Financial Analyst at Northeastern University in Boston, MA (Main Campus)

Job description

• Develops and maintains financial models that support the university's budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning efforts. Pulls and analyzes data across multiple university systems, applying a sharp eye for accuracy and a problem-solving mindset to dig into discrepancies wherever they turn up. Builds and maintains Tableau dashboards that keep leadership informed on budget, headcount, and operating KPIs. Connects the data back to what's actually happening across the university's campuses — keeping dashboards and models grounded in real operations. Works across departments and functions to support university-wide financial priorities, and stays open to new tools and approaches — including AI-assisted tools like Claude — as reporting needs evolve.

Responsibilities

• Data Aggregation & Analysis
• Pull, clean, and consolidate financial, enrollment, headcount, and operational data from multiple university systems (Workday, Snowflake, and others) into unified, reliable data sets
• Identify and resolve data inconsistencies, gaps, and anomalies at the source before they reach downstream reporting
• Build and maintain automated data pipelines and queries (SQL, Python) to reduce manual data pulls and improve turnaround time on recurring reporting needs
• Partner with system administrators and data owners to understand source system logic and ensure data is interpreted and mapped correctly
• Reporting & Dashboard Development
• Design and maintain Tableau dashboards that translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable views for leadership
• Distill analysis into concise, decision-ready summaries — highlighting key trends, risks, and opportunities rather than raw data
• Partner with stakeholders to understand reporting needs and iterate on dashboard design as priorities shift
• Financial Modeling & Forecasting
• Build and maintain financial models supporting budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning
• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis to inform planning assumptions and decision-making
• Support annual budget development and periodic forecast updates in partnership with departmental leadership
• Cross-Functional Support & Process Improvement
• Collaborate with departments across the university to support financial planning needs tied to the broader institutional mission
• Evaluate and adopt AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude) and other automation technologies to improve efficiency and accuracy of financial processes
• Document processes and methodologies to support consistency and knowledge transfer across the team

Requirements

• Knowledge of financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting principles, as normally acquired through a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field and 2-4 years of relevant experience
• Ability to use statistical analysis, simulations, predictive modeling, or other methods to analyze information and develop solutions that support the university's mission
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, including complex formulas and financial modeling
• Ability to write and execute SQL queries to extract and analyze data from relational databases
• Ability to build and maintain dashboards in Tableau or similar BI tools (e.g., Power BI)
• Ability to apply data visualization best practices to turn complex data into clear, compelling visual narratives for audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with high attention to detail and a demonstrated focus on data accuracy
• Ability to communicate complex data and analysis clearly, both in writing and verbally, to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of ERP/financial systems (e.g., Workday, Adaptive Planning, Oracle, or similar)
• Working knowledge of Python or R for data automation and analysis
• Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake)
• Familiarity with AI-assisted tools (e.g., Claude) for data analysis, forecasting, or process automation
• Genuine interest in and commitment to Northeastern's mission

Skills

Required

• Financial analysis
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Statistical analysis
• Simulations
• Predictive modeling
• SQL
• Tableau
• Power BI
• Data visualization
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving

Preferred

• Python
• R
• Cloud data platforms (Snowflake)
• AI-assisted tools (Claude)

Benefits

• Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
• Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
• All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
• 109S
• $67,855.00 - $95,845.00
• With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.