Academic Affairs Budget Analyst

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is looking for a Budget Analyst to join its Academic Affairs Office. This department supports the work of faculty, departments, and students across all divisions. This is a great opportunity to support budget development for strategic partnerships and research project activities. We seek a culturally competent candidate who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

The Budget Analyst projects, analyzes, and summarizes data for financial planning, budgeting, and reporting purposes. This position is responsible for maintaining and providing input to and recommendations for informational databases and tools including position control, capital, and operating budgets. The Budget Analyst maintains and improves detailed financial and analytical models and provides financial reports to various departments serving as a point of contact to these departments for budget inquiries and training. This role also supports the budget and planning process across the Strategic Partnerships portfolio and fiscal monitoring, reporting, research, analysis, and financial management of grants and contract activity.

Essential Functions

• Proactively engage other Academic Affairs offices to understand budget needs and requests and collect applicable data. Contribute to the budget development process by handling requests and adjustments.
• Support budget development for strategic partnership and research project activity, including pre-award and post-award analysis on grants and contracts. Fiscal monitoring, reporting, research, analysis, and financial management of grants and contract activity. Ensure that grants, contracts, gifts, and designated funds are properly accounted for and that resources are managed in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and / or restrictions in collaboration with the Controller’s Office.
• Proactively engage with the Controller’s Office and Academic Affairs to reconcile and close-out external funding activities in order to meet Fiscal Year accounting deadlines and external reporting requirements. Prepare accurate end-of-year / end of project reports, internal funding distributions, and financial account closeouts.
• Oversee project budgets. Monitor and adjust as necessary payroll allocations among various unrestricted and designated funds in order to maintain accurate budgets and ensure compliance with grant and project budgets.
• Support development of Workday systems for contracted activity, external funding, and report development. Build ad hoc queries and generate reports. Maintain and improve financial models to forecast trends, outline concerns, and highlight opportunities. Create summaries and presentations. Present these summaries to a variety of audiences. Evaluate new and existing tools, systems, and modules, as requested, and make recommendations to align system solutions with operational needs and requirements.
• Payroll reconciliation against budget. Report, analyze, and communicate related data with appropriate academic leadership.
• Monitor revenue and expenditure budget performance and provide reporting and analysis of variances. Identify areas of concern and recommend appropriate actions. Advise on resource allocation for Strategic Partnerships initiatives. Provide input on budget model proposals and/or 5 year budget models for revenue development.
• Ensure compliance with the college’s operating and capital budget policies. Partner with and educate departments regarding correct procedures and compliance.
• Serve as the first line of contact with other Academic Affairs offices to provide budget training and respond to budget inquiries. Engage and consult with departments regarding available options, budgetary solutions, and implications.
• Review contracts, leases, and other agreements for budget impact and payable/receivable scheduling, and assist with the review and approval process.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Requires a detailed understanding of budget development and strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Knowledge of grants or sponsored project management related to project budgets.
• Ability to interact with all levels of the organization and work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to liaise and network with various departments in order to leverage systems, tools, and relationships.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated computing and quantitative skills including experience with MS Excel and Google suite.
• Excellent attention to detail and oral and written communication skills.
• Experience reporting to external funders or stakeholders and/or working with corporate partner finance offices.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Business Administration, Finance, or business-related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of professional experience in finance, and/or budgeting, preferably in a non-profit environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with Workday, grant management, and position control systems preferred.

Union

None

Work Schedule

35 hours/week; 12 months/year

Employment Status

Full-Time; Exempt

Grade

10/AD

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

Salary Grade Structure

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.

The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.

RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

For internal use only - Job Family:

Finance & Accounting