(Remote) Financial Management Analyst Lead - Budget Office

The Budget Office in the Division of Finance at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Financial Management Analyst Lead.

About the Opportunity

This position is the Financial Management Analyst Lead in Budget and Planning reporting to the Chief University Budget Officer for WVU. It is responsible for key responsibilities of the formulation, analysis and review of the $1+ billion University budget and its regional campuses.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Manages key tasks as part of the formulation and preparation of the operating budget for West Virginia University and its regional campuses. Directly responsible for:

• Analyzing and reviewing the New Budget Model's ASU, Auxiliary and Primary Unit budgets.
• Analyzing and reviewing financial information at multiple levels of detail to determine if revenue and expenditure activity is in line with budget projections.
• Preparing monthly budget reports using the most current PC based financial software in conjunction with the University's integrated financial database.
• Conducting functional cost reviews and budgetary unit cost reviews using the most current PC based financial software in conjunction with the University's integrated financial database.
• Recommending actions to be taken to alleviate any problems identified as a result of the prior tasks.
• Coordinating the implementation of corrective actions.
• Conducting environmental scans to identify comparative data for use in major policy implementation processes such as the salary improvement process.
• Analyzing cash flow activity to maximize resource utilization.
• Forecasting the long and short-term impact to the campus of proposed fiscal strategies.
• Developing and monitoring student fee revenue and salary projections and the factors that drive these projections. Most notable of these variables are student enrollment and payroll.
• Preparing annual planning information to be used in the comprehensive budget planning program.
• Composing computer generated reports detailing comparative budget data and statistics.
• Preparing the Sources and Uses analysis for the University's Board of Governors. Indicators are compared to current year targets as well as the previous year's performance to indicate the University's position relative to its plan.
• Responsible for balancing West Virginia University FTE employee salaries to OASIS budget for West Virginia State Auditor's Office monthly.
• Analyzing and advising leadership on various expense categories including Salaries, Benefits, Supplies, and Utilities to ensure adherence to budget.
• Assisting in the analysis of written budget requests.
• Preparing and/or reviewing data inputs in the new Budget Model.
• Acting as backup for management of the new Budget Model.

Responsible for managing functions of the University's Budget Management System.

• Adding additional custom functionality i.e. Capital Reporting.
• Managing roll forward of period and year.
• Reconciling budget preparation software to the University's integrated financial database.
• Performing maintenance on interface from the University's integrated financial database.
• Creating management reports for various stakeholders.

Responsible for monitoring the overall financial health of the University and its regional campuses as well as suggesting appropriate responsive actions. This is accompli shed by:

• Analyzing institutional budget data.
• Developing long and short-term budgetary forecasts.
• Recommending appropriate actions to be taken in response to these forecasts.

Responsible for ensuring that all operating and capital budgeting processes comply with the appropriate financial accounting standards, regulatory agency guidelines, and donor restrictions.

• Maintaining a thorough understanding of al l pertinent Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and rulings, Federal and State regulatory guidelines, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in relation to the University's Budget Planning.
• Understanding and interpreting University policies as they relate to operating and capital budgeting processes.

Responsible for developing and maintaining a process for monitoring and managing the capital project budgets for the University and its regional campuses including:

• Monitoring and managing all major projects under the institution's Capital Master Plan as well as all smaller capital projects routinely undertaken to address normal maintenance needs.
• Monitoring and managing capital projects spanning multiple fiscal year ranges.
• Monitoring and managing multiple types of funding sources, including those with externally imposed restrictions, in a manner that will maximize the use of all available resources.
• Reacting appropriately to frequent changes in project budgets, funding sources, timelines and externally imposed constraints
• Developing long and short-term budgetary forecasts for funds controlled by the Capital Planning Committee.
• Recommending appropriate actions to be taken in response to these forecasts.
• Thorough understanding of the restrictions, limitations, cash flow patterns, and other characteristics of all potential capital projects funding sources.
• Developing and implementing training and other functional guidance to all parties involved in capital projects budgeting. This involves extensive interaction with multiple units across campus and requires a thorough understanding of each unit's responsibilities and financial situation.
• Serving as the lead financial expert in developing, investigating and recommending both short- and long-term financing options in order to generate funds needed to fully implement the University's capital plan. These options include, but are not limited to, debt instruments, sale/leaseback arrangements, substation leasing options, intra-university and intra-campus loan arrangements each with its own inherent set of compliance issues.

Responsible for administering budget allocations for all University bonds and financing agreements.

• Maintaining a thorough understanding of all bonds and financing agreements.
• Maintaining a thorough understanding of pertinent tax and regulatory issues regarding bond and financing agreements.
• Ensuring that all resources associated with bonds and financing agreements are budgeted and utilized appropriately in line with external and internal requirements.
• Serves as key representative of the office to various constituency groups across the institution.
• Maintaining a thorough understanding of the needs of each constituency group as well as the environment within which each group operates.
• Developing plans to effectively utilize the institution's planning processes in conjunction with the needs of each group.
• Developing effective working relationships with each group.
• Advises and serves as a liaison to Deans, Directors and EBOs regarding the budget planning and budget preparation processes as well as ongoing budget management and unit fiscal health issues. Responds to routine verbal and written inquiries from customers.

Responsible for collecting data and compiling budget reports for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and senior administrators at West Virginia University, using report guidelines prepared by the Chief Budget Officer.

• Preparing a draft of the University's annual budget report utilizing the most current PC based financial software in conjunction with the University's integrated financial database.
• Preparing a draft of special reports requested by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and senior administrators at West Virginia University.
• Fulfills lead roles in the completion of varied and complex special projects. These projects require the development of integrated, long-term, operational and capital budgets to form comprehensive financial plans for use by University-wide decision makers.

Performs related duties as assigned.

• Master's degree in finance, accounting, or a directly related field
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations of a complex organization. The experience must have provided the individual with knowledge of accounting/budgeting principles, strong computer skills, strong oral and written communication skills, understanding of business practice standards, and the professional judgment skills to operate independently in a flexible environment.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered. For example, we will consider a Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a directly related field plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations of a complex organization
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to develop a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the financial structures and workings of a public higher education institution. This requires extensive knowledge of budgetary, accounting, financial, and human resources matters. Must have comprehensive analytical and reasoning ability as well as planning, maintenance, audit, and reporting capabilities. Ability to develop a high degree of understanding of the state and governing board policies and procedures affecting student fees, salary schedules, and other fiscal issues related to higher education.
• The individual must also have the ability to perform tasks independently, to complete tasks by specific deadline dates, and to take the initiative to solve problems related to these tasks.

Licenses/Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant certification is desirable but not required.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.