Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Finance and Budget Operations and Financial Planning, the Senior Financial Analyst supports the quarterly and annual budgeting processes for Arts & Sciences departments, centers, and institutes, as well as the Office of the Executive Vice President. The incumbent provides analytical, reporting, and operational support to ensure budgets are prepared accurately, reviewed consistently, and aligned with University and Arts & Sciences policies, contributing to improved budget quality, timeliness, and transparency across A&S units.

Arts and Sciences is the intellectual heart of Columbia University. Home to more than 1,000 faculty, 60 research centers and institutes, and 28 academic departments, A&S provides a transformative educational experience to more than 16,000 undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students at Columbia ? nearly half the student body. Our field-defining research ? anchored in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences ? engages fundamental questions about our society and our world and supports Columbia?s broader mission to advance knowledge, learning, and impact at the highest levels.

*** This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, with up to two remote workdays per week. ***

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Finance and HR and the Executive Director of Finance and Budget Operations, prepare and distribute standard reports, dashboards, and analytical tools that support budget development, monitoring, and forecasting across A&S units. Assist in identifying opportunities to improve data quality, consistency, and turnaround time.
• Support the annual budget submission process by providing Arts & Sciences departments, centers, and institutes with budget parameters, timelines, templates, and supporting documentation.
• Respond to questions from units regarding assumptions, data entry, and system functionality, and track submissions to ensure completeness and timeliness.
• Review departmental, center, and institute budgets in the University budgeting system on a quarterly, rolling basis to ensure compliance with University and Arts & Sciences policies, approved parameters, and submission guidelines.
• Identify inconsistencies, errors, or variances and work directly with departmental administrators and directors to resolve issues and revise budget entries as needed. Escalate complex or policy-sensitive issues as appropriate.
• Assist in the development and delivery of training and reference materials for departmental users of the University budgeting tool. Provide guidance to units on basic forecasting of revenues and expenditures, interpretation of budget-to-actual results, and identification of emerging trends or risks, referring more complex analyses to senior leadership as appropriate.
• In coordination with the A&S Core Finance team, produce quarterly variance reports for departments, centers, and institutes, including budget-to-budget, budget-to-actuals, and actual-to-actual comparisons.
• Create and review variance analyses submitted by units, assess them for clarity and completeness, and summarize key findings in tabular and narrative form for review by senior A&S financial leadership and submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
• Maintain organized records, documentation, and version control related to budget submissions, reports, and variance analyses to support auditability and institutional reporting requirements.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 1-3 years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of statistical and presentation software.
• Knowledge of the university?s budgeting process and software, or other ERP systems.

Other Requirements

• Experience in budget and financial reporting.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Attention to detail, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise professionalism, diplomacy, discretion, firmness, and collaboration in dealing with individuals at all levels.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills. Ability to manage well and set priorities in an interactive team environment.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio) and Google Drive.
• Capacity to quickly acquire a detailed knowledge of university policies, procedures, and systems.