Budget/Business Analyst

The Viterbi School of Engineering seeks to recruit an adaptable, dependable Budget/Business Analyst to support core financial operations during transformative change. The Budget/Business Analyst is a critical staff role within the finance team, performing various duties related to monitoring, reconciling, analyzing, and reporting on budget activity across the Viterbi School. The BBA provides consultative services and performs administrative duties as needed to support the finance team and the Viterbi School more broadly.

The Budget/Business Analyst supports overall financial functions at the Viterbi School and provides supporting services across 350 full-time faculty (tenure, research, and teaching), 350 full-time staff, 60 postdoctoral scholars, and more than 2000 Student Workers across eight academic departments, several academic programs, and various administrative units. The USC Viterbi School is committed to increasing the diversity of its staff and welcomes applications from women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

The specific accountabilities of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinates department purchasing and invoice processing for payments related to various units, including but not limited to centers associated with the School of Advanced Computing. Works with individuals and companies to establish new vendor accounts and set up vendors as Independent Contractors as needed, in collaboration with the Human Resources department.

• Assists faculty and staff in financial transactions such as purchasing equipment and supplies and accounting for travel expenditures and reimbursements

• The Budget Business Analyst is responsible for conducting in-depth financial analysis to support budget planning, forecasting, and decision-making processes. This role involves analyzing financial data, identifying trends, and providing actionable insights to optimize budget performance. The analyst will work closely with department leaders to ensure accurate budget reporting, develop financial models, and support strategic initiatives by evaluating cost efficiency and economic impact. Strong analytical skills and attention to detail are critical for success in this position.

• Administers assigned budgets. Monitors budget and expense and provides updates to develop projections. Identifies and researches variances and trends and brings them to the attention of financial leadership for discussion and resolution.

• Process journal entries

• Assists in the preparation of periodic financial reports for internal and/or external use as needed

• Assists Financial Planning and Analysis staff in planning short- and long-term budgets by compiling and organizing data for use in forecasts.

• Provide high-quality service and consultation to internal and external clients regarding university financial policies and procedures, advocating school-applicable guidelines and requirements.

• Sets up and maintains accounts and the school's cost center hierarchy

• Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree; combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Minimum Experience: 1 years

Minimum Field of Expertise: Business administration, accounting, or related degree and budget experience, including knowledge of government and fund accounting. Strong computer skills with the use of automated spreadsheets.

Preferred Education: Bachelor's degree

Preferred Experience: 2 years

Preferred Field of Expertise: University budget experience and knowledge of university financial systems.

Additional Information:

The hourly rate range for this position is $34.43 - $38.64. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope of responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This is a hybrid position. The Budget/Business Analyst is expected to work onsite for a minimum of 2 days per week. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the mission of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi staff are expected to facilitate a culture of support and service, to model civility and respectful engagement at all times, and to maintain the highest ethical standards and to maintain strict confidentiality across all facets of their work.

Required Applicant Documents:

A resume/CV and a cover letter are required. Please feel free to upload your application materials in a single document.

USC and the Viterbi School:

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is named for Andrew Viterbi who developed an algorithm to connect the world's citizens. Similarly, the school, located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business in the heart of the Pacific Rim, is a hub for entrepreneurship that connects students from 64 countries.

USC Viterbi is a pioneer in restoring sight to the blind; restoring memory to sufferers of Alzheimer's; and socially assistive robots to aid seniors with stroke or children with autism. It is the home of the first operational quantum computing center in academia. Our alumni include Neil Armstrong, first human on the moon; A.C. Mike Markkula, co-founder of Apple; and Wanda Austin, former CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

The USC Viterbi School is consistently ranked among the top graduate programs (U.S. News and World Report). Under the leadership of Dean Yannis C. Yortsos, the school helped re-imagine the 21st century engineer, pioneering the Grand Challenge Scholars Program in schools across the globe. Our mission is to serve California, the nation and the world. At USC Viterbi, we call this the enabling power of Engineering+.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 1 year
Minimum Field of Expertise: Business administration, accounting or related degree and budget experience including knowledge of government and fund accounting. Strong computer skills with use of automated spreadsheets.