Financial Analyst I

Financial Analyst I

The Financial Analyst plays a critical role in supporting the financial operations of assigned Academic Departments and Centers. This position is responsible for managing faculty and staff salary distributions, monitoring budgets and fund balances, and reconciling accounts to ensure accuracy and compliance.

As a key member of the Finance and Operations team, the Financial Analyst contributes to the department's and centers' success by providing personalized service and ensuring efficient financial management. We are committed to responsiveness, professionalism, and efficiency, striving to deliver the highest level of support to our stakeholders.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA / ASU / NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state retirement plan; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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The Financial Analyst assists higher-level Financial Analysts in the review and monitoring of departmental accounts to ensure appropriate spending and compliance with university and external agency regulations. Utilize basic knowledge of university systems and department tools to support financial analysis and reconciliation efforts. Identify routine budget variances, providing explanations, and offering recommendations for corrective action. Ensure accuracy in salary distributions, budget monitoring, and fund balance tracking. Assist in reconciliation of UA payroll expenditures to ensure faculty and staff position distributions are aligned with departmental and sponsor budgets, including reviewing financial data to identify discrepancies and supporting the preparation of reconciliation reports. Initiate position distribution and funding changes in UAccess Employee, verify accuracy of funding requests and collaborating with senior staff to ensure compliance with budget guidelines. Maintain annual funding plans and budget sheets, performing basic financial data analysis to track expenses against budget allocations and identify potential variances. Initiate adjustments such as salary expense transfers, assisting in gathering supporting documentation and preparing reports to justify budget modifications. Reconcile UA Purchasing Card (P-Card) transactions and compile supporting documentation, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures.

Analyze spending patterns to identify opportunities for cost reductions and process improvements. Provide financial data to administrative staff to support the preparation of disbursement vouchers, travel authorizations, and expense reimbursements. Assist with generating financial reports, forecasts, and budgets by offering data analysis and insights. Initiate and process UA Foundation forms for reimbursements and fund transfers. Collaborate with the finance team to monitor fund allocations, ensuring alignment with budget projections and financial models. Perform general error corrections to address accounting discrepancies. Conduct financial analysis to verify the accuracy of the general ledger and support the preparation of accurate financial statements and reports. Provide support to higher-level Financial Analysts in monitoring grants and contracts, ensuring alignment with contract budget and scope of work as determined by the sponsor. Assist in the preparation of financial forecasts which may include analyzing historical data, identifying trends, and making projections to support higher-level Financial Analysts with budgeting decisions. Communicate with department faculty and staff and may interpret University and sponsor policies and procedures. Organize and file departmental account documentation and correspondence, financial transactions per records retention schedules, and other sponsor supporting documentation.

Excellent organization and time management skills. Ability to multi-task projects and daily assignments.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required. Up to one (1) year of relevant work experience may be required.

At least one year of working knowledge and experience interpreting University and UA Foundation policies and procedures. At least one year of experience working with the University Financial Systems. At least one year of experience reconciling UA groups (state, designated, Indirect cost recovery, sponsored, and other restricted gift accounts).