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Accounting Budget Finance Investments Payroll Procurement Tax
Management Professional Supervisory Support
Accounting Budget Finance Investments Payroll Procurement Tax
Management Professional Supervisory Support
Penn State Job Catalog
Finance Planning Analyst – Principal Professional (PSU2555)
Job Summary and Representative Duties
The Finance Planning Analyst supports the business unit and Strategic Financial Partner by providing oversight and expert guidance to unit leaders on budget and financial matters; serves as a subject matter expert in one or more budget or fiscal-related areas; advises unit leaders on budget management and financial controls; provides in-depth financial analysis, forecasting, and budget modeling; plays a key role in supporting long-term financial planning efforts and ensuring effective resource allocation aligns with the university's mission, strategic goals, and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate in budget and resource data analysis to provide data-driven recommendations and financial insights; gather, compile, and manipulate data; may determine analytical methods to be used
- Develop, maintain, and refine financial models to support long-range planning and scenario analysis
- Oversee assigned components of budget activities; participate in the conceptual development of the various budget processes and specifications for projects
- Review financial reports to understand and explain variances between budget and actuals; analyze trends in revenues, expenditures, enrollments, and funding sources; ensure appropriate spending and billing practices are being followed
- Monitor financial performance against budget and forecast, identifying areas of concern or opportunity
- Participate in the development of financial dashboards and reporting tools for internal stakeholders and senior leadership
- Provide financial analyses for new initiatives, program reviews, and business plans, including ROI and cost-benefit assessments
- Assist in the preparation of the annual operating budgets, ensuring alignment with unit and institutional priorities
- Manage workforce planning and labor distribution for assigned business area(s); assist with annual salary increase program execution
- Support compliance with internal policies, external regulations, and audit requirements; oversee audits as required
- Partner with other university offices to ensure consistent data sources and accurate financial projections
- May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management
Level Matrix
- Level:
- – Principal Professional
- Base Description:
- – Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
- Level Summary:
- – Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.
- Supervisory Responsibilities:
-
– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee
- Fiscal Responsibilities:
-
– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets
- Problem Solving:
-
– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines
- Independence of Action:
-
– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness
- Communication and Collaboration:
-
– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units
Salary Structure
- Comp Grade – 12
- Minimum – $76,700.00
- MidPoint – $95,900.00
- Maximum – $115,100.00
Critical Skills
- Accounting information systems
- Attention To Detail
- Consulting
- Data Analysis
- Document management
- Financial analysis
- Forecasting
- Organizational training
- Policy analysis
- Process management
- Report writing
FLSA Exemption Status
Exempt
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum Experience
8+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Job Profile last updated on 2025-08-11