Systems Analyst, Financial Assistance

Posting Number: 20244129S

Position Title: Systems Analyst, Financial Assistance

Position Type: Staff

Location: Villanova, PA

Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants

Work Schedule: full-time/12-months

Avg Hours Week

Department: 721-UNIT - UIS - Enterprise-Wide Systems

Position Summary:

The Systems Analyst drives the analysis, adjustment, and restructuring of different aspects of the University’s systems, processes, and operational functions and works effectively with central information technology (IT) teams to translate needs into technical solutions. The systems analyst consults regularly with end users to understand and document business processes and facilitates the identification of solutions to increase user efficiency and effectiveness.

This position is responsible for working proactively with university functions to articulate and plan for technology needs, elicit, and analyze both functional and technical requirements, author business justifications and requests for funding, analyze alternatives, and develop technology roadmaps. Key functions: Enhance business processes through strategic use of technology, Aid end users in identifying data integration points and dependencies, and support teams in identifying data/reporting requirements.

This shared role works with both the IT’s areas Enterprise-Wide Systems group and the Office of Financial Assistance, handling coordinated assignments from both areas to achieve common goals. The position involves support of the Banner ERP system for financial assistance and collaborates closely with the Director of Financial Assistance Technology for technical support in processing financial assistance.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University’s mission. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities:Technical Expertise

Utilize strong technical knowledge and hands-on experience with the systems and integrations used by Financial Assistance to understand, maintain, and recommend system functionalities, including but not limited to:

- Ellucian Banner Financial Aid
- Automic/TD Client for Office of Financial Assistance (OFA)
- Structured Query Report (SQR) reporting requirements for Financial Assistance
- Ocelot chat software for OFA.

Existing System Support & Maintenance

- Understand and maintain Ellucian Banner Financial Aid existing functionalities throughout the Financial Assistance cycle.
- Assist IT Programming staff with Structured Query Report (SQR) reporting requirements of Financial Assistance. Work directly with the Director of Financial Assistance Technology in creating Banner jobs to advance strategies in OFA.
- Manage Automic/TD Client for Office of Financial Assistance (OFA), including building new processes, testing, and day-to-day maintenance. Train Financial Assistance staff on functionality as needed.
- Manage Ocelot chat software for OFA. Provide assistance internally with upgrades and issues. Answer questions for other departments implementing the software based on Financial Assistance experience.
- Provides day-to-day support for various issues that arise involving financial operation for the main Financial Assistance office as well as the Law School’s.

Process Improvement & Documentation of Systems

- Assist in the preparation, execution, and documentation of quality assurance testing to ensure high standards of performance and reliability.
- Develop and demonstrate a thorough understanding of university processes, document current workflows, and identify areas for improvement to enhance efficiency.
- Conduct comprehensive needs analysis, research innovative solutions, and regularly present well-founded improvement recommendations to IT and business leadership.
- Facilitate meetings with functional teams and end-users to document, scope, and gather detailed requirements for successful implementation of new solutions.
- Obtain fundamental understanding of operations of Financial Assistance office, as well as Registrar and Bursar as related to Financial Assistance functions.

Process Improvement & Documentation of Systems

- Assist in the preparation, execution, and documentation of quality assurance testing to ensure high standards of performance and reliability.
- Develop and demonstrate a thorough understanding of university processes, document current workflows, and identify areas for improvement to enhance efficiency.
- Conduct comprehensive needs analysis, research innovative solutions, and regularly present well-founded improvement recommendations to IT and business leadership.
- Facilitate meetings with functional teams and end-users to document, scope, and gather detailed requirements for successful implementation of new solutions.
- Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:Formal Education

- Bachelor’s degree

Work Experience

- Minimum 3 years of relevant experience including analyzing business processes or equivalent combination of experience, education, and certification.
- Experience with Ellucian Banner Financial Aid modules
- Experience with projects involving multiple technologies and functions.
- Experience with creating Structured Query Reports (SQR)

Work Skills (e.g., written, and verbal communication skills)

- Must be able to work independently, as well as in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
- Possesses interpersonal and communications skills to work with both technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization and can speak about technology through the lens of the functional area and in terms appropriate for the audience.
- Possesses excellent organizational and technical skills to diagnose problems in an environment with constantly changing priorities.
- Possesses business acumen coupled with technical knowledge.

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)

- Functional knowledge of financial assistance/financial aid in a university setting, and a deep understanding of the technologies used to support these functions.
- Proven ability to provide analysis for large scope project teams to meet customer expectations.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate technical environments with a basic understanding of IT concepts. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working with technology and possess a willingness to acquire new technical skills as needed.
- Ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate key insights through visually appealing and informative reports including experience with a report writing application as well as experience creating queries using SQL.

Preferred Qualifications:

Formal Education

- Master’s Degree

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)

- Experience with Automic Job Scheduling software.
- Experience with creating reports on the Cognos and Argos platforms.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

Tools, machinery, and equipment used: N/A

Environmental conditions: (any unusual/adverse conditions such as exposure to chemicals, noise, illumination, air quality, weather exposure etc.). N/A

Physical requirements: (items such as lifting, pushing, pulling, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time, manual dexterity, walking etc.) N/A

Special Message to Applicants:

Posting Date: 08/21/2024

Closing Date (11:59pm ET):

Salary Posting Information:

Commensurate with experience

Salary Band: I

Job Classification: exempt

Minimum Number of References Needed 3

Maximum Number of References Needed 3