Financial Systems & Strategy Analyst

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Financial Systems & Strategy Analyst serves as a senior-level project and policy analyst within the IMM Office Controller Business Services, supporting the enterprise financial systems.

This position supports the implementation and optimization of complex business and financial systems. This position provides advanced project analysis, policy interpretation, and strategic coordination to ensure financial system initiatives align with UC policies, accounting standards, and organizational priorities.

The analyst serves as a liaison between the Controller's Office, technical project management teams, business systems analysts, functional leads, and campus partners. By fostering clear communication and mutual understanding across technical and functional areas, this role supports efficient implementation and sustainable adoption of new processes and systems.

The incumbent plays a critical role in ensuring that project initiatives and process improvements are coordinated across multiple functional areas, integrating system capabilities with policy, compliance, and user needs. The position focuses on project management, strategy, communications, policy alignment, and user experience rather than technical configuration or coding.

The analyst partners closely with all stakeholders to optimize business processes, improve user adoption, and ensure seamless integration across various financial modules. This role plays a critical leadership function in ensuring that financial system initiatives are strategically planned, effectively communicated, compliant with UC and external requirements, and sustainably adopted across the organization.

Department Summary:

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) brings the power of UC research and education to all 58 counties of California. UC ANR employs more than 1,600 academic and staff personnel and operates with an annual budget exceeding $300 million. UC ANR manages 10 Research and Extension Centers across the state and are present in every county and across all UC campuses, working with communities, farmers, ranchers, youth, and policymakers to develop practical, science-based solutions. Our programs advance sustainable agriculture, healthy food systems, natural resources, youth development, and community resilience, improving the lives of all Californians.

This position is a career term appointment that is 100% fixed.

The home department is IMM Office Controller Business Services. While this position normally is based in Davis, CA, this position is eligible for hybrid flexible work arrangements for applicants living in the State of California at this time. Please note that hybrid flexible work arrangements are subject to change by the University.

Pay Scale: $81,500/year to $115,800/year

Job Posting Close Date:
This job is open until filled. The first application review date will be 04/30/2026.

Key Responsibilities:

25%
Project and Change Management Guidance & Support:
Serves as a strategic liaison to project teams, ensuring policy, communication, and organizational perspectives are represented throughout project lifecycles. Coordinates testing, validation, and participation in system releases and business process changes with IT and partners. Supports configuration reviews, data cleanup, and conversion activities to promote efficient system use, data integrity, and compliance.

25%
Strategic Alignment and Organizational Planning:
Collaborate with the Controller and senior leadership to align financial system initiatives with UC ANR's strategic, fiscal, and operational priorities. Serves as an intermediary among leadership, project managers, and functional teams to ensure requirements, policies, and deliverables are clearly defined and understood. Leads analysis of organizational needs, financial policies, and operational practices to ensure systems support both unit-level and enterprise-wide objectives. Develops long-term roadmaps, prioritizes initiatives, and evaluates the organizational and financial impact of system decisions.

25%
Business Process Improvement and Systems Optimization:
Evaluates financial and business workflows to identify inefficiencies, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Recommends process enhancements and supports implementation plans that improve user experience, data integrity, and cross-system integration. Ensures process changes align with UC policies, accounting standards, and applicable compliance requirements. Collaborates with functional leads to support consistent and compliant financial practices across the organization.

15%
Stakeholder Communication and Engagement:
Develops clear, timely communications, presentations, and documentation to support leadership decision-making, project transparency, and user engagement. Facilitates cross-functional discussions to align expectations, clarify decisions, and address the impact of change. Tracks and documents key decisions, assumptions, and change implications to support transparency and accountability. Supports organizational readiness and user adoption through coordinated messaging and engagement strategies.

10%
Analysis and Compliance Support:
Interprets UC, federal, and state policy changes affecting financial operations. Provides analysis and recommendations to the leadership to ensure compliance and consistency across UC ANR processes and systems. Supports internal control objectives.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Public Administration/Public Policy, Business Administration, and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Thorough experience with business systems, process optimization, or financial operations.
• Advanced Experience facilitating alignment between strategic objectives, business needs, and system capabilities. Ability to manage multiple projects, track progress, and ensure timely completion.
• Familiarity with project management, change management, or continuous improvement frameworks (e.g., Agile, Lean).
• Advanced knowledge and prior experience of analyzing business processes and driving improvements would be an asset for this position.
• Demonstrated experience/skills on a large or an ERP system, such as Oracle Cloud Financials, Workday, PeopleSoft Financials, and similar systems required.
• Proficiency in relevant software and tools, including Microsoft Office Suite, and quickly learn new reporting tools such as SAS.
• An ability to communicate ideas, analyze and interpret data, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to develop solutions to complex institutional challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience supporting financial system implementation or modernization initiatives.
• Experience within a public higher education or Land Grant University environment.
• Familiarity with fund accounting and grant administration.
• Knowledge of accounting principles (e.g., GAAP), financial analysis, and reporting.