Senior Financial Gift Analyst

Title: Senior Financial Gift Analyst

Location: Midtown

Org Unit: Budget and Planning

Work Days:

Weekly Hours: 35.00

Exemption Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $109,700.00 - $121,200.00

*As required under NYC Human Rights Law Int 1208-2018 - Salary range for this role when Hired for NYC Offices

Position Summary

The Senior Financial Gift Analyst performs gift accounting by analyzing, reconciling, and forecasting philanthropic funding to inform financial planning and decision-making. This role partners with Finance and Development teams to ensures data integrity, compliance with donor intent, and effective integration of gifts and pledges into budgeting, reporting, and long-range financial strategies.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive financial modeling and analysis for budgeting and forecasting to assess impacts on revenue, expenses, and liquidity, including scenario planning, labor negotiation impact assessments, and ad hoc analytical support.

• Reconcile monthly gift activity between Blackbaud and ERP systems, resolving variances across fund types and ensuring data accuracy.

• Maintain reconciliation schedules and supporting documentation, investigating discrepancies and improving data integrity across systems.

• Oversee the accounting and classification of all gifts, including endowment, operating, and capital funds, across restricted and unrestricted categories.

• Track and manage pledges, including roll forwards, collections, and aging, while maintaining accurate schedules of outstanding commitments.

• Develop multi-year pledge projections and integrate expected gift revenue into financial plans and budget forecasts.

• Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting on gifts, pledges, and variances, and support dashboard development and ad hoc financial analysis.

• Monitor restricted fund balances and support appropriate tracking of fund utilization in alignment with financial reporting requirements.

• Partner with Development, Accounting, and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) teams to reconcile data, support reporting, and provide guidance on spendable balances and gift-related policies.

• Identify and implement process improvements across reporting, reconciliations, and system workflows, while supporting enhancements to Blackbaud–ERP integrations with the Business Transformation team.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting or related field

Experience

• 3–7 years of relevant experience (nonprofit or fund accounting preferred)

• Familiarity with GAAP related to contributions and restricted funds is a plus

• Experience with ERP systems and fundraising platforms (e.g., Blackbaud, KindSight)

• Experience with Power BI or coding languages is a plus

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills

• Knowledge of Workday and SAP

• Analytical and detail-oriented

• Strong data reconciliation and problem-solving skills

• Effective communication and collaboration

• Process and systems mindset

Licenses and Certifications

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “any person, any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.