Strategic Budget & Forecast Analyst

University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 66,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Penn Libraries, part of the University of Pennsylvania, seeks a Budget/Financial Analyst to perform complex budgeting and multi-year forecasts across unrestricted funds, gifts, endowments and grants.

You will deliver financial reporting, build models, provide insights to senior leadership, and collaborate with department managers to inform resource allocation.

Strong Excel skills and familiarity with Penn systems such as Hyperion Planning, Workday, and BEN Financials are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• 5 to 7 years of experience preferred.
• Must have excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; an ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects with limited supervision; and a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through required.
• Strong business acumen and financial management skills.
• Advanced technical skills required (e.g., proficiency with Excel).
• Knowledge of Penn's financial systems a plus (e.g., Hyperion Planning, Workday, and BEN Financials).

Responsibilities

• Compile and maintain comprehensive five-year budgets and current year forecasts built on historical trends, articulated assumptions, and strategic initiatives.
• Work closely with senior leaders and department managers to ensure forecasts are accurate, aligned with institutional priorities, and supported by clear financial data.
• Prepare standard and ad hoc financial reports for senior leaders and department managers, including monthly budget updates that identify variances and provide in-depth analysis of financial performance against budget and prior year results.
• Work closely with department managers and senior leaders to identify, document, review, and approve underlying assumptions and to ensure accurate reporting and forecasting.
• Prepare financial models that support forecasting and enable scenario planning.
• Create ad hoc reports when specific policy or operational questions arise.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities by developing financial analyses of specific areas and initiatives.
• Contextualize financial performance in industry data.
• Partner with department managers to evaluate costs, monitor financial performance, and develop useful financial management tools that support the effective use of resources.
• Provide budget training to staff, including creating materials and conducting trainings and presentations as necessary.
• Oversee reporting and variance analysis of human capital activity, including staffing changes and salary modeling; integrate Workday data into budgeting, forecasting, and planning processes.
• Oversee the annual fiscal year-end close process.
• Prepare routine journal entries as well as complex correcting entries when needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Hyperion Planning

Workday

BEN Financials

Job description

The Penn Libraries, part of the University of Pennsylvania, seeks a Budget/Financial Analyst to perform complex budgeting and multi-year forecasts across unrestricted funds, gifts, endowments and grants.

You will deliver financial reporting, build models, provide insights to senior leadership, and collaborate with department managers to inform resource allocation.

Strong Excel skills and familiarity with Penn systems such as Hyperion Planning, Workday, and BEN Financials are highly valued.