Senior Financial Analyst

Business Planning Analyst

Provides business planning, decision support analysis and measurement reporting for the assigned business unit(s), e.g., Agency, Columbus Life and/or Lafayette Life. Develops critical management decision analysis tools, and suggests and implements cost-savings. Prepares financial budgets, forecasts and various business case financial models, and performs special projects. Develops, implements and maintains profitability models, cost benefit analysis models and business unit performance measures. Performs variance analyses monthly and quarterly for key management reports. Provides highly confidential analyses in support of new business initiatives and potential acquisitions. Works with minimal supervision and is responsible for making a broad range of critical decisions independently, escalating to executive-level management when appropriate.

Responsibilities

What you will do:

• Constructs yearly financial plans (budgets) and quarterly forecasts.
• Develops decision analysis tools necessary to help manage and grow the business.
• Identifies and implements process and cost improvements.
• Represents Finance Department in business unit specific meetings, and is responsible for identifying necessary analyses and updating the department on key items of impact.
• Develops, implements and maintains profitability and break-even models.
• Performs analyses in support of potential acquisition candidates.
• Creates and develops analyses to assist in the pricing of products.
• Develops, implements and reports business unit performance measures and key metrics.
• Prepares and communicates Scorecard commentary quarterly for each business unit supported.
• Prepares variance analyses to budget monthly for key management reports.
• Cross-trained as backup for one other business unit; cross-trains another analyst as backup for business units
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Finance or related field or commensurate selection criteria experience in related position or industry - Required
• Master's Degree MBA - Preferred
• Master's Degree Finance/accounting or equivalent - Preferred
• 4 to 6 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree or 1 to 3 years of relevant experience with an MBA (or equivalent degree) - Required
• Demonstrated experience working independently with little direction from management. Experience must include identifying and resolving problems where independent decision-making and initiative were demonstrated. - Required
• Proven experience coordinating multiple projects/assignments simultaneously, and completing assigned tasks accurately and on a timely basis. Must demonstrate strong attention to detail with excellent organizational skills. Expected to cite examples of organization and time management/methods used to manage or prioritize workload demands. Must demonstrate project management experience in planning, executing and maintaining a project from start to finish. - Required
• Proven experience effectively influencing a group to a recommended course of action. - Required
• Demonstrated experience in advanced spreadsheet applications. Includes extensive modeling of multiple business units and/or various financial products. - Required
• Proven strong analytical skills, including demonstrated experience identifying and quantifying problems and providing effective resolution.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills with proven ability to convey information to internal and external customers in a clear, focused and concise manner . Ability to prepare correspondence, reports and forms using a prescribed format.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications, e.g., Excel, PowerPoint. Database applications a plus.
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) - Preferred
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - Preferred
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) - Preferred

Work Setting/Position Demands:

• Works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Requires the ability to verbally communicate and exchange accurate information to customers and associates on a regular basis.
• Requires visual acuity to read and interpret a variety of correspondence, procedures, reports and forms via paper and electronic documents, visual inspection involving small defects; small parts, and/or operation of machinery (including inspection); using measurement devices continuously. Visual acuity is required to determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.
• Requires the ability to prepare written correspondence, reports and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style on a regular basis.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Performs substantial movement of wrists, hands, and fingers for continuous computer work.
• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects/events.

Travel Requirements:

• None