Senior Financial Analyst

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Vor Ort; USD 85.000 - 110.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI) seeks a Senior Financial Analyst to drive budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis across SEI's research and operations. You will partner with technical leadership, translate data into actionable insights, and help leaders optimize resource allocation for mission-driven initiatives.

The role emphasizes ownership of financial planning, risk assessment, and clear communication of complex financial information to stakeholders

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a finance-related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, or financial management.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and problem-solving skills with advanced Excel.
• Experience with financial systems and reporting platforms.
• Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate recommendations.
• Excellent organization and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Aufgaben

• Partner with leadership to drive financial insight and support decision making.
• Serve as the primary financial resource for designated directorates.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations conveying actionable insights.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for assigned areas.
• Coordinate monthly financial reviews and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support long-range planning, scenario analysis, and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with finance, accounting, contracts, and other functions.

Kenntnisse

Financial modeling

Advanced Excel

Budgeting & forecasting

Analytical reasoning

Communication of recommendations

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or related field

Tools

Oracle

Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) systems

BI / financial reporting tools

Jobbeschreibung

Make an impact through financial insight and partnership. At Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI), our work supports critical national security missions through innovative research and technical expertise. Behind that work is a team of financial professionals who help ensure our people, programs, and resources are positioned for success. We are seeking a Senior Financial Analyst who enjoys looking beyond the numbers, solving complex problems, and helping leaders make informed decisions. As part of our Financial and Business Services (FABS) division, you will serve as a financial partner to SEI's research and operational leadership, providing the analysis, planning, and insights that support effective resource management and long-term organizational sucess. This is an opportunity for an experienced financial professional who wants to take ownership of meaningful work, build strong partnerships, and contribute to how financial information is used to guide decisions across a complex, mission-driven organization.

What You'll Do

• Partner with leadership and drive financial insight
• Serve as a primary financial resource for assigned directorates, building relationships with technical managers and leadership to understand their priorities, challenges, and financial needs.
• Analyze financial performance, identify emerging trends and risks, and translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Evaluate the financial implications of funding, staffing, and workload decisions to help leaders effectively plan and manage resources.
• Develop financial reports, dashboards, and presentations that communicate meaningful insights rather than simply reporting results.
• Lead financial planning and forecasting activities
• Take ownership of budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for assigned areas, ensuring financial projections reflect current business conditions and anticipated needs.
• Facilitate monthly financial reviews with technical managers and budget leads, challenging assumptions, evaluating performance, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support long-range planning, scenario analysis, and resource allocation decisions that contribute to organizational sustainability.
• Monitor financial performance throughout the lifecycle of research programs, helping identify and mitigate funding, execution, and financial risks.
• Strengthen financial practices and collaboration
• Collaborate with colleagues across finance, accounting, contracts, and other business functions to support sound financial management and responsible stewardship of resources.
• Apply financial policies and applicable regulatory requirements to support accurate, consistent, and compliant financial practices.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve financial reporting, and leverage technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of financial analysis.
• Share expertise, contribute to team development, and help establish consistent, effective financial planning and reporting practices.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is analytical, curious, and comfortable working with both financial data and people. The ideal candidate can independently manage complex financial responsibilities while building relationships and helping others understand the financial implications of their decisions.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, or financial management.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working with financial systems, reporting platforms, or business intelligence tools.
• Ability to interpret complex financial information, exercise sound judgment, and communicate recommendations effectively.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in financial planning and analysis within a complex, project-based, research, higher education, or government contracting environment.
• Familiarity with federal contracting requirements, financial compliance, or cost accounting principles.
• Experience with Oracle, enterprise performance management systems, or financial reporting and visualization tools.
• Experience supporting workforce planning, resource allocation, or multi-year financial forecasting.

What Will Help You Succeed

You will thrive in this role if you enjoy understanding the story behind the numbers, asking thoughtful questions, and finding practical solutions. You should be comfortable working independently, engaging with stakeholders at different levels, and balancing attention to detail with an understanding of the bigger picture. Most importantly, we're looking for someone who recognizes that strong financial analysis is not simply about reporting what happened — it's about helping the organization make better decisions about what comes next.

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function Financial Planning, Analysis, Accounting and Reporting

Position Type Staff – Regular Full time/Part time Full time

Pay Basis Salary

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Statement of Assurance Always focused on the future, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) advances software as a strategic advantage for national security. We lead research and direct transition of software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence technologies at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. We serve the nation as a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and are based at Carnegie Mellon University, a global research university annually rated among the best for its programs in computer science and engineering. Our people apply special knowledge and skills and are part of an elite research university. We perform research and apply our expertise every day to foresee problems and exploit opportunities in software engineering, AI engineering, and cybersecurity. Quality software that is secure will control the future. At CMU SEI, we are engineering that ever-greater software-fueled future.