Budget Analyst

Western Washington University•Bellingham, WA

18h•$86,395 - $112,314

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director for Budget and Financial Planning, the Budget Analyst is responsible for providing analyses and reports related to planning, developing, implementing, and administrating Western’s operating budget. This position may include supporting development of the state biennial and supplemental budget requests; leading the preparation of fiscal notes during legislative session; managing the University’s institutional budget; and providing other policy, fiscal and operational analysis in support of the university operating budget.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in business or public administration, finance, or a field relevant to position or equivalent experience/education
At least three years of professional experience related to budgets and financial management
Demonstrated ability to translate complex fiscal information into clear, easy to understand language
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, verbal communication, analytical, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and manage competing deadlines on multiple projects.
Demonstrated experience working with people of diverse backgrounds as a member of an inclusive team.
Ability to handle sensitive financial and business information in a confidential manner.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business or public administration, finance, or a field relevant to position or equivalent experience/education
Relevant work experience in higher education field
Demonstrated experience working with financial or business system databases, especially Banner/Ellucian and Millennium systems

Responsibilities

Assist with biennial and supplemental budget development, coordinate decision packages, enter and verify budgetary data in the state Office of Financial Management (OFM) systems.
Prepare and submit the biennial and annual allotment expenditure plans for all allotted operating funds; prepare monthly journal vouchers to report expenditure actuals to the state; and monitor actuals on a monthly basis to ensure internal allocations and allotments remain reconciled.
Analyze proposed & adopted state operating budgets and identify potential impacts to WWU.
Review pending legislative bills; assist with preparation and submission of fiscal notes and legislative information requests; collaborate with subject matter experts to identify fiscal impacts and cost estimates.
Coordinate meetings with other Washington public universities, WWU Governmental Relations, and OFM during legislative session to ensure alignment across the sector in our approach to fiscal notes and budget development.
Develop and facilitate Fall and Spring Management Reporting process by preparing resources, leading trainings, and assisting as a subject matter expert in support of unit completion of revenue, budget, and expense forecasting.
Assist the Director and Assistant Vice President (AVP) in managing the university's institutional budget, including maintaining institutional memberships, implementing cash and budgetary transfers, ensuring timely invoice payments, tracking and reconciling institutional budget commitments, and ad hoc financial analysis to inform decision makers.
Provide ad hoc financial analysis and expense forecasting to inform presentation materials and budget change recommendations related to university budget and financial information.
Facilitate meetings with stakeholders to review current processes and practices, including communicating and translating technical information across various stakeholder groups.
Conduct research of best practices among institutions of higher education for budget development, maintenance, and reporting processes, assessing feasibility of adoption.
Update, consolidate, and improve existing process manuals and internal Budget and Financial Planning publications.
Serve on work teams as a subject matter expert.
Serve as backup for several key Budget and Financial Planning roles; Assist senior leadership with ad hoc projects as requested.
Conduct budget transfers, review position requests, help maintain the Budget and Financial Planning website, and fulfill other duties as assigned.