Operations Analyst III

The College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences (CALES) seeks an innovative, results-oriented individual to join our team as Operations Analyst III. This position will be responsible for college-wide resource allocations and budget planning through Anaplan, as well as serve as a financial leader for four support units (along with the unit heads). This position will engage with appropriate business teams, college leadership, and college and university personnel to complete work according to accepted standards. The incumbent balances accuracy and efficiency with process changes and strategic thinking, which is required to complete necessary job functions. Taking initiative and exercising good judgment will be essential. The Operations Analyst III will be required to approach problems that are operational in nature but often include significant need for big picture planning, resource allocations, and strategic coordination with other parts of the college. This position is solution focused, which requires investigation and analysis to develop multiple innovative approaches requiring a high degree of innovation, creativity, and integration. The successful candidate will be creative, resourceful, team-oriented to support critical collaborations across multiple-levels of the organization, self-motivated to set and meet goals, able to work dependently, and communicate effectively.

The University or Arizona has established a Flexible Work Initiative click here to further explore options that support our employees while allowing them to successfully carry out day-to-day operations. This position is eligible for flexible scheduling. Flexible Work Arrangements will be evaluated every six months, or as needed to assess department workforce needs.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

• Responsible for managing resource allocation of ~$60M across CALES. Conducts complex financial analysis by collecting, interpreting, and evaluating financial data.
• Consolidates data from various sources to concisely illustrate the fiscal position of the organization.
• Utilizes industry standard practices to conduct work; develops repeatable models that can support internal and external scrutiny.
• Ensures CALES effectively manages, protects, and leverages its financial resources in a highly transparent environment.
• Manages short and medium term (1-3 years) financial planning for CALES.
• Subject matter expert for resource planning software (Anaplan), guiding the 6 Managers, Finance & Adminstration throughout the college.
• Tracks and communicates long term commitments and liabilities across CALES.
• Informs CALES leadership decision-making by modeling scenarios and producing actionable insights.
• Serve as financial officer for four support units, acting as a consultative partner.
• Develop, implement and maintain operational plans, programs and systems to ensure compliant and effective operations across assigned units.
• Interpret and implement evolving University and College policies regarding financial, personnel, and operational matters of the College.
• Prioritize continous improvement; champion change in the pursuit of operational efficiecy and excellence.
• Build effective working relationships not only within assigned support units, the College and the University, but also with stakeholders.
• Lead with a positive and supportive attitude in support of the mission of CALES.
• Prepare short-term forecasting to support CALES, monitoring actuals to budget and other variance analysis.
• Evaluates the institution's, college's and / or department's performance, financial targets and other compliance and achievement metrics.
• Interprets results to develop a shared truth; drives data-informed decision-making.
• Act as a strategic partner for each of the 4 support unit heads.
• Provide financial and business focused feedback to support informed decision-making.
• Collaborate with unit head to build operational roadmaps to ensure effective and mission-oriented utilization of resources.
• Demonstrate strong professional judgment, tact, customer service, confidence, competence and character.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, business, or related field of study.
• Experience with complex financial and accounting systems, and business intelligence tools.
• Experience with University of Arizona policies, procedures, administrative systems, databases and software.
• Experience in performing complex financial analysis assignments, centered around financial planning and forward looking, and resource allocation.
• Experience in managing multi-year budget process oversight.
• Expert level user of Excel.