Financial Analyst (Hybrid)

Department: Kellogg Financial Admin

Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Join our dynamic financial analysis team at the prestigious Kellogg School of Management as a Full-time Financial Analyst! This role is a hybrid role (60%remote/40% in office) and offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact across the institution by maintaining and enhancing our data warehouse, which serves as the foundation for critical reporting and forecasting activities. With a diverse set of responsibilities, including data management, template creation, and PowerBI dashboard maintenance, you will play a crucial role in ensuring data accuracy and availability for faculty and unit area P&Ls. Your expertise will support the continuous improvement of our financial processes, directly influencing strategic decision-making. If you are a proactive problem solver with a passion for data analysis and financial modeling, we invite you to apply and help drive the financial success of Kellogg School of Management.

Required Skills/Experience:

Data Management: The successful candidate must be proficient in using MS Access Data tables and Microsoft Excel. Experience in maintaining data warehouses is crucial, including the ability to perform data table mapping reviews, data pulls and loads, data reconciliations, and forecast uploads.

Financial Analysis and Modeling: Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience in data analysis and/or financial modeling. A strong understanding of financial principles and practices is essential for this role.

Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel are required, along with experience in using PowerBI for dashboard creation and maintenance.

Template Creation: The ability to develop monthly and quarterly forecast files, as well as yearly budget templates using MS Excel and/or PowerBI, is necessary for this position.

Attention to Detail: Strong organizational skills and a keen attention to detail are vital for maintaining data accuracy and consistency throughout the financial processes.

Communication Skills: Effective communication skills are important for collaborating with FP&A team members and other users, ensuring clear and accurate dissemination of financial information.

Support and Adaptability: The candidate must be capable of providing unit support for a budget under 350k. Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and priorities is also essential.

Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making.

Job Summary:

Supports a university accounting-related area or program. Manages financial operations &/or analysis in support of area/unit's mission & in coordination with central offices such as HR, Budget, Financial Aid, Facilities, Purchasing, IT, Provost, etc. Reviews a portfolio of multiple schools/depts' financial operations comprised of work that involves some complex problems &/or decisions.

Specific Responsibilities:

Budget:

• Participates in determination of budget including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment &/or gift revenues.

• Prepares analysis & reports.

• Provides account research.

• Assists with budget projects.

• Updates budget estimates & provides commitment tracking support for all financial activity.

• Ensures lead schedules are prepared.

• Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.

• Acts a Budget Office expert on units and functions within portfolio of responsibilities.

• Coordinates &/or provides information for the annual salary review process.

• Reviews & reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines.

• Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.

Analysis, Statements & Reporting:

• Creates daily, monthly, annual, &/or project end analysis & reports regarding area/unit, grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, customer service activity, etc.

• Prepares financial analysis and lead schedules for supplies, equipment, &/or personnel decisions.

• Records journal entries and creates reports.

• Performs financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research.

• Provides support for annual audit workpapers and quarterly financial statement workpapers.

• Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis.

Transactions:

• Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account.

• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.

• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy; analyzes and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; creates new accounts; prepares, processes, reconciles & provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions.

• Processes transfer &/or appropriation charges & may balance &/or close accounts.

• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.

• Maintains Chart of Account lists.

• Prepares & delivers bank deposits

• Accesses multiple banking systems to process transactions, retrieve information, &/or initiate wire transfers.

• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance.

• Contacts outside agencies, banks &/or banking systems to obtain clarification of rules &/or regulations.

• Controls account availability for all chart strings.

• Provides support for internal &/or granting agency audit requests.

• Reviews status of related university accounts, transactions and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed.

Grants &/or Awards:

• Reviews PI funding status on a monthly basis.

• Works with Dept &/or Research Administrator regarding financial grants management issues.

• Provides data for grant proposals; submits proposals

• Develops &/or administers budgets; coordinates IRB/IACUC, OSR/ASRSP transactions, &/or effort reporting.

• Interacts with faculty, staff &/or funders to build relationships, transfer knowledge, &/or advise on research policies & procedures.

• Monitors commitments and expenditures to ensure compliance with granting agency guidelines.

• Verifies accurate set up of sponsored project accounts.

Administration:

• Processes & presents data & information through the application of database, graphic & spreadsheet software.

• Obtains data by downloading from enterprise systems; develops and runs queries.

• Identifies sources for data & information to be used & completes special financial projects such as (enter in explanation of special projects):

• Performs general office support activities

• Manages operation of or interaction with a computer system or system processes that support the area or program.

• Ensures that area service level goals are met.

Training:

• Provides training and support to related university units or program participants; maintains website and training materials

• Supervision:

• Supervises temporary, part-time or work study students

• Provides work direction to others

Supervises other employees:

• Assists with hiring employees

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as accounting, business administration, finance, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis or other relevant experience.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $62,000 - $75,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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