Budget Analyst Senior - Division for Land-Grant Engagement

The Division for Land-Grant Engagement at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Budget Analyst Senior.

About the Opportunity

This position encompasses comprehensive financial management for WVU Extension, focusing on streamlining operations, strategic planning, compliance, and process optimization. Responsibilities include serving as the primary financial contact, providing data-driven analysis for decision-making, managing budgets across diverse funding sources, ensuring adherence to regulations, implementing efficient processes, overseeing e-commerce activities, and fostering stakeholder collaboration. The role demands expertise in financial systems, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement, all aimed at enhancing financial integrity and operational efficiency within the Extension program.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

Strategic Financial Analysis and Planning:

• Provide associate dean and associate director, and unit directors with data-driven financial analysis, enabling informed decisions regarding expenditures, fund allocation, and cost control.
• Develop and manage comprehensive annual budgets for the WVU Extension associate dean and director and the program units, optimizing resource utilization across diverse funding sources (Federal, Central, Research Corp, Foundation).
• Proactively monitor account balances and financial performance, identifying trends and potential risks.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for WVU Extension and program units, resolving procurement, contracting, and payment service inquiries to ensure efficient financial workflows.
• Provide expert guidance on P-Card management and reconciliation, optimizing transaction accuracy and compliance.
• Implement and maintain efficient processes for processing invoices, payments, and financial transactions.
• Develop and implement standardized processes for procurement, contracting, and payment services, maximizing efficiency and minimizing errors.
• Utilize technology and automation to streamline financial workflows and improve productivity.
• Provide training and support to faculty and staff on financial policies and procedures.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure strict adherence to all relevant policies and procedures, including accounts payable/receivable, travel regulations, P-Card activity, and grant fiscal management.
• Implement and enforce robust internal controls to mitigate financial risk and ensure compliance with state and university regulations.
• Conduct regular audits and reconciliations to maintain financial accuracy and integrity.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure timely payment processing.
• Monitor WVU Assets to ensure proper control.
• Provide Emburse (MyExpenses) support to faculty and staff. Super user access level of support.

E-Commerce and Revenue Management:

• Manage and oversee all WVU Extension e-commerce activities, ensuring compliance with state and university regulations.
• Ensure timely reconciliation of all e-commerce financial information.
• Work to resolve e-commerce tax issues.

Operational Support and Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a liaison between Extension EBO, faculty, and other stakeholders, facilitating effective communication and collaboration.
• Provide timely and accurate financial information to unit directors, faculty, and staff.
• Work to ensure proper communication between WVU and WVUF systems.
• Provide backup support for key administrative functions, ensuring operational continuity.
• Continuously evaluate and improve financial processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Pursue professional development opportunities to stay abreast of best practices and emerging trends in financial management.

• Bachelors degree in office administration, business administration or a related field
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Experience in executive and administrative support and office management.
  • Financial reporting and budget experience.
  • Experience with working with the public and providing general customer support.
  • Supervision and leadership in managing office activities.
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated mathematical and analytical skills necessary to perform financial calculations and projections.
• Independent problem solving and conflict resolution skills required in order to negotiate differences in grant communication, staff conflict, department conflict, and other day to day problems.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to improve and create efficient financial processes.
• Senior level background in fiscal management.
• Proven ability to supervise employees and have knowledge of personnel management practices.
• Ability to create and finalize budget documents - including mathematical calculations, estimating expenses and report writing.
• Senior level ability to plan, coordinate and initiate actions for implementation of administrative decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to define procedural problems, collect and evaluate data, draw conclusions and project outcomes or recommend course of action.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and deal tactfully with departments, organizational units, related programs, and external agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and strategically.
• Ability to respond quickly and accurately to requests for information and to establish effective working relationships with administrative personnel and at all levels throughout the University within a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to organize data, performs calculations, draw conclusions, and prepare, analyze and summarize financial reports.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire a working knowledge of statues governing federal grants and contracts.
• Ability to work independently, assimilate data, follow through on multiple and simultaneous projects and work under pressure with time sensitive deadlines and constraints is necessary.
• Ability to operate computer and various software packages.
• Ability to travel to on and off campus meetings and conferences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in high level, independent executive position to a major administrator is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel (pivot tables), PowerPoint, and Publisher. Experience with databases preferred.

a valid drivers license

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.