Job No. 155739
- Job Title:
- Budget Analyst
- Employer:
-
Syracuse University
- Location:
-
Syracuse , NY
- Posting Date:
- 25-Jun-2025
- Description:
-
Job Description
The Budget Analyst will provide comprehensive budgetary, financial, and administrative support for a large, research-intensive science department with significant sponsored award expenses. Under the supervision of the Budget Manager, the Analyst will manage day-to-day departmental financial operations, processes, and procedures, analyzing financial information from multiple funding sources, including unrestricted funds, sponsored funds, gift funds, and endowment funds. They will produce detailed financial reports using University applications, ensuring accuracy and compliance with department, college, university, and sponsor guidelines.
The Analyst will forecast the impact of financial decisions to provide direction and support, advise faculty and staff, maximize the use of funds, and ensure overall operations are within budget. They will serve as a liaison with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Office of Sponsored Accounting, assisting principal investigators and the Budget Manager with sponsored project administration. The Analyst will also support special projects and continuously seek opportunities to improve financial operations and enhance efficiency.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience and a minimum of 4 years’ experience in a budget role required.
Experience with external award/grant funding management and processes strongly preferred.
Experience in an academic setting strongly preferred.
Minimum 7 years’ experience in spreadsheet applications.
Knowledge of banking operations preferred.
Skills and Knowledge
Strong attention to detail and high level of discretion and confidentiality required.
Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Adobe Professional suite.
High level of research and data gathering ability, analytical skills, ability to read and interpret documents, strong organizational skills, advanced verbal and written communication skills (i.e., ability to communicate complex financial information to a diverse audience in meaningful and understandable terms).
Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects.
Advanced knowledge of University budget systems (e.g. FAB, DataInsights, Sponsored Award Management tool) and Excel; experience managing sponsored awards.
Advanced knowledge of PeopleSoft, Hyperion, or related systems.
Able to work collaboratively with others, while maintaining independence.
Responsibilities
Budget and Finance:
Analyze a variety of financial information from multiple funding sources (i.e., unrestricted funds, sponsored funds, gift and endowment funds) for the purposes of providing direction and support, making recommendations to the department chair, maximizing use of funds, and/or ensuring overall operations are within budget.
Work in partnership with the Budget Manager to recommend financial approval procedures.
Accountable for a variety of manual and electronic fiscal information, files and records for the purpose of providing an up-to-date reference and audit trail.
Monitor spending allowances and new faculty start-up budgets and expenditures.
Work with Department Budget Manager for the resolution of issues discovered during review and reconciliation of accounts.
Monitor financial aid awarded and graduate assistants/teaching assistants/research assistant awards.
Monthly spending reports, year-to-date comparative analysis, and other reports as requested.
Work closely with Budget Manager to resolve budget questions from faculty/staff and assist in requests from the College.
Grant Management:
Independently analyze and coordinate revenues and expenditures for department including large federal grants, gifts and endowments, and tuition and fees.
Calculate the financial effect salary distribution changes have on internal and external funding sources.
Serves as liaison among principal investigators (Pl’s) and university administrative units.
Interprets both agency and university requirements and policies/practices for the departments and provides support to obtain newly available information on funding volume, timing of reports, fiscal issues and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Independently makes decisions, authorizes actions, and manages the sponsored programs portfolio for assigned area.
Generates reports to evaluate activity and available funds.
Manages fiscal reports and assists the faculty in determining funds available, spending plan/projections and timing of Human Resources changes to ensure continued support for grants employees.
Administration/HR/Payroll:
Following current University policies, responsible to ensure the accurate and timely processing and approval of payroll processes, including sponsored effort, course-relief redistributions, over/under payments, temporary/casual hires (Smart HR hires) with attention to compliance with sponsor, University, and Department policies and guidelines. This includes calculating the financial effect salary distribution changes have on internal and external funding sources with varying fringe benefit and F&A rates, budget restrictions, effort reporting, and budget cycles (e.g. federal grants, cost-sharing monies, corporate, foundation, and gift funds).
Serve as pre-reviewer for effort reporting system.
Clear salary holding in a timely manner to support effort reporting process.
Plan spending and payroll with the PI.
Input and maintain payroll appointments according to the proposal.
Provide accurate and complete financial justification and sourcing for position evaluation requests (PERs) supported by startup and/or research funds.
Will create and/or approve expense reimbursements, purchase requisitions, credit card reconciliations.
Partner with Budget Manager and/or Operations Specialist on special projects that have budgetary implications, including documenting procedures.
Work closely with Budget Manager and/or College to resolve budget questions and assist in requests from the College and the Office of Budget and Planning.
Other duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements