Financial Analyst

School of Government Services•Chapel Hill, NC

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that includes a partially remote work location. Must be able to report onsite in Chapel Hill, NC. This Financial Analyst position supports the Financial Analysis, Reporting, and Budget (FARB) group, within the Finance and Operations (F&O) Service Center of Excellence (SCE), contributing to financial services for assigned customer portfolios. Working in coordination with a Lead Financial Analyst who serves as the primary liaison to operational units, the position provides advanced financial analysis, reporting, modeling, forecasting, and budget support. Responsibilities include preparing detailed analyses, supporting customer engagement, and delivering financial insights to inform leadership decision-making. The role supports a diverse portfolio of approximately $400M, including state appropriations, F&A (overhead) receipts, institutional trust funds, grants, endowments, and cost-recovery and recharge operations. Operating with moderate independence, the position applies professional judgment to address complex financial and operational issues while collaborating with senior analysts and leadership. The role also requires adaptability to evolving systems, processes, and organizational priorities. The selected candidate will be employed by the School of Government Services (SOG Services), but their work location and reporting responsibilities will be at the F&O Finance SCE. SOG Services assists faculty and staff at the UNC School of Government in carrying out its important mission: to improve the lives of North Carolinians by engaging in practical scholarship that helps public officials and citizens understand and improve state and local government. As a nonprofit organization and an official affiliated entity of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, SOG Services also contributes to advancing UNC-Chapel Hill’s broader mission of academic excellence, research, and public service.

Requirements

Mid-career with Masters and 1-2 years’ of relevant experience; or Bachelors and 2-4 years’ experience in accounting, finance, or a related field, with demonstrated progression in responsibilities.
Demonstrated experience in financial analysis, modeling, forecasting, reporting, cost analysis, and variance analysis.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze large and complex datasets, identify trends, anomalies, and discrepancies, and support data-driven decision making.
Ability to interpret financial and operational data to evaluate performance and inform strategic and operational decisions.
Experience with financial reconciliation and data validation, including ensuring accuracy across general ledger and subledger systems.
Experience working with enterprise financial systems and data environments, including the ability to analyze transaction flows and resolve discrepancies.
Proficiency in financial and data tools, including Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, and Power Query), data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI or Tableau), ERP systems (e.g., PeopleSoft), query tools (e.g., SQL/Sequel or IQ Query), and familiarity with asset management systems (e.g., AIM, Maximo).
Ability to develop financial models, dashboards, and performance metrics to support planning and reporting.
Knowledge of financial operations and understanding of the impact of business decisions on organizational outcomes.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial information clearly and develop reports, documentation, and presentations.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or progress toward licensure.
Experience in higher education financial environments, including systems such as ConnectCarolina (PeopleSoft Financial and HR), InfoPorte, and similar platforms.
Experience with cost accounting, particularly in service operations, energy production, or inventory-based environments.
Experience working with subledgers and supplemental financial systems in complex operational settings.
Experience with advanced accounting, reporting, or asset management systems (e.g., AIM, Maximo).
Demonstrated ability to prepare materials for and support presentations to executive leadership.
Ability to translate complex financial data into clear insights and effectively communicate results to stakeholders.
Demonstrated initiative and a proactive, solution-oriented approach to work.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to connect individual work to broader organizational goals.
Ability to operate effectively in a dynamic environment with evolving systems and processes.
Ability to work independently with sound judgment and assume increased responsibility as proficiency develops.

Responsibilities

Provides advanced financial analysis and reporting to support operational decision-making across assigned portfolios.
Develops and maintains financial models for budget planning, forecasting, cost analysis, and scenario modeling based on changing service levels and operational metrics.
Produces accurate and timely monthly financial reports, including budget-to-actual and fund balance analysis, dashboards, performance metrics, and supplemental reporting incorporating operational drivers.
Analyzes financial trends, risks, and anomalies, and recommends corrective actions.
Prepares analyses, executive summaries, and presentation materials for leadership.
Supports financial review meetings and responds to stakeholder inquiries.
Conducts periodic deep-dive analysis on unit operating performance.
Maintains and enhances reporting tools, dashboards, KPIs, and methodologies to improve accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of financial information.
Ensures accuracy, consistency, and integrity of financial reporting outputs.
Assists the Lead Financial Analyst with analyses and follow-up actions.
Supports the annual budget process, including templates, timelines, and coordination with stakeholders, including the customer unit and Budget Office.
Assists with personnel and non-personnel projections and budget updates.
Tracks, monitors, and reconciles budget activity across systems (e.g., OneStream, PeopleSoft, Tableau), ensuring data accuracy and resolution of variances.
Prepares budget materials and presentations for leadership.
Maintains and updates budget data for monthly monitoring and reporting.
Performs monthly reconciliations across the general ledger and supporting systems.
Identifies discrepancies, investigates root causes, and prepares corrections.
Ensures alignment between subledgers and the general ledger.
Reviews aging accounts receivable and supports resolution strategies.
Ensures data accuracy and integrity across systems through reconciliation, validation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Documents financial processes, systems, and business practices to support consistency and knowledge transfer.
Supports development and refinement of evolving workflows, processes, and procedures.
Develops automated tools and reporting solutions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility.
Serves as a resource for resolving moderately complex financial and operational issues.
Supports training and documentation for systems and reporting processes.
Leads or contributes to special projects involving financial analysis, process improvement, or system initiatives.
Participates in institutional benchmarking and surveys (e.g., APPA/Gordian).
Provides financial and operational insights to support strategic initiatives.