Finance & Budget Associate

University of Notre Dame • Notre Dame, IN

1d • $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

LEO is seeking a proactive, analytical, and mission-driven professional to serve as its Finance and Budget Associate. This high-impact role is responsible for supporting the financial stewardship and operational success of one of the nation's leading poverty research organizations. The position will oversee financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, fund management, effort tracking, and process improvement across LEO's diverse portfolio of grants and funding sources. This role plays a critical part in ensuring LEO's resources are strategically managed to maximize organizational impact, supporting nearly $10 million in annual funding, over 100 research studies, and over 90 partners nationwide. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, detail-oriented professional with strong financial acumen, analytical thinking, and communication skills who thrives in fast-paced, mission-driven environments and is energized by using their expertise to advance evidence-based solutions to poverty. This is a five-year, limited-term position, contingent on funding, with the possibility of extension.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3-4 years of relevant professional experience in financial reporting, budgeting, financial analysis and forecasting, fund management, effort tracking, and cross-functional collaboration, preferably within a nonprofit, higher education, research, or mission-driven environment.
• A deep commitment to the mission of both LEO and the University is necessary.
• Ability to learn Notre Dame’s general ledger system and other internal reporting systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft suite and Google applications.
• Experience preparing financial reports, including operating budgets, proposal budgets, and internal and external financial reports.
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, financial analysis and forecasting.
• Experience with payroll management, labor distribution over large teams.
• Detail-oriented, logical, and highly organized.
• Strong in communication and interpersonal skills to be able to collaborate with many different teams.
• Analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy and consistency.
• Ability to take initiative, work autonomously, and take on additional responsibilities as required by business needs, facilitating a prompt response to requests.
• An ability to thrive in a small and dynamic team while effectively navigating a large University environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grant-funded organizations, GAAP accounting principles, and financial compliance is strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience with grant-funded organizations.
• Experience with GAAP accounting principles.
• Experience with financial compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal and external financial reporting across LEO's diverse portfolio of restricted funds and operating accounts.
• Develop consolidated monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports that provide meaningful insights for leadership and external stakeholders.
• Deliver exceptional financial support and customer service by responding to reporting needs, inquiries, and funding-related requests across LEO and partner organizations.
• Analyze financial performance, trends, and projections to support strategic planning and long-term organizational sustainability.
• Develop forecasting models and financial analyses that inform executive decision-making and resource allocation.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial processes, improve reporting accuracy, and optimize operational performance.
• Lead the development and management of annual operating, project, and fund-level budgets across LEO's complex funding portfolio.
• Prepare budget-to-actual analyses and financial projections to support proactive planning and informed decision-making.
• Manage LEO's Financial Compass processes while optimizing system utilization to support both university requirements and organizational goals.
• Oversee the financial management of restricted funds and operating accounts while ensuring compliance with university and sponsor requirements.
• Manage labor distributions, expense allocations, and fund activity to maximize available resources and maintain financial integrity.
• Monitor fund balances and spending strategies to ensure responsible stewardship of donor resources.
• Manage effort tracking and labor allocation across LEO's research portfolio to ensure accurate and timely distribution of personnel costs.
• Partner with the Grants Team, Principal Investigators, and university stakeholders to support compliant labor reporting and project funding.
• Maintain accurate effort reporting systems that support financial accountability, grant compliance, and operational excellence.

Benefits

• The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration.
• The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment.
• Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).
• We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level