Budget Analyst III

Elizabeth City State University - Elizabeth City, NC

Full-time - Mid Level

Elizabeth City, NC

Educational Services

About the position

The Budget Analyst III position plays a critical role in supporting the Budget Office at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in managing the University's State Operating Budget. This role involves a variety of responsibilities that are essential for the effective financial management of the institution. The analyst will assist various departments and units with budget implementation and compliance by interpreting relevant statutes and session laws, as well as developing policies to guide assigned departments and units. This includes providing budget analyst support to help departments manage their state appropriated funds, appropriated receipts, F&A budgets, and trust funds, addressing any questions or special circumstances that may arise, such as budget balances, reports, and position control. In addition to these support functions, the Budget Analyst III will analyze Expansion Budget requests and associated business cases to develop staff recommendations for prioritizing funding needs. The analyst will also be responsible for preparing the Base Budget as part of the biennial budget development process and monitoring budgets throughout the fiscal year to ensure that funds are utilized in alignment with established goals, guidelines, and strategies. This position requires strong leadership skills, as the analyst will provide team leadership, mentor other budget analysts, lead complex projects to completion under tight deadlines, and collaborate with others to solve challenging problems. Data analysis is a significant component of this role, as the analyst will work with complex data sets, performing queries, transformations, and creating data visualization dashboards to produce usable information for university leadership. The analyst will also conduct periodic budget reviews with units to identify risks and develop proactive solutions, prepare reports for executive management, and formulate management recommendations. Additionally, the analyst will provide budget training and technical assistance to units across campus and perform budgeting and forecasting of expenditures and revenues to ensure sufficient cash flow and reserves.

Responsibilities

• Assist units with budget implementation and compliance by interpreting statutes and session laws and developing policies to guide assigned Departments and Units.
• Provide budget analyst support to departments and units, assisting them with successful management of their state appropriated funds, appropriated receipts, F&A budgets, and trust funds.
• Analyze Expansion Budget requests and associated business cases to develop staff recommendations for prioritization of needs for funding.
• Analyze and prepare the Base Budget as part of the biennial budget development process.
• Monitor budgets throughout the fiscal year, working with Departments and Units to ensure funds are used in alignment with established goals, guidelines, and strategies.
• Provide team leadership to include mentoring budget analysts, leading complex projects to completion on tight deadlines, and working collaboratively to solve challenging problems.
• Perform data analysis using complex data sets involving querying, transforming, and creating data visualization dashboards to produce usable information for university leadership.
• Conduct periodic budget reviews with units to identify risks and develop proactive solutions.
• Prepare reports for executive management with input; formulate management recommendations and make presentations.
• Prepare and provide budget training and technical assistance to units across campus.
• Perform budgeting and forecasting of expenditures and revenues to ensure sufficient cash flow and reserves.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Accounting or related field and a minimum of 5 years related experience; OR master's degree in business administration, Accounting or related field and a minimum of 3 years of related experience.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to construct and utilize analytical spreadsheets and conduct applied financial modeling analysis.
• Technical, professional, and regulatory knowledge to resolve unique or highly complex situations.
• Ability to perform a large number of widely varying and functionally diverse assignments that require in-depth analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to develop work concepts, policies, and procedures using broad guidelines, methods, and procedures.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with budget management in a higher education setting.
• Familiarity with state budget processes and regulations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Health insurance
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays and leave
• Tuition reimbursement for further education