Budget and Project Analyst (Finance)

We're seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Budget and Project Analyst to join our Finance team and support multiple divisions in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. In this role, you will gather, compile, and analyze financial data to help guide operational and strategic decisions. You'll work closely with senior management to monitor budgets, identify trends, and support variance and outlook reporting.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

Business Acumen

• Compiles annual budget information for assigned division(s), may include multiple locations or multiple budget centers. Some data is provided by multiple sources (i.e., Field/LOB Managers, Finance, Admin Services, etc.) to be compiled into database/systems for overall division budget. 
• Project work may vary in role performed, length of project, and level of complexity. Typically, incumbent serves a contributory role within a larger project. Duties may consist of gathering and reporting on comparison of data to support a decision, such as data required for vendor selection or equipment requisition.
• Conducts analysis of historical data against current data, gathering explanations from others to explain anomalies for senior management review. Explores data to develop both insights and more questions for the business to discuss or for continued research.

Negotiation

• Provides revisions to prior views and assumptions based on new or revised credible data. Analyzes data quality and recommends improvements.
• Applies data to solve common business problems.

Results Oriented

• Maintains and reports on activities for the budget including support of variance reporting and outlook reporting. 
• Correctly interpret financial department's policies to research and resolve significant issues such as errors with chargebacks and accruals, as well as the distribution of assessments. Conduct expense analysis and identify trends for senior management. Develop tools and instructions to facilitate budget creation, monitoring, and creation of outlooks. 
• Conducts data analysis in support of strategic projects.
• Compiles, manipulates, and analyzes data of varying complexity.
• Knowledgeable and proficient about what tools are available for data analysis and when they are appropriate to use.

Time and Priority Management

• Provide monitoring, analysis, and oversight on strategic project budgets and trending (i.e., controls and avoidance of overspends).
• Performs assigned tasks and objectives that relate to operational needs.

Decision Making

• Reporting for division results which includes gathering, formatting, and presenting data in an intuitive fashion (e.g., spreadsheets or graphs). Reporting should foster meaningful discussions of results by senior management or division managers. 
• Effectively communicates analytical results graphically and via narrative. Follows best practices for visual display of quantitative information.

Performs other duties as may be assigned by the Manager, Financial Analysis.

Special Relationships

• Interacts with all levels of employees within their division and the organization.
• May interact with external organizations/vendors such as regulatory agencies and vendors.

Qualifications

Education/Credentials 

• Bachelor's degree required, accounting or finance, preferred.
• Continuing education in insurance related courses preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years' relevant experience in budget processing, to include expense and/or data analysis.

Technical/Professional Knowledge

• Strong problem solving, oral/written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills required.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, with focused attention to the accuracy and consistency of reported data.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office. 
• Knowledge of Oracle budgeting software preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data systems to assist in obtaining and reporting data.
• Strong knowledge in creating and maintaining spreadsheets and other automated data storage systems, to include proficiency in Excel.

Job Requirements (as required by ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act)

• This position is primarily a sedentary position that requires occasional standing and walking throughout the office environment.
• Must be able to see and effectively use a computer monitor.
• Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard and applicable printers and other general office equipment.
• Must be able to access and enter information accurately using automated systems.
• Must be able to hear and communicate via the telephone and/or monitoring devices to both internal and external clients.
• Must be able to present information to individuals and groups.
• Must be able to interpret and apply concepts that may or may not be based upon established guidelines.
• Must be able to maintain acceptable attendance and adhere to scheduled work hours.