Principal Analyst, Budget and Financial

$75,540 - $98,201/Yr

University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ

Part-time,Full-time - Senior

Tucson, AZ

Educational Services

About the position

The Office of Budget and Planning at the University of Arizona is seeking a Principal Analyst for Budget and Financial responsibilities. This role is pivotal in leading the preparation of monthly internal reports, annual external reports, and various financial analyses that support Senior Leadership in decision-making processes. The successful candidate will work closely with colleges and departments to develop, implement, and analyze their operating budgets, ensuring that financial strategies align with the university's long-term goals. In this position, you will design and implement processes to report university financial data and performance to Senior Leadership. You will advise senior financial officers on strategies to optimize resource allocation and achieve financial stability. Your role will also involve conducting scenario analyses and challenging financial planning assumptions to support informed decision-making. A strong partnership with Senior Leadership is essential to support the financial objectives and performance of the university. Additionally, you will lead the construction and completion of annual budget requests and reports, preparing financial and ad hoc analyses as needed. Collaborating with senior campus finance officers, you will ensure the accuracy of financial forecasts and projections, while also developing and refining financial forecasting models to enhance reliability. Conducting variance analysis to identify discrepancies between actual and forecasted performance will be a key responsibility, along with coordinating the preparation and monitoring of daily exception reports to maintain proper fund management principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of monthly internal reports and annual external reports for Senior Leadership.
• Assist colleges and departments in developing, implementing, and analyzing their operating budgets.
• Design and implement processes to report university financial data and performance to Senior Leadership.
• Advise senior financial officers on financial strategies to optimize resource allocation and achieve long-term financial stability.
• Provide scenario analyses and challenge financial planning assumptions to support Senior Leadership decision-making.
• Maintain a strong partnership with Senior Leadership to support financial objectives and performance.
• Lead the construction and completion of annual budget requests and reports for the University.
• Prepare financial and other ad hoc analyses as needed by the Office of Budget and Planning or external constituents.
• Collaborate with senior campus finance officers to ensure accuracy in financial forecasts and projections.
• Sign-off on the work product of other Budget and Financial Analysts within the Office of Budget and Planning.
• Develop and refine financial forecasting models to improve accuracy and reliability of projections.
• Conduct variance analysis to identify discrepancies between actual and forecasted financial performance and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate the preparation, monitoring, and follow-up of assigned daily exception reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Skilled in preparing comprehensive monthly internal reports and annual external reports.
• Strong ability to identify financial issues, analyze data, and propose effective solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for working with various departments and stakeholders.

Nice-to-haves

• Extensive experience conducting complex financial analyses and interpreting detailed financial data.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Life insurance and disability programs.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members.
• Retirement plans.
• Access to university recreation and cultural activities.