Senior Financial Systems Analyst

Job Summary

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is seeking a collaborative, solutions-oriented Senior Financial Systems Analyst to help advance our financial and sponsored research operations through expert use of Workday Financials, Workday Grants Management, and Workday Financials Reporting.

This is a high-impact role for an experienced Workday professional who enjoys partnering with Finance & Accounting, Grant and Contract Services (GCS), and Research Administration stakeholders to design intuitive systems, strengthen compliance, and improve how data and processes support scientific discovery. The Senior Finance Systems Analyst serves as a functional leader and trusted advisor, helping guide WHOI through ongoing Workday optimization while ensuring systems align with the unique needs of a complex, grant-funded research institution.

The role spans implementation support, post-production optimization, reporting and analytics, and continuous process improvement across finance and sponsored research.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Functions

Lead Workday Financials & Grants Management Solutions

• Serve as a functional lead for Workday Financials and Workday Grants Management, partnering closely with GCS, Research Administration, and Finance & Accounting in a higher education and research environment

• Analyze, design, and optimize WHOI’s Financial and Grants Management systems and processes, leveraging Workday best practices

• Partner closely with GCS to ensure Workday configurations support sponsor terms, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements

• Support the full sponsored research lifecycle in Workday, including award setup, budgeting, amendments, cost sharing, F&A, billing, revenue recognition, and closeout

• Support core financial management processes across General Ledger/Financial Reporting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Procurement, Assets, Cash Management and Financial Planning & Analysis ensuring alignment with institution accounting policies and best practices

• Collaborate with Finance & Accounting leadership and business process owners to design, optimize, and govern Workday Financials configurations and controls

• Act as a key functional lead and trusted advisor during Workday implementations, enhancements, and optimization initiatives

Design and Improve Business Processes

• Collaborate with Finance & Accounting, GCS, Research Administration, Information Systems, HRIS, and other institution partners to design efficient, compliant, and user-friendly processes

• Lead requirements gathering, business process mapping, and future-state design for financial and grants workflows

• Translate complex operational needs into clear functional requirements and Workday configurations

• Evaluate current-state processes, identify improvement opportunities, and guide stakeholders toward best-practice solutions

• Coordinate and support system testing, user acceptance testing, and issue resolution in partnership with business and technical teams

• Support integrations between Workday and other institutional systems and tools

Reporting, Analytics & Insights

• Design and maintain Workday Financials and Grants reports, including standard, custom, and composite reports

• Develop dashboards and metrics that support research administration, financial management, grants oversight, audit readiness, and leadership decision-making

• Partner with Finance, FP&A, GCS, and Research Administration leadership to define reporting standards, data governance, and analytics priorities

• Provide ad hoc reporting and analysis to support operational and strategic needs Support, Stewardship & Continuous Improvement

Support, Stewardship & Continuous Improvement

• Provide ongoing functional support to Finance & Accounting, GCS & Research Administration, and the broader WHOI Workday user community

• Coordinate system enhancements, upgrades, documentation, and end-user training

• Develop clear user guides, training materials, and process documentation tailored to a research environment

• Support internal and external audits, compliance reviews, and sponsor inquiries

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve system usability, productivity, and user experience

• Contribute to a culture of service, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

• At least 7 years of experience supporting financial systems, with increasing responsibility and scope

• At least 5 years of hands-on experience with Workday Financial Management, including implementation, configuration, administration, and support

• Demonstrated experience with Workday Grants Management and sponsored research business processes

• Strong experience developing Workday Financials and Grants reports, including custom and composite reporting

• Experience working in or closely with higher education, research institutions, or other grant-funded organizations

• Proven ability to gather requirements, perform gap analysis, and design effective system solutions

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to data quality and integrity

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively across diverse stakeholder groups

Preferred Skills & Experience

• MBA or advanced degree

• Workday Financial Management and/or Workday Grants certifications

• Experience supporting complex, decentralized organizations

Additional Job Requirements

WHOI accepts applications on a rolling basis - applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure full consideration. While we will continue to review applications until the position is filled, and early applicants may have an advantage in the selection process.

EEO Statement

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.