Financial Operations Consultant / Financial Analyst

Job Title: Financial Operations Consultant / Financial Analyst

Location: Chicago, IL 
Work Model: Chicago-based role with the potential to work in a hybrid capacity
Employment Type: W-2
Employment Path: Open to both full-time candidates and current students interested in a part-time internship that can transition to full-time employment upon graduation
Contract to Hire: 6 months for full-time candidates, with opportunity to convert to full-time employment Hours: 40 hours per week for full-time candidates; flexible part-time schedule available for interns based on academic commitments
Starting Compensation: $20–$25/hour, based on experience
Compensation Growth: Ongoing compensation growth opportunity through periodic wage reviews and potential hourly rate increases based on performance, skill development, expanded responsibilities, and demonstrated contribution to the business
Benefits: 401(k) and ICHRA healthcare benefits available for eligible employees
Additional Compensation: Performance bonuses and spot bonuses for designated accomplishments, exceptional performance, and meaningful business contributions
Relocation: Relocation package available for candidates moving to the Chicago area
Start Date: ASAP

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Financial Operations Consultant / Financial Analyst to support the financial and operational functions of a growing professional services organization.

This role provides broad exposure to financial management and business operations, including client billing, accounts receivable, account reconciliation, cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, consultant administration, contracts, and operational support.

We are open to both experienced professionals and early-career candidates. Current students may begin in a part-time internship capacity while completing their degree, with the opportunity to transition into a full-time position upon graduation. Recent graduates with demonstrated success through internships, academic work, or related experience are also strongly encouraged to apply.

The position is designed to provide meaningful long-term growth. In addition to eligibility for performance and spot bonuses, the role offers an ongoing compensation growth opportunity , with periodic wage reviews and the potential for hourly rate increases as the employee develops new skills, assumes greater responsibility, and demonstrates continued value to the organization.

The ideal candidate is analytical, highly organized, comfortable working with financial data, and interested in developing broad experience across finance, operations, and business management. This person should enjoy working closely with company leadership and be motivated by an environment where strong performance can translate into increased responsibility, compensation, and career progression.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Execute day-to-day financial operations, including invoice processing, expense tracking, account reconciliation, and financial record management.
• Monitor organizational cash flow and participate in cash flow discussions with company leadership.
• Prepare for and participate in monthly financial meetings focused on revenue projections, expense forecasts, cash flow, and monthly reconciliation.
• Develop and maintain operating budgets and financial forecasts.
• Analyze revenue and expense trends and identify potential cost-saving or financial improvement opportunities.
• Monitor outstanding client balances and support collection of client payments.
• Accurately record payments and maintain appropriate supporting documentation.
• Generate monthly financial statements, reports, and analyses for internal stakeholders.
• Support month-end reconciliation and close activities.
• Coordinate end-of-year financial closeout activities.
• Support the annual tax process through reconciliation, documentation, record preparation, and coordination with external accounting partners.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Analysis

• Develop and maintain financial forecasts based on expected revenue, consultant costs, operating expenses, and business activity.
• Compare actual financial performance against budgets and forecasts.
• Identify and explain material financial variances.
• Provide financial analysis to support leadership decision-making.
• Prepare financial summaries, reports, and presentations for leadership discussions.
• Support scenario analysis and financial modeling as business needs evolve.
• Identify trends and provide recommendations based on financial performance.

Accounts Receivable & Client Billing

• Collect and review consultant timesheets for completeness and accuracy.
• Prepare client invoices based on approved hours, contractual rates, and billing requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of invoices, payments, and outstanding balances.
• Track accounts receivable and follow up on outstanding client payments.
• Coordinate with clients and internal stakeholders to resolve billing discrepancies.
• Reconcile consultant timesheets with client billing and project records.
• Maintain organized supporting documentation for all billing activity.

Business Operations

• Support leadership across financial and general business operations.
• Help organize client, consultant, financial, operational, and project records.
• Support the preparation of client deliverables and internal reporting.
• Maintain accurate and organized business files and documentation.
• Assist with operational activities outside of finance as business needs arise.
• Develop and maintain trackers, templates, procedures, and standardized workflows.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial and operational efficiency.
• Take ownership of recurring operational processes as experience and responsibilities grow.

Statements of Work & Contract Administration

• Assist with the development and administration of Statements of Work (SOWs) .
• Prepare amendments when project scope, timing, staffing, pricing, or other commercial terms change.
• Maintain organized records of contracts, SOWs, and amendments.
• Help ensure consultant activity and client invoicing align with applicable agreements.
• Coordinate with leadership to maintain accurate project and contractual information.
• Support tracking of client commitments, contract terms, and project financials.

Consultant & Client Operations

• Collaborate with leadership to support strong relationships with clients and consultants.
• Coordinate financial and operational information related to active consulting engagements.
• Maintain consultant timesheet, billing, project, and contract records.
• Assist with consultant-related administrative processes.
• Participate in regular meetings with company leadership to review consulting engagements, financial activity, operational priorities, and upcoming needs.
• Create and maintain action plans resulting from leadership discussions.
• Support additional client and consultant activities as the business grows.

