USC

Financial Analyst II

Los Angeles, CA - University Park Campus Full time

Capitalizing on over 140 years of history and tradition in downtown Los Angeles, the University of Southern California (USC) is looking for skilled, motivated professionals to help forge the future of higher education.

The USC Finance Division, Office of Budget and Planning is seeking a Financial Analyst II to join its team. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Financial Planning, the Financial Analyst II will perform key financial and planning duties by assisting the OBP with complex data analysis projects and serving in a support role in the understanding and production of the university’s long-term capital plan and annual financial forecasting. Additionally, this unique position will have exposure to various aspects of the university’s finances such as debt financing and the operating budget. In addition to interacting with finance and budget experts across the university, this role will work with individuals from academic, facilities, and auxiliary functions.

The Key Accountabilities:

The Financial Analyst II role is analytically demanding and detail-intensive, requiring strong financial modeling skills, disciplined data management, and the ability to identify issues that warrant follow-up with operating units and senior leadership. This position is central to sustaining the university’s financial planning infrastructure and requires judgment, follow-through, and attention to detail.

Overview of Duties

  • Coordinates, organizes and completes strategic and complex projects of a financial or business nature requiring identification and extraction of data, evaluation, interpretation, analysis, and summation of findings. Presents results formally to senior management.

  • Produces regular and ad-hoc financial and operating reports.  Evaluates and analyzes reports and data. Develops conclusions and recommendations and communicates orally or in writing to management.

  • Monitors financial operations for a large operating area of the university or for a significant financial activity. Identifies problems or trends and evaluates for solutions. Seeks resolution or brings to the attention of senior management for consideration.

Capital Planning

  • Maintain comprehensive capital project records and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy and auditability of the university’s long-term capital plan.

  • Track and manage capital project loan records, including balances, repayment schedules, and related reporting.

  • Prepare meeting materials and presentation documents for capital planning committee meetings, translating complex project data into clear, decision-ready summaries.

Financial Forecasting

  • Assist with quarterly reviews of detailed financial projections submitted by operating units.

  • Analyze forecast data to identify variances, inconsistencies, and potential risks, and flag items requiring follow-up or clarification.

  • Support reconciliation of forecasts against historical results, budget assumptions, and institutional financial targets.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm however, work schedules may change at any time to accommodate business needs. This is primarily a remote role with occasional on-site days based on business needs.

Minimum Requirements 

  • Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or data analysis.

  • Three or more years’ experience in a financial role.

  • Experience in financial analysis and reporting with knowledge of computer simulation and forecasting techniques.

  • Proficient in Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Requirements

  • Master’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or related degree.

  • Five years’ experience in a financial role.

  • Strong financial modeling and analytical skills.

  • Knowledgeable in Workday Finance, Anaplan, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint.

  • Directly related experience in a university environment with knowledge of university systems and procedures.

  • Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage complex datasets accurately.

  • Ability to meet tight deadlines, adapt to shifting priorities, and respond to ad-hoc leadership requests.

  • Clear written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to work well in a team environment.

  • In addition, the successful candidate must also demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values of integrity, excellence, community, well-being, open communication, and accountability.

Employee Benefits

USC offers a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families.

This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. USC employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans and the work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all its members. Join us!

The annual base salary range for this position is $94,229 to $105,198. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

About USC Finance Division:

USC Finance Division is a group of innovative and talented professionals who provide high quality services in support of education and research at USC. The Finance Division is comprised of the following departments: Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Financial and Business Services, Office of the Comptroller; Office of Budget and Planning, Treasury, and Health Plans; Facilities Planning and Management, Audit Services, Risk Management, and Information Technology Services.

The University of Southern California (USC) Office of Budget and Planning (OBP) provides support to the university’s central administration in resource planning, strategic planning, and guides the formulation of the annual operating budget. The OBP’s goal is to ensure sufficient financial resources to meet the university’s current and future needs for maintaining academic and patient care excellence, while propelling new research and discoveries to advance humankind. The OBP fulfills the university’s budget and financial needs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible in a collaborative manner, and delivers useful budget and financial guidance, assisting academic units, auxiliary units and senior leadership in making key financial decisions.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
Minimum Experience: 3 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Business education or closely related field. Experience in financial analysis and reporting with knowledge of computer simulation and forecasting techniques.

                                                  

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

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