Financial Planning Analyst

Job Title: Budgeting/Forecasting Specialist

Position Type: Full-Time, Remote

Working Hours: U.S. client business hours

About the Role:

Our client is seeking a Budgeting/Forecasting Specialist to build financial models, manage planning cycles, and provide forward-looking insights that guide strategy. This role requires strong analytical skills, mastery of modeling tools, and the ability to translate numbers into actionable recommendations. You will work closely with finance leaders and department heads to ensure budgets and forecasts are accurate, realistic, and strategically aligned.

Responsibilities:

Budget Development:

• Lead preparation of annual operating and capital budgets.
• Consolidate inputs across departments and business units.
• Ensure budgets align with company goals and resource constraints.

Forecasting:

• Maintain rolling forecasts for revenue, expenses, and cash flow.
• Update models monthly or quarterly with actuals, adjusting assumptions.
• Build scenario and sensitivity analyses to test potential outcomes.

Variance Analysis:

• Compare actual results to budgets/forecasts.
• Prepare written commentary to explain variances and recommend corrective actions.

Financial Modeling:

• Build dynamic Excel or Google Sheets models (DCF, ROI, IRR, break-even).
• Use advanced formulas, macros, or BI tool integrations to improve accuracy.

Reporting:

• Prepare management reporting packages with dashboards and visualizations.
• Present insights to executives, highlighting risks and opportunities.

Collaboration:

• Partner with department heads to align forecasts with operational plans.
• Work with FP&A teams to refine planning assumptions.

Process Improvement:

• Identify inefficiencies in forecasting workflows.
• Implement new FP&A software or improve data integrations (Adaptive Insights, Anaplan, Workday, or equivalent).

What Makes You a Perfect Fit:

• Highly analytical with an eye for detail.
• Comfortable building models from scratch and explaining them simply.
• Proactive in identifying trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Skilled communicator who can influence leaders through data-driven storytelling.

Required Experience & Skills (Minimum):

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• 3+ years in financial planning/analysis, budgeting, or forecasting.
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets (nested formulas, pivot tables, sensitivity modeling).
• Experience preparing variance analyses for leadership.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• FP&A tool experience (Anaplan, Adaptive Insights, Hyperion, Workday).
• MBA, CFA, or CPA credential.
• Experience forecasting for SaaS, real estate, or professional services.
• Familiarity with BI/analytics platforms (Power BI, Tableau, Looker).

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

A Budgeting/Forecasting Specialist’s day revolves around building clarity about the future of the business. You will:

• Maintain financial models — updating them with actuals and revising assumptions based on market or internal trends.
• Analyze variances — reviewing how actual results differ from plan and preparing written explanations with supporting data.
• Support decision-making — running scenario analyses (“what happens if revenue grows 15%?” “what if headcount increases by 20?”) and presenting implications to leadership.
• Collaborate across teams — meeting with department managers to validate budget assumptions and ensure spending aligns with strategy.
• Deliver reporting — packaging forecasts and analyses into dashboards and executive-ready presentations.
• Continuously improve — refining models, implementing forecasting software, and streamlining inputs to shorten cycles.

In essence: the role is about ensuring the organization has reliable forward-looking data to guide strategy, supported by strong financial models and clear commentary.

Key Metrics for Success (KPIs):

• Forecast accuracy within ±5–10%.
• Budget completion within agreed timelines.
• Variance explanations delivered within 2–3 days of close.
• Models updated regularly and free from errors.
• Forecasting cycle time is reduced via automation.

Interview Process: