Lead Budget Analyst, Budget & Financial Analyst

Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem, NC

Full-time - Mid Level

Winston-Salem, NC

Educational Services

About the position

The Lead Financial Analyst position at Wake Forest University is responsible for overseeing budget responsibilities and providing administrative support to the Budget and Financial Planning office. This role involves validating budget availability, conducting data analysis, and collaborating with various departments to ensure financial accuracy and compliance. The analyst will also serve as a subject matter expert on budgeting processes and Workday Adaptive Planning, providing training and support to campus users.

Responsibilities

• Validate budget availability for Workday transactions related to Human Capital Management or Financial processes.
• Approve transactions and track expenses, collaborating with business managers, HR, payroll, or finance to resolve issues.
• Assist the Budget and Financial Planning team with financial projects and profitability analysis of auxiliary units or new initiatives.
• Prepare and coordinate financial analyses for senior management.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Budget and Financial Planning and Workday Adaptive Planning.
• Train campus users on developing and submitting annual budgets and forecasts in Workday Adaptive Planning.
• Prepare, develop, and test Workday and Adaptive Planning for the annual budget and planning cycle.
• Conduct information research and analysis, including benchmarking exercises and presentations.
• Collaborate with the Director to create presentations for executive and departmental meetings.
• Analyze complex information requests and determine trends for budget allocations.
• Utilize financial modeling and data analytics tools to create visualizations and communicate analysis results.
• Coordinate day-to-day office activities, including scheduling meetings and processing invoices.
• Mentor less experienced staff as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible financial work experience or equivalent education and experience.
• Expertise in Excel and Google Sheets, including template development, pivot tables, and lookups.
• Strong logical and analytical problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies.
• Proven verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to organize personal workflow.
• Ability to analyze and interpret policy and procedural questions without precedents.
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment and high-level problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of fund accounting principles, budget preparation, and fiscal controls.
• Experience in budgeting or strategic planning for an academic environment.
• Familiarity with sources for researching higher education issues.
• Experience maintaining business processes and formulas for Workday and Adaptive Planning.

Benefits

• Diverse workforce and inclusive work environment.
• Access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.