Financial Analyst

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

13d•$67,855 - $95,845

About The Position

Develops and maintains financial models that support the university's budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning efforts. Pulls and analyzes data across multiple university systems, applying a sharp eye for accuracy and a problem-solving mindset to dig into discrepancies wherever they turn up. Builds and maintains Tableau dashboards that keep leadership informed on budget, headcount, and operating KPIs. Connects the data back to what's actually happening across the university's campuses — keeping dashboards and models grounded in real operations. Works across departments and functions to support university-wide financial priorities, and stays open to new tools and approaches — including AI-assisted tools like Claude — as reporting needs evolve.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field and 2-4 years of relevant experience
Ability to use statistical analysis, simulations, predictive modeling, or other methods to analyze information and develop solutions that support the university's mission
Advanced proficiency in Excel, including complex formulas and financial modeling
Ability to write and execute SQL queries to extract and analyze data from relational databases
Ability to build and maintain dashboards in Tableau or similar BI tools (e.g., Power BI)
Ability to apply data visualization best practices to turn complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives for audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with high attention to detail and a demonstrated focus on data accuracy
Ability to communicate complex data and analysis clearly, both in writing and verbally, to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of ERP/financial systems (e.g., Workday, Adaptive Planning, Oracle, or similar)
Working knowledge of Python or R for data automation and analysis
Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake)
Familiarity with AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude) for data analysis, forecasting, or process automation
Genuine interest in and commitment to Northeastern's mission

Responsibilities

Pull, clean, and consolidate financial, enrollment, headcount, and operational data from multiple university systems (Workday, Snowflake, and others) into unified, reliable data sets
Identify and resolve data inconsistencies, gaps, and anomalies at the source before they reach downstream reporting
Build and maintain automated data pipelines and queries (SQL, Python) to reduce manual data pulls and improve turnaround time on recurring reporting needs
Partner with system administrators and data owners to understand source system logic and ensure data is interpreted and mapped correctly
Design and maintain Tableau dashboards that translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable views for leadership
Distill analysis into concise, decision-ready summaries — highlighting key trends, risks, and opportunities rather than raw data
Partner with stakeholders to understand reporting needs and iterate on dashboard design as priorities shift
Build and maintain financial models supporting budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning
Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis to inform planning assumptions and decision-making
Support annual budget development and periodic forecast updates in partnership with departmental leadership
Collaborate with departments across the university to support financial planning needs tied to the broader institutional mission
Evaluate and adopt AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude) and other automation technologies to improve efficiency and accuracy of financial processes
Document processes and methodologies to support consistency and knowledge transfer across the team