Financial Analyst

The Financial Analyst provides budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and financial analysis support for a portfolio of schools and departments within SAIT.

The Financial Analyst is expected to develop expertise in designated areas to identify potential financial risks, provide data-driven insights, and support informed decision-making while ensuring compliance with SAIT's financial policies, procedures, and processes.

A key responsibility of this role is to effectively collaborate with the Finance Business Partners and other Financial Analysts to achieve consistent and integrated results for the assigned portfolio.

The Financial Analyst will foster and build collaborative, supportive relationships with operational personnel within the portfolio to gain a comprehensive understanding of business needs and provide analytics and reporting for financial and operational management. The role also requires a foundational understanding of Finance department initiatives, processes, and strategic priorities.

Please note: as part of the pre-employment screening process, the selected candidate will be required to successfully complete both a Criminal Record Check and a Credit Check.

How you'll contribute

Portfolio Responsibilities: 

• Prepare the annual budget, quarterly forecasts, monthly reports, and variance analysis in alignment with SAIT's strategy, policies, procedures, and timelines.
• Develop expertise in the financial and operational drivers that support budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis.
• Build a strong understanding of portfolio operations, including key priorities, risks, challenges, and initiatives, and assess their financial and operational impacts.

Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Finance Business Partners, schools, departments, and other stakeholders.
• Deliver responsive, professional customer service while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment.
• Partner with Finance colleagues to address issues, share best practices, and support consistent financial planning and analysis across portfolios.
• Participate in operational meetings and discussions as a trusted financial resource.

Automation, Innovation & Transformation:

• Proactively collaborate with FP&A team to identify process improvements, reduce redundancies, optimize resource allocation, and increase team efficiency and capacity.
• Contribute to automation, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives across Finance.
• Assist with implementing process improvements and communicating changes to stakeholders.

Consolidated Responsibilities:

• Support consolidated budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and financial analysis activities.
• Assist in identifying portfolio-wide risks, opportunities, and trends to support planning and decision-making.
• Promote consistency across portfolios by reviewing processes and recommending improvements where appropriate.

What you bring

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Finance, Business, Accounting or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of progressive experience in accounting, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, or financial reporting.
• CPA designation completed or in progress. 
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, reconciliations, financial controls and accounting processes across capital and operating environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel).
• Proficiency with PowerBI would be as asset. 
• Experience with financial systems, reporting tools or automation is an asset.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with a high degree of accuracy and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent communication skills. 
• Strong relationship-building skills, with a collaborative and customer-focused approach. 
• Sound judgement, strong decision-making skills, and a commitment to confidentiality.