Senior Financial Analyst

Department: Kellogg Financial Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Do you want your analysis to shape the strategy of one of the world's leading business schools? The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team at the Kellogg School of Management is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to lead budgeting, forecasting, and analysis for a broad portfolio of revenue and expense areas across the school, with the flexibility to take on new parts of the P&L as priorities evolve. As the primary finance partner to unit leaders, you will work through complex, ambiguous questions, build forecasts and strategic models, and translate the results into clear recommendations for school leadership. This role is a great fit for a strong independent thinker and problem solver who can work across a matrixed organization and deliver insights and solutions, not just reports. A background in FP&A or financial modeling is essential; experience in higher education and with automation or AI tools is a plus. You will join a collaborative, supportive team that is modernizing how Kellogg plans and reports, in a hybrid role based in our downtown Evanston office 2-3 days a week, with occasional visits to campus. Northwestern employees also enjoy excellent healthcare and retirement benefits, generous paid time off, and tuition benefits.

Job Summary:

• Manages financial planning and analysis for a broad portfolio of revenue and expense areas across Kellogg, including the fiscal year budget, monthly forecast, and long-range planning assumptions.
• Owns the monthly fiscal year forecast and variance analysis for the portfolio, presenting results and recommendations to the Director of Finance and senior leaders.
• Builds financial and strategic models to evaluate new programs, initiatives, and funding opportunities.
• Evaluates current practices and processes to propose and implement changes designed to create more efficient data capture, analysis, and presentation.
• Collaborates with peers across Kellogg's matrixed organization to support fact-based decision-making.

• Provides training and support to units and analysts.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, finance, economics, data science, information systems, or a related field; OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 5+ years of work experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting, business, or a related field.

Minimum Competencies:

• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; experience working with large data sets from multiple systems.

• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills, including the ability to present financial information to senior leaders and non-finance audiences.

• Self-starter and independent thinker with an internal drive toward continuous improvement.

• Detail-oriented and logical approach to problem-solving and decision-making; ability to apply details to the larger picture and understand the interconnectivity of functional areas.

• Proven quality assurance and process management skills.

• Strong teamwork skills and proven ability to build relationships and influence decisions across a matrixed organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education.

• Experience budgeting, forecasting, and modeling across both revenue and expense areas.

• Experience with Cognos, PeopleSoft/NUFinancials, Power BI, SQL, and Microsoft Power Automate/Power Apps.

• Experience using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Claude to improve analysis and workflows.

Target hiring range for this position will be $80,000 - $90,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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