Principal Data Analyst

Role Description

As a Principal Data Analyst, you are a highly analytical, forward-thinking, and proactive problem solver who thrives on turning data into strategic insight. You will play a pivotal role within the Decision Intelligence team, helping to drive data-informed strategies, optimize key business processes, and identify opportunities to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and automation into analytical workflows. This role offers significant visibility across the organization, engaging with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders. Your work will directly influence strategic decisions and help foster a stronger data-driven and AI-enabled culture across the enterprise.

What You'll Get to Do

• Translate business questions into analytical solutions that go beyond stated needs by proactively surfacing insights that guide executive strategy and operational excellence.
• Design, build, and maintain advanced Power BI dashboards that visualize performance metrics, automate reporting, and democratize access to insights across teams.
• Partner with business leaders across designated departments to define key metrics, interpret performance results, and connect analytics to financial and growth objectives.
• Collaborate with the Data Science team to build and maintain predictive and prescriptive models, including regression, clustering, decision trees, customer segmentation, and revenue optimization.
• Champion data quality and governance by identifying data gaps, implementing cleansing and validation best practices, and partnering with Engineering teams to strengthen data integrity.
• Continuously evaluate AI tools, techniques, and platforms that enhance automation, forecasting, and insight generation across business functions.
• Present complex analyses as clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Stay current on emerging analytics technologies, visualization trends, and AI innovations that can drive competitive advantage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Economics, Business Analytics, or a related analytical field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in data analytics, business intelligence, data science, decision science, econometrics, or similar analytical roles, preferably within an enterprise SaaS, technology, consulting, or complex business environment.
• Deep expertise in Power BI and SQL, including scalable semantic models, executive dashboards, reporting, and self-service analytics.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, KPI design, data quality, and governance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous business questions into structured analytical approaches, identify root causes, quantify business impact, and recommend practical actions.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to define success metrics, interpret performance trends, and connect analytics to financial, operational, customer, and growth outcomes.
• Proven experience leading complex analytics initiatives from concept through implementation with minimal oversight.
• Working knowledge of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics concepts including regression, clustering, classification, forecasting, segmentation, anomaly detection, and predictive modeling.
• Ability to identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, and advanced analytics to improve reporting efficiency, forecasting, and business decision support.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to present complex data to executive and non-technical audiences.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to prioritize analytical initiatives based on business value.
• High degree of curiosity, ownership, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
• Experience in the Human Capital Management (HCM) industry is preferred.

Requirements

• Experience driving enterprise-wide analytics strategies and executive decision support.
• Expertise applying AI and automation to business intelligence and reporting.
• Experience building scalable self-service analytics environments.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership through data-driven insights.
• Experience within Human Capital Management or enterprise software environments.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401k plan (plus match) and a Global Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Unlimited Time Away From Work (in lieu of accrued vacation time).
• 10 paid US holidays and up to 80 hours of paid sick time.
• 17 weeks of paid parental leave, subject to the terms of the applicable policy or program.
• Opportunities for community impact, including volunteer days and our charity, Dayforce Cares.