Senior Financial Analyst

Cornell University • Ithaca, MI

5d • $93,745 - $114,577 • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is located in Ithaca, N.Y., at Cornell University, a large and diverse institution within the Ivy League. The Division of Budget and Planning supports the university's academic mission and long-term sustainability through budgeting, financial and strategic planning, resource allocation, and analysis. The University Budget Office, within the Division, works with colleges and administrative units to develop, implement, and report on the Ithaca campus operating plan. It forecasts revenue and expenses, provides analytical context for planning, coordinates policy issues with senior leadership, monitors resource use, models program changes, and provides specialized budget services for New York State (NYS) and SUNY requirements. The office also maintains budget schedules, systems, and tools, and offers training for the annual budget development process.

Reporting to the Director of University Resource Planning & Institutional Finance, the Senior Financial Analyst will support the stewardship of the University’s central revenue and expense allocation models. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the financial models and mechanisms that govern resource planning and distribution across the institution. It also supports long-range financial forecasting and other analytical and planning activities that inform University resource allocation and financial decision-making. The role is highly quantitative and detail-oriented, emphasizing financial modeling, data analysis, forecasting, and translating complex financial information into actionable insights. The Senior Financial Analyst will ensure the accuracy, integrity, and sustainability of the University’s central financial models and resource allocation methodologies, and contribute to the continuous improvement of financial planning processes, systems, and reporting capabilities. Additionally, the role will support the University’s FY29 Workday Adaptive Planning implementation, ensuring central financial models and planning processes are effectively translated into the new system. Every member of the community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences, being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming, showing respect, compassion, and empathy, engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective, speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately, and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Requirements

• A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field and minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar capacity working in Finance, Budget and/or Analytical Role or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience building complex financial models and working with large datasets.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and modeling techniques).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent organizational, forecasting, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Cornell systems including but not limited to Kuali Financial System, Workday, OAS, and Longview.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Prior experience working in higher education, non-profit, or public sector finance.

Responsibilities

• Supports the stewardship of the University’s central revenue and expense allocation models.
• Develops and maintains the financial models and mechanisms that govern how resources are planned and distributed across the institution.
• Supports long-range financial forecasting and other analytical and planning activities that inform University resource allocation and financial decision-making.
• Ensures the accuracy, integrity, and sustainability of the University’s central financial models and resource allocation methodologies.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of financial planning processes, systems, and reporting capabilities.
• Supports the University’s FY29 Workday Adaptive Planning implementation, helping to ensure that central financial models and planning processes are effectively translated into the new system.
• Fosters a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Benefits

• educational benefits
• access to a plethora of wellness programs
• employee discounts with local and national retail brands
• health care
• generous paid leave provisions
• 3 weeks of vacation
• 14 university paid holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year’s Day)
• superior employer retirement contributions

What This Job Offers

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