Financial Analyst/Planner Specialist

Financial Analyst / Planner Specialist

Under the general direction of the Accountant III, the Financial Analyst / Planner Specialist performs computer-based financial analysis, assists in overseeing fiscal management and long-term planning, while providing high-level financial support to the Department of Administrative Affairs. This includes preparation and monitoring of unit budgets, development and analysis of financial reports, and presentation of reports to the Accountant III and to the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Fiscal Affairs. The Planner Specialist works closely with the departmental units to monitor spending trends, fund balances, and provides analysis-based recommendations to address financial problems. Analyzes, interprets, and communicates budget and income statement variances with departmental units. Assists University Accounting during audits and provides project leadership as assigned.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare and submit year-end Fact Sheets for UICOMP self-supporting and Medical Service Plan fund types to ensure University financial statements comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Review and investigate underlying transactions to verify the appropriate year-end expense accruals or deferrals.
• Compiles data throughout the fiscal year for inclusion in the year-end reports.
• Perform follow-up reviews as requested by UAFR and/or auditors.
• Performs complex financial analysis/studies, evaluation, and modeling for the development of in-depth reports used for financial management, decision-making, and long-term planning within Administrative Affairs.
• Assists in service center rate calculations for UICOMP service funds in compliance with System Government Costing (SGC) policies and procedures.
• Serves as project leader for system improvement projects, working with staff as needed. Provides design options based on the user's needs and goals.
• Prepares, reconciles, analyzes and/or distributes periodic financial reports.
• Breadth includes standardized reports for internal UICOMP usage as well as those requested by other University of Illinois administrative units.
• Provides interpretation and follow-up as needed.
• Trains, mentors, and advises the Admin Affairs staff and other UICOMP operating units in matters of data sourcing, fiscal analysis, and planning.
• Analysis/review of fiscal activity for accuracy and compliance with University policies.
• Entry of transactions into University systems to record new activity or correct noncompliant entries.
• Maintains databases for analytical purposes.
• Recommends enhancements as necessary.
• Serves as back up for the cashiering operations of UICOMP.
• Collect, record and balance payments received at the cashier window for student and staff fees including parking, printing, postage, and shipping.
• Serve as custodian of cashiering change fund.
• Prepare and process currency orders for change funds.
• Reconcile parking token sales and counts from the security/reception area.
• Tabulate Medical Service Plan payments received from UICOMP medical clinics.
• Track and reconcile credit/debit card payment activity.
• Prepare bank deposits and associated reports to facilitate proper revenue distribution among UICOMP operating units.
• Perform other duties as assigned. Performs duties listed in lower level of this classification series.
• Stays abreast of new data analysis/modeling systems and applications, recommends changes, and shares knowledge and skills with users.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Any one or combination totaling four (4) years (48 months) from the categories below:

1. College coursework comparable to that in a field related to financial analysis/planning such as accounting, business administration, economics, finance, statistics, or a closely related field
   • 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
   • Associate Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen (18) months
   • 90-semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
   • Bachelor's Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)
   • Master's Degree equals four (4) years (48 months)
2. Work experience in developing financial or economic analyses, research designs, strategic plans, or data models.

• One (1) year (12 months) of professional level progressively responsible financial work experience.