Be a Tar Heel!
Help Shape the Future of Academic Excellence
The College of Arts & Sciences is seeking a Financial Analyst to support the financial operations of multiple academic departments. Working closely with department leaders and a Divisional Finance Director (DFD), you’ll help departments manage resources, monitor budgets, analyze financial trends, and plan for the future while supporting the teaching, research, and student success mission of one of the nation’s leading public universities.
In this role, you’ll:
- Partner with department leaders to develop budgets and long-range financial plans.
- Analyze financial data and prepare reports, forecasts, and budget projections.
- Monitor Financial Activity and identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Support department leaders by providing timely financial information and guidance for operational decisions.
- Collaborate with your Divisional Finance Director to develop recommendations, solve complex financial challenges, and continuously improve financial processes.
How You’ll Make an Impact:
As a Financial Analyst, you’ll serve as an important member of a collaborative finance team. Working alongside experienced Divisional Finance Directors, you’ll build relationships with academic departments while developing expertise in higher education finance, budgeting, and financial planning. You’ll have the opportunity to expand your analytical skills, grow professionally, and contribute to the financial success of the departments you support.
You’ll Thrive in This Role If You are:
- Analytical and naturally curious
- Collaborative and relationship-focused
- An effective problem solver
- Comfortable communicating financial information to a variety of audiences
- Excited to learn, grow, and continuously improve
If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow your financial career while supporting world-class teaching, research, and student success, we’d love to hear from you.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
As the largest unit on campus, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the Carolina experience. The College consists of 43 academic departments and curricula, 30+ programs, centers and institutes; home to more than 19,000 undergraduate students and approximately 2,400 graduate students, nearly 1,000 tenured, tenure-track and fixed-term faculty and more than 600 EHRA Non-Faculty and SHRA employees.
The College of Arts & Sciences, administered by the Dean, consists of seventy-one academic departments, curricula, programs, centers, and Institutes. The College is divided into multiple divisions, which are overseen by Senior Associate Deans. All academic departments and curricula are assigned to one of the following three divisions Fine Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, and Social Sciences & Global Programs. A fourth division, Undergraduate Education, houses curriculum and instructional innovation, honors and distinguished scholarships, and student academic support. These Senior Associate Deans, along with the Senior Associate Deans for Operations and Strategy, Research and Innovation, and Development; Associate Deans for Human Resources and Communications, all report to the Dean.
The College’s Business Operations, led by the Senior Associate Dean for Operations and Strategy, comprise of nearly 70 staff and include the divisions of Finance and Budget Management, Human Resources, Information Technology and Data Analytics, Facilities, and Dean’s Office administration.
To learn more about the College’s mission, vision, and values, please visit the overview section of our website: https://college.unc.edu/overview/.
Position Summary
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.
The Financial Analyst, based in the Dean’s Office within the College of Arts and Sciences, serves as a key financial partner for departments within an assigned academic division as part of the College’s shared services model.
Reporting to the Divisional Finance Director, this position provides comprehensive financial, operational, and analytical support across a diverse portfolio of departments, programs, and fund sources. The Financial Analyst works closely with departmental leadership, accountants, Contracts & Grants Coordinators, and central University offices to support coordinated financial management, effective resource utilization, and compliance with College and University policies and regulations.
The position is responsible for analyzing and monitoring financial activity across all fund types; supporting budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes; and preparing detailed financial analyses and reports to support operational and strategic decision-making. Responsibilities include monitoring divisional budget allocations, reviewing position funding and personnel-related transactions, analyzing revenue and expenditure trends, identifying and resolving financial discrepancies, and supporting fiscal year-end closeout and carryforward planning activities.
The Financial Analyst also supports the tracking and management of strategic and discretionary commitments within the division, exercising sound judgment in the coordination and use of funding sources. In partnership with the Divisional Finance Director, the position helps departments navigate complex financial and operational issues, improve financial processes, and align financial activity with departmental priorities and long-term planning objectives.
This position plays a critical role in supporting fiscal stewardship, operational consistency, and collaborative service delivery across the division and the broader CAS shared services organization. Success in this role requires the ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex operational and financial problems, manage competing priorities, and build strong collaborative relationships with departments and shared services partners.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Mid-career with Masters and 1-2 yrs experience; or Bachelors and 2-4 yrs experience
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree and 3-4 years of related experience.
- Demonstrated experience in financial analysis, budgeting, accounting, financial operations, or related business functions.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including the ability to interpret, reconcile, and synthesize complex financial data from multiple sources.
- Experience managing multiple priorities and deadlines with strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and independently solve operational and financial problems.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain financial information and collaborate effectively with individuals at varying organizational levels.
- Experience working with financial systems, reporting tools, spreadsheets, and large datasets.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, service-oriented, and evolving operational environment.
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial reporting or data analysis tools.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Experience supporting financial operations in higher education, research administration, healthcare, government, or similarly complex and regulated environments.
- Experience working with multiple fund types, including State, sponsored, discretionary, trust, gift, or endowment funds.
- Familiarity with University financial, HR, and reporting systems such as ConnectCarolina, InfoPorte, Tableau, Power BI, Hyperion, or similar enterprise systems.
- Experience supporting budgeting, position funding, HR funding distributions, commitment tracking, or fiscal year-end closeout activities.
- Experience working directly with faculty, academic leadership, or decentralized operational units.
- Experience in a shared services or highly collaborative operational model.
- Demonstrated interest in process improvement, operational efficiency, and data-informed decision-making.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities
Not Applicable.
