Finance and Operations Analyst

Full Job Description

Are you seeking a career in finance and operations with the opportunity to support the education of future generations? Does the opportunity to utilize your skills and expertise while working with a team of investment professionals excite you? Do you want to work at an organization that has a growth mindset and takes satisfaction in developing and promoting talent?

If you said yes to the above, then you may be the perfect fit for the State of Utah, School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO)'s Finance and Operations Analyst position.

SITFO supports Utah's public education programs through management of its more than $4 billion portfolio. As a Finance and Operations Analyst, you'll provide critical support in managing portfolio operations including finance and accounting tasks, data entry, data aggregation, procedural development, and other investment operations tasks. You'll report to the Finance and Operations Officer and work closely with the Operations team, the greater SITFO staff, consultants, and trustees to successfully manage the investment portfolio to responsibly maximize the return on invested principal.

The Finance and Operations Analyst is expected, above all, to be a hands-on contributor, capable of building and collaborating across the organization.

We offer a competitive benefits package -- click here to view a summary of the benefits offered. Come join our team!

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with investment team, consultants, and external managers to ensure operational data is complete, accurate, and up to date.
• Monitor and update daily cash reports, highlight material changes, and present fund cash flow forecast to investment team for rebalancing needs.
• Coordinate various counterparties to ensure that account opening, trade entry, payments, distributions, new investments, and required legal and tax documents are submitted in an accurate and timely manner.
• Compile and produce reports for understanding the performance and accounting of the portfolio.
• Assume ownership and accountability of the collection, interpretation, entry, and quality control of investment data.
• Prepare reconciliations of market values reported by custodian and investment consultants, coordinate necessary updates, and highlight differences for review.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with service providers to ensure clear and timely communication on routine and ad hoc data requests.
• Monitor upcoming capital calls and distributions for illiquid investments and schedule related transactions.
• Develop and maintain internal policies and procedures to support investment office functions. Maintain understanding of applicable governmental rules and policies.
• Conduct financial and accounting entries, reporting, and analysis.
• Track, monitor and report on the budget and assist in the annual process.
• Assist with the comprehensive annual financial statements and other audits.
• Assist in project work and administrative tasks including preparing and implementing budget recommendations, record-keeping functions, financial reports, and other ad-hoc data requests.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience related to business management, accounting, auditing, finance, data-oriented work, or in a comparable field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• Experience in preparing and interpreting reports, and managing data inputs.
• Prior experience performing accounting functions, preferably in an investment or finance related role.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
• Ability to apply policies, procedures, rules, and laws to independently make decisions and solve problems in ways that promote the objectives of the organization.
• A strong interest in institutional finance.

Personal Characteristics

• Highly motivated, high ethical standards, and a commitment to fiduciary responsibilities.
• Proven ability to collaborate and a reputation for respecting others.
• Understanding and appreciation of working for a small government agency and the mission and values of SITFO.
• Ability to prioritize workflow in a cross-functional team, while being comfortable with ambiguity.
• Detailed, highly organized, and has a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Takes initiative, has high work ethic and a willingness to learn.
• Honest, adaptable, and resourceful.

As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

The Agency
To learn more about SITFO please click here.

Additional Information

• All prospective SITFO employees are subject to an FBI level background check. The sensitive nature of this job and the access to Trust Funds indicates the need for a higher level background check. All SITFO employees are subject to background check wrap-backs.
• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g. safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.