in Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University is a bold, innovative, inclusive, and dynamic teaching and research university where staff, faculty, and students alike are challenged to make an enduring contribution to the betterment of humanity. Cornell University is one of the largest and most diverse institutions in the Ivy League. We are a community of 22,000 students and more than 10,000 faculty and staff members representing more than 80 countries and hundreds of disciplines—global cultures, backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

The Division of Budget and Planning supports Cornell University’s academic mission and long‑term sustainability through institutional budgeting, financial and strategic planning, resource allocation, and analysis. The Division is responsible for developing planning assumptions; preparing and consolidating operating and capital budgets across the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine; supporting space and capital planning; and overseeing institutional research, accreditation, and external reporting.

Within the Division, the University Budget Office works closely with colleges and administrative units to develop, implement, and report on the Ithaca campus operating plan. The office serves as a steward of institutional resources by forecasting revenue and expenses; providing analytical context for planning assumptions and budget policies; coordinating allocation and policy issues with senior leadership; monitoring resource use; modeling the impact of program and policy changes; and providing specialized budget services to meet New York State (NYS) and SUNY requirements. The Budget Office also maintains budget schedules, systems, and tools, and provides training to support the annual budget development process.

Additional information about the Division of Budget and Planning and the University Budget Office is available at Division of Budget and Planning website.

The Facilities and Campus Services (FCS) Finance team is responsible for financial oversight, budgeting, forecasting, analysis, reporting, and compliance. The team supports capital planning, projects, and strategic use of funds. Strategic partners to the organization’s leadership and operational line management in the development of new programs and services. Provide financial guidance for multiple sources of funds as well as accounting issues. Ensure the accuracy, and integrity of the financials. We work collaboratively within the Office of Budget and Planning as well as with the Division of Financial Services and partners across campus.

What you will do:

Reporting to the Manager of Finance, the Senior Financial Analyst will provide financial planning, analysis, forecasting and technology development for financial processes and systems. Multiple sources of funding and cost recovery methodologies are associated with this service.

This role is responsible for:

• Developing and implementing automation of processes and complex financial modeling to improve service delivery to assist in department reporting and metric processing.
• Working closely with the unit directors and managers to prepare monthly forecasting and quarterly / annual financial reporting.
• Acting as the key point of contact for financial information and expertise for units supported. This includes providing data analysis to inform decision making.
• The financial integrity of the financial statements ensuring adherence to University Policy and procedures.
• Responsible for the detailed budget development for units supported and development of complex models including internal overhead cost recovery.
• Providing reports and presentations for ad hoc requests for divisional financial information in support of executive decision making and strategic development and initiatives, including supporting unit audits.
• Interpreting University financial policies and procedures to provide guidance to team members. Develop models for unit needs such as long-range forecasting.
• Preparing and analyzing financial reports and trends to support management in achieving operating objectives.
• Developing and maintaining professional working relationships within the Office of Budget & Planning and other Cornell departments. This includes, but is not limited to, the Division of Financial Services, and the Shared Service Center (SSC).

Ours is a values–based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

What is required:

A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree and three or more years of relevant experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, accounting, or a related financial function or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to provide guidance to others, perform appropriate data analysis, budgeting and forecasting, and general ledger reconciliations.
• Proficiency in computer software applications, with expertise in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and related add-ins, to support data analysis, reporting, and operational decision-making.
• Ability to quickly learn, adopt, and leverage emerging technologies to develop and enhance routine and ad hoc reports, analyses, and reporting solutions that support strategic divisional initiatives and informed decision-making.
• Experience working with financial systems, reporting tools, and databases.
• Demonstrated ability to improve, streamline, or automate financial processes and reporting activities.
• Knowledge of financial management principles, budgeting practices, and internal controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy, sound judgment, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred qualifications for the position include:

• Training in financial management and cost accounting principles or equivalent desired.
• Knowledge of Cornell policies, on-line accounting systems, OBIEE Answers, and visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI.

What we offer:

Great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care, generous paid leave provisions, 3 weeks of vacation, 14 university paid holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year’s Day) and superior employer retirement contributions.

Cornell is situated in picturesque Ithaca, New York, the heart of the Finger Lakes. Ithaca is home to two academic institutions, state parks, waterfalls, gorges, and a wide range of art galleries, theaters, eateries, wineries, and breweries. Ithaca is an active and diverse community to work and thrive in and has something to suit all ages and interests!

University Job Title:

Finance Specialist III

Job Family:

Fin/Budget/Planning

Level:

F

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$77,831.00 - $90,453.00

Remote Option Availability:

Hybrid

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Susie Jackson

Contact Email:

[e-mail]

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement.

EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world‑class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-09-18