Department Code
11001-4406
Job Title
Senior Budget Analyst
Commitment to On-Campus Experience
Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus. Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.
Pay Range
$88,000 – $100,000
Pay Determination
Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Hours
Standard University business hours
8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Unionized Position Code
Not Applicable
Job Description
As Senior Budget Analyst for SU Global, you will serve as a financial partner to a high-growth startup operation within a prestigious university structure. This role requires financial oversight for 60+ specialized programs across 13 schools and colleges, managing complex revenue models, enrollment-driven budgeting, and rapid financial analysis to support real-time decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
You will work closely with SU Global leadership, academic program directors, enrollment management teams, and central finance offices to ensure financial sustainability while supporting aggressive growth targets. This position demands financial acumen, entrepreneurial thinking, and the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for stakeholders who are building something new. The successful candidate will provide budgetary and financial analysis to support strategic planning, monitor program profitability, manage administrative budgets, and ensure compliance with University policies and external regulations governing online education revenue.
Syracuse University is building something new. We’re launching SU Global to reimagine how we support and scale accessible online pathways for non-traditional learners, in a dynamic, innovative, and data-driven environment. That means rethinking how we work.
This role requires on-campus presence because the best ideas emerge from real-time collaboration, the mentorship that happens in hallways, and the spontaneous problem-solving that defines startup culture. You’ll work non-traditional hours when needed – evening and weekend coverage, whatever it takes to deliver the best-in-class experience.
We’re looking for team members who thrive in:
- High-energy, in-person environments where innovation happens face-to-face
- Flexible scheduling that follows student needs, not the clock
- Startup intensity within a world-class university structure
We’re not looking for people who want a job. We’re looking for builders who want a mission.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field required.
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in budget analysis, financial planning, or financial operations, preferably in higher education, online education, or high-growth organizations.
- Experience with enrollment-driven revenue models, tuition forecasting, or student financial operations strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to work in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments with competing priorities and evolving objectives.
Skills and Knowledge
- Advanced Excel: financial modeling, pivot tables, formulas, visualization.
- Experience with PeopleSoft or similar ERP systems.
- Create dashboards/reports using Excel or Tableau.
- Financial forecasting and scenario planning.
- Budget development, monitoring, variance analysis.
- Revenue recognition and enrollment-based modeling.
- Higher ed funding models and tuition structures.
- Program profitability and cost analysis.
- Data-driven decision-making with attention to detail.
- Identify trends, patterns, and risks proactively.
- Creative problem-solving.
- Synthesize information into actionable recommendations.
- Excellent communication skills; explain financial concepts to non-finance audiences.
- Build relationships cross-functionally.
- Influence and educate stakeholders on best practices.
- Entrepreneurial mindset; comfortable with ambiguity and change.
- High urgency and accountability.
- Flexible with shifting priorities.
- Proactive problem-solver.
- Thrives in collaborative environments.
- Mission-driven; committed to student success.
- Working knowledge of University policies, procedures, and financial systems.
- Understanding of higher ed regulatory environment including Title IV compliance.
- Grant funding and contract review experience preferred.
Responsibilities
Financial Planning and Budget Management
- Develop, monitor, and manage operating budgets for SU Global administrative units and academic programs, including enrollment-driven revenue projections and variable expense modeling.
- Lead the annual budget planning process for SU Global in coordination with academic units and the University Budget Office, incorporating growth targets, market analysis, and strategic initiatives.
- Build and maintain complex financial models to project tuition revenue based on enrollment forecasting, retention rates, and pricing strategies across multiple program modalities (fully online, hybrid, accelerated).
- Analyze program-level profitability by tracking direct and indirect costs against revenue, providing recommendations to optimize financial performance.
- Prepare budget adjustment requests and reforecasts throughout the fiscal year to reflect enrollment shifts, program launches, marketing investments, and operational changes.
- Monitor expenditures against budget, identifying variances and working with program managers to implement corrective actions.
- Support leadership with financial analysis for new program feasibility studies, partnership evaluations, and strategic investments.
Revenue Analysis and Enrollment Financial Modeling
- Serve as the primary financial liaison between SU Global, and enrollment management, translating enrollment data into financial projections and budget implications.
- Monitor tuition revenue performance in real-time, analyzing enrollment trends, student progression, course loads, and cohort behavior to forecast revenue with precision.
- Develop dashboards and reporting tools that provide leadership with current financial performance metrics, enrollment KPIs, and variance analysis.
- Partner with enrollment teams to model financial impacts of marketing campaigns, admission strategies, scholarship programs, and pricing changes.
- Analyze revenue distribution across programs, identifying high-performing and underperforming areas with actionable recommendations.
- Manage financial planning for student financial aid, scholarships, and discounting strategies to support enrollment goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports for SU Global leadership showing revenue performance, expense trends, and forecast accuracy.
Financial Operations and Compliance
- Ensure accurate financial transactions and compliance with University policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices for online education finance.
- Process and reconcile financial transactions using PeopleSoft Financials, ensuring proper chartstring allocation and documentation.
- Manage financial aspects of contracts with third-party vendors, technology partners, and academic service providers, coordinating with Procurement and University Counsel.
- Support SU Global’s budget director with university credit card reconciliation for SU Global staff, ensuring appropriate expense categorization and timely processing.
- Coordinate payroll allocations for faculty teaching online courses and staff supporting multiple cost centers.
- Liaise with central finance offices including the Comptroller’s Office, Bursars Office, Disbursements, and General Accounting to resolve payment issues, process journal entries, and maintain accurate financial records.
- Support audit activities by providing documentation, responding to inquiries, and implementing recommendations.
- Monitor compliance with revenue recognition policies specific to online education delivery models and payment plans.
Stakeholder Communication and Financial Education
- Serve as the primary financial contact for SU Global program directors, administrative leaders, and support teams, providing guidance on budget management, financial processes, and resource allocation.
- Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for non-finance stakeholders operating in a fast-paced environment.
- Conduct training sessions and create resources to build financial literacy among SU Global teams, enabling decentralized decision-making within established guardrails.
- Partner with academic units across 13 schools and colleges to understand program-specific financial needs and constraints.
- Respond to financial inquiries through the Budget Office ticketing system with urgency and accuracy.
- Present financial performance updates in leadership meetings, providing context and recommendations.
- Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders to foster data-driven financial decision-making aligned with SU Global’s growth mission.
Other Duties as Assigned
-
Support special projects, strategic initiatives, and process improvement efforts as SU Global evolves and scales.
Physical Requirements
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
