Senior Budget Analyst

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 are 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 will work non-traditional hours when needed - evening and weekend coverage, whatever it takes to deliver the best-in-class experience.

We are 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, and startup intensity within a world-class university structure.

We are not looking for people who want a job. We are looking for builders who want a mission.

Education and Experience

Bachelors 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 and 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, explaining 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 Globals 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 Comptrollers 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 Globals 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 and Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.