Process Improvement

• Evaluate recurring financial and operational processes for opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Develop more effective trackers, templates, reports, and workflows.
• Help document standard operating procedures and financial processes.
• Recommend improvements to billing, reconciliation, forecasting, reporting, and record management.
• Support implementation of new financial or operational tools as needed.
• Take increasing ownership of process improvements as knowledge of the business grows.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Process and track invoices, expenses, payments, and financial transactions.
• Reconcile accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Update cash flow reports, budgets, forecasts, and financial trackers.
• Prepare financial reports and analyses for leadership.
• Collect consultant timesheets and prepare client invoices.
• Track outstanding accounts receivable and client payments.
• Maintain client, consultant, financial, and contract documentation.
• Prepare and update SOWs and amendments.
• Support monthly financial meetings and leadership discussions.
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities.
• Coordinate documentation for the annual tax process.
• Support broader business operations and special projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial and administrative processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration , or a related field, or current enrollment in a related degree program for internship candidates.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel .
• Ability to work effectively with financial data, spreadsheets, reports, and reconciliations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with leadership and other team members.
• Professional judgment when handling confidential financial and business information.
• Initiative and willingness to take ownership of responsibilities.
• Willingness to work in the Chicago area upon transition to a full-time position.

Experience

• Prior experience in financial operations, financial analysis, accounting support, business operations, or a related area is preferred but not required for all candidates.
• Experience with invoicing, account reconciliation, accounts receivable, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, or business operations is beneficial.
• Recent graduates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Current college students are also encouraged to apply for a part-time internship pathway , particularly candidates studying Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Internship candidates should demonstrate strong academic performance, relevant coursework, internship experience, extracurricular leadership, or other evidence of financial and analytical ability.
• Part-time interns may transition into a full-time Financial Operations Specialist / Financial Analyst position upon graduation based on performance and business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with QuickBooks or similar accounting software.
• Strong Excel capabilities, including formulas, PivotTables, lookups, reconciliations, and data analysis.
• Experience within professional services, consulting, staffing, or another project-based organization.
• Exposure to client billing, consultant timesheets, contracts, or Statements of Work.
• Experience preparing financial reports, forecasts, or management presentations.
• Experience supporting accounts receivable or client collections.
• Familiarity with financial close or tax preparation processes.
• Interest in developing broader experience across finance, business operations, and company management.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting compensation of $20–$25/hour as a W-2 employee , based on experience.
• Ongoing compensation growth opportunity , with periodic wage reviews and the potential for hourly rate increases based on performance, skill development, expanded responsibilities, and demonstrated business impact.
• Eligibility for performance-based bonuses tied to individual and company results.
• Eligibility for spot bonuses for designated accomplishments, exceptional performance, process improvements, or other meaningful contributions.
• 401(k) plan available for eligible employees.
• ICHRA healthcare benefit available for eligible employees.
• Relocation package available for candidates relocating to the Chicago area.
• Potential for a hybrid work arrangement based on role responsibilities and business needs.
• Opportunity for full-time candidates to convert following the initial six-month period.
• Part-time internship pathway available for current students, with the opportunity to transition to full-time employment upon graduation.
• Continued opportunities for increased responsibility, professional development, compensation growth, and long-term career progression.

Career Growth Opportunity

This position is intended to grow alongside the individual. As the Financial Operations Specialist / Financial Analyst develops stronger knowledge of the business and demonstrates consistent performance, opportunities may include:

• Increased ownership of financial reporting and forecasting.
• Greater responsibility for cash flow and financial planning.
• Expanded involvement in budgeting and business analysis.
• Increased responsibility for client billing and financial operations.
• Ownership of operational processes and process improvement initiatives.
• Greater exposure to executive leadership and business decision-making.
• Expanded involvement in contracts, SOWs, and commercial operations.
• Periodic hourly wage increases based on growth and performance.
• Performance and accomplishment-based bonus opportunities.
• Progression into increasingly senior finance and operations responsibilities.

Core Competencies

• Financial Operations
• Financial Analysis
• Accounts Receivable
• Client Billing
• Account Reconciliation
• Cash Flow Management
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Financial Reporting
• Expense Management
• Microsoft Excel
• QuickBooks
• Statements of Work
• Contract Administration
• Business Operations
• Process Improvement
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Organization
• Communication
• Initiative
• Accountability

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an analytical, dependable, and highly organized professional who wants meaningful exposure to both finance and business operations . They should enjoy working with detailed financial information, solving problems, preparing reports and forecasts, and collaborating directly with company leadership.

For early-career candidates, this role provides an opportunity to develop beyond a narrowly defined entry-level finance position by gaining exposure to financial planning, accounting operations, client billing, contracts, consulting operations, and company decision-making.

For current students, the part-time internship pathway provides the opportunity to begin learning the business before graduation and grow into a full-time position as their availability and responsibilities increase.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate initiative, accuracy, curiosity, sound judgment, and a desire to take on increasingly complex responsibilities. This role is particularly well suited for someone who wants their responsibilities, compensation, and career opportunities to grow alongside their performance and contribution to the business .