Financial Analyst

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Join our team of student-focused individuals working together in order to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth, leadership and service.

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University of the Cumberlands is seeking a detail-oriented Financial Analyst to support financial reporting, budgeting, and accounting operations for the Finance Office. This role is central to accurate financial reporting, budget monitoring, and restricted fund oversight, and works closely with departments across campus to ensure sound fiscal management.

Candidates with strong accounting and analytical skills who are comfortable using Excel, Power BI, and modern reporting tools (including AI-assisted analytics) to improve efficiency and accuracy are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare quarterly and annual financial reports, including supporting schedules and reconciliations

• Perform variance analysis and ensure accuracy and completeness of financial data

• Maintain financial models, reports, and dashboards to support institutional decision-making

• Ensure regulatory and institutional reporting requirements are met

Budget Support

• Serve as the first point of contact for routine budget inquiries from academic and administrative departments

• Prepare, maintain, and monitor annual operating budgets and quarterly reports for Operating and Restricted Accounts

• Help departments understand budget-to-actual variances and spending guidelines

Accounting & Compliance

• Perform account reconciliations, transaction reviews, and journal entry review as part of month-end/year-end close

• Support audits and compliance reviews, ensuring proper documentation and adherence to accounting standards

Restricted Funds & Reporting

• Track and monitor departmental restricted funds

• Prepare departmental restricted fund reports

• Contribute to improving restricted account tracking and reporting processes

Data & Process Improvement

• Use Excel, Power BI, or similar tools to enhance reporting and data visualization

• Help document and standardize recurring financial processes to strengthen internal controls

• Explore opportunities to apply data analytics or AI tools (e.g., automation, anomaly detection) to improve reporting efficiency and accuracy

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or related field

• 1–2 years of experience in financial analysis, accounting, or a related finance role (higher education or nonprofit experience a plus)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (formulas, pivot tables, basic modeling)

• Solid understanding of accounting fundamentals (GAAP, reconciliations, month/year-end close)

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial audiences

Preferred:

• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.)

• Exposure to data analytics or automation tools (Python, SQL, or similar)

Skills & Competencies

• Strong foundation in financial analysis and accounting fundamentals

• Analytical thinking with a data-driven mindset

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• High level of integrity and ability to handle confidential information

• Openness to learning new tools and technologies as they're introduced to the role

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment within a private higher education institution. Responsibilities may require extended hours during peak periods such as budget development, audits, and fiscal year-end. The role involves collaboration across departments and engagement with financial, accounting, and data systems that support institutional operations and compliance.

Cumberlands is different by design. Our employees exemplify our motto in the pursuit of a

“life-more-abundant.”