Financial Analyst

Develops and maintains financial models that support the university's budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning efforts. Pulls and analyzes data across multiple university systems, applying a sharp eye for accuracy and a problem-solving mindset to dig into discrepancies wherever they turn up. Builds and maintains Tableau dashboards that keep leadership informed on budget, headcount, and operating KPIs. Connects the data back to what's actually happening across the university's campuses — keeping dashboards and models grounded in real operations.

Works across departments and functions to support university-wide financial priorities, and stays open to new tools and approaches — including AI-assisted tools like Claude — as reporting needs evolve.

• Knowledge of financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting principles, as normally acquired through a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field and 2-4 years of relevant experience
• Ability to use statistical analysis, simulations, predictive modeling, or other methods to analyze information and develop solutions that support the university's mission
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, including complex formulas and financial modeling
• Ability to write and execute SQL queries to extract and analyze data from relational databases
• Ability to build and maintain dashboards in Tableau or similar BI tools (e.g., Power BI)
• Ability to apply data visualization best practices to turn complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives for audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with high attention to detail and a demonstrated focus on data accuracy
• Ability to communicate complex data and analysis clearly, both in writing and verbally, to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Preferred Knowledge of ERP/financial systems (e.g., Workday, Adaptive Planning, Oracle, or similar)
• Working knowledge of Python or R for data automation and analysis
• Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake)
• Familiarity with AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude) for data analysis, forecasting, or process automation
• Genuine interest in and commitment to Northeastern's mission

Pull, clean, and consolidate financial, enrollment, headcount, and operational data from multiple university systems (Workday, Snowflake, and others) into unified, reliable data sets

Identify and resolve data inconsistencies, gaps, and anomalies at the source before they reach downstream reporting

Build and maintain automated data pipelines and queries (SQL, Python) to reduce manual data pulls and improve turnaround time on recurring reporting needs

Partner with system administrators and data owners to understand source system logic and ensure data is interpreted and mapped correctly

Design and maintain Tableau dashboards that translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable views for leadership

Distill analysis into concise, decision-ready summaries — highlighting key trends, risks, and opportunities rather than raw data

Partner with stakeholders to understand reporting needs and iterate on dashboard design as priorities shift

Build and maintain financial models supporting budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning

Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis to inform planning assumptions and decision-making

Support annual budget development and periodic forecast updates in partnership with departmental…