Financial Analyst

Position: Financial Analyst

Position Department: Financial Planning & Analysis

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Overview:

The Financial Analyst plays a key role in supporting the University''''s financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and decision-support activities. This position partners with departments across the institution to provide meaningful financial insights, support strategic decision-making, and ensure accurate financial reporting.

The Financial Analyst is responsible for analyzing financial performance, developing budgets and forecasts, evaluating business initiatives, and assisting with the monthly financial close process. Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to translate complex financial information into actionable recommendations for both financial and non-financial audiences.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development, maintenance, and analysis of the University's personnel and operating budgets.
• Prepare annual budgets (revenue and expense), quarterly forecasts, and long-term financial projections for assigned departments and business areas.
• Monitor financial performance through variance analysis, identifying key drivers, risks, opportunities, and emerging trends.
• Develop financial models, business cases, and scenario analyses to evaluate new initiatives, investments, and strategic opportunities.
• Conduct profitability, cost, and operational analyses to identify efficiencies, optimize resource allocation, and support cost containment efforts.
• Serve as the primary financial liaison for assigned University departments, providing guidance on budget management and financial decision-making.
• Present financial results, forecasts, and recommendations to stakeholders with varying levels of financial expertise.
• Design, maintain, and enhance management reporting tools, dashboards, and standardized financial reports to support operational and strategic decision making.
• Collaborate closely with the Controller's Office during month-end close process to ensure accurate, timely, and reliable financial results.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, improve data quality, and eliminate non-value-added activities through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support ad-hoc financial analyses, special projects, and leadership reporting requests.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related quantitative field.
• One to two years of experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting, financial reporting, auditing, consulting, or a related analytical role.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial statement concepts.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, lookups, and financial modeling techniques.
• Experience working with ERP systems, financial reporting tools, business intelligence platforms, building financial models and scenario analyses is preferred.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities with the ability to interpret large datasets and identify actionable insights.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and commitment to accuracy.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Collaborative, proactive, and customer-service-oriented approach to supporting University business partners.
• Ability to tell a story with data and present recommendations to management.

Exemption Status: Exempt

Act 153 Clearance Required: No

Required To Pass a Motor Vehicle Report Check (If driving on behalf of the University): No

Required to Pass a Credit Check: Yes

Additional Posting Information: None

Special Applicant Instructions: None

Commitment to Diversity:

RMU complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws and provides equal opportunity in all educational programs and activities, admission of students and conditions of employment for all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice:

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please email humanresources@rmu.edu or call us at (412) 397-6270 if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job.