Financial Analyst

Job Description

Position Summary

The Financial Analyst is an exempt position responsible for performing advanced financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, and reporting to support strategic business decisions and organizational planning. The primary duty of this role includes analyzing financial data, developing and maintaining financial and operational models with reports, and interpreting financial results to provide actionable insights and recommendations to management.

This position exercises discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance, including evaluating financial performance trends, identifying risks and opportunities, and advising cross-functional leadership on financial implications of business initiatives. The Financial Analyst collaborates with key stakeholders across the organization to enhance financial performance, ensure alignment with strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze complex financial and operational data to identify trends, assess business performance, and develop actionable insights / recommendations to improve profitability and operational efficiency. 
• Play an active role in annual budgeting and forecasting, including development of assumptions, forecasting key business drivers, coordination with stakeholders, and preparation of financial plans to support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain advanced financial models to support scenario analysis, long-range planning, pricing decisions, and business case development.
• Design, develop, and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards and reports using Power BI to measure financial and operational performance and support decision-making.
• Perform variance analysis comparing actual results to budget, forecast, and prior periods, including identification of key drivers, risks, and opportunities. 
• Prepare and present monthly financial and operational review packages, including Branch Review materials, variance commentary, and performance insights, and support business leaders in interpreting results and preparing for review discussions. 
• Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate business initiatives and projects, assess financial implications, and provide analytical guidance and recommendations to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and financial targets. 
• Support pricing, profitability, cost structure, and margin analysis initiatives. 
• Conduct ad hoc financial analysis to support strategic initiatives such as new product or service launches, capital investments, operational changes, and resource allocation decisions. 
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data across reporting systems by validating inputs, reconciling discrepancies, and collaborating with accounting and operational teams to align financial and operational reporting. 
• Prepare executive-level reports and presentations summarizing financial performance and key insights for leadership.

Competencies

• Business Acumen: Ability to analyze complex financial and operational issues to identify root causes, uncover key business drivers, and develop data-driven recommendations to improve performance and support decision-making. 
• Analytical Thinking: Demonstrated ability to apply quantitative and qualitative analysis to interpret financial data, identify trends and variances, and draw accurate conclusions that inform forecasting and business planning. 
• Communication: Skilled in clearly communicating financial insights and recommendations to stakeholders, including senior leadership, translating complex data into concise, actionable reports and presentations. 
• Collaboration: Capability to build effective cross-functional relationships. Serves as a financial partner to business leaders, supporting alignment and influencing decisions through data-driven insights. 
• Adaptability – Proficiency in managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, adjusts to changing business needs, and delivers accurate financial analysis within required timelines.

Benefits

• Medical 
• Dental 
• Vision 
• EAP 
• STD/LTD 
• Basic Life and AD&D 
• Voluntary Life 
• Supplemental: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity 
• Cell Phone Stipend 
• 401(k) 
• Paid Time Off 
• Paid Holidays 

Watterson is an Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify employer.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or competencies. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description based on business need.

Experience/Education/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance or data science
• 2+ years of experience in financial analysis or related field
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in financial modeling and forecasting
• Advanced knowledge of Excel and other data visualization software
• Experience with budgeting and financial planning
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment

Physical Requirements

• • Prolonged periods of sitting. 
• • Ability to operate a computer. 
• • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.