Senior Business Analyst

Whittier College is seeking a Senior Business Analyst.

The Senior Business Analyst leverages deep knowledge of economic analysis, financial data, information systems, and organizations to enhance the college’s strategic decision-making, budgeting, fiscal stewardship, business processes, and evidenced-based decision-making. The role leads the annual budget development process and well as the review of actual and forecasted performance relative to budget. The role also provides leadership and analytical problem-solving capacity for a variety of strategic and operational projects. The five responsibility domains are: 1) Fiscal Stewardship and Management; 2) Planning and Fiscal Strategy; 3) Business Analytics and Decision Support; 4) Business Process Improvement; and 5) Data Management & Business Information Systems. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Planning & Finance / CFO, this role is a key member of the Planning & Finance Leadership Team.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full Time, 12 months
Salary Range: $90,000-$115,000 annually; salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.

Reports to: Vice President of Planning & Finance / CFO
Location/Department: Whittier College / Planning & Finance

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions of the Job

Fiscal Stewardship and Management - 45%

• Help lead the annual budget development process in a manner that achieves college goals, while ensuring broad ownership and understanding of budget targets.
• In collaboration with the College Controller/AVP Finance and IT Services Director, help produce and review financial reports, including variance analysis, for all Leadership Team members and designated budget managers to ensure fiscal accountability and to identify areas for improvement.
• Partner with Human Resources so that compensation budgets inform the approach to position management, salary adjustments, and benefits.
• Serve as a business partner for VPs, providing budget management advice, supporting information, and analysis that helps align resources with strategic priorities.

Planning and Fiscal Strategy - 15%

• Engage in multi-year resource planning modeling and share findings that inform the evolution of the strategic plan and near-term decision-making.
• Provide strategic analysis and planning support for individual unit plans.

Business Analytics and Decision Support - 15%

• Support evidenced-based decision-making by providing project management, analytical, and business intelligence support for various strategic and operational initiatives and inquiries.
• In partnership with the Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, provide the Leadership Team with dashboards and/or regular reports on key performance metrics.

Business Process Improvement - 10%

• Given intimate knowledge of the college’s financial structure and cost drivers, identify opportunities for improvement in operations that could lead to greater efficiencies.
• Provide project leadership and lend problem-solving skills to cross-functional teams charged with pursuing business process improvements.
• Data Management & Business Information Systems-10%
• Serve as the chief data steward for financial data. This involves collaborating with other data stewards across campus in the collection, transformation, reporting / dashboarding and warehousing of data collected from source systems, such as Banner.
• Partner with IT to identify ways to leverage existing financial information systems and/or develop new information management tools that would better support budget development, financial reporting, and business analysis.

Other - 5%

• Keep abreast of developments in the higher education landscape and the potential implications for the college’s financial future and strategic choices.
• Engage in professional development and lifelong learning, enhancing skills over r duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Non-essential Functions of the Job

None identified at this time.

Position Specifications and Requirements

A. Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, information technology, or related field

B. Experience

• Three years of relevant work experience such as business, financial, or systems analysis, process improvement, or a similar role
• Experience in developing budgets and reviewing actual performance relative to budget
• Proven track record applying strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve complex system and process issues efficiently

C. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to translate technical details for non-technical audiences
• Self-starter with the ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to work collaboratively by identifying and addressing the interest of various constituents
• Ability to maintain a service orientation
• Ability to exercise integrity and the highest professionalism

Preferred Qualifications

A. Education

• Master’s in business, finance, related field

B. Experience

• Five years of relevant work experience in a higher education setting
• Experience in developing financial reports and interpreting results for various audiences
• Experience in leading change in business processes
• Experience in managing and carrying out multiple projects and tasks simultaneously to meet deadlines

C. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and a proven ability to apply these methodologies to successfully deliver projects within scope and on time
• Knowledge of Ellucian Banner or similar enterprise software in higher education
• Knowledge of database management and data governance principles
• Skills: Critical thinking, active listening, judgment and decision-making, monitoring, complex problem solving, service orientation, systems analysis, social perceptiveness, persuasion, time management