Introduction
This document outlines the key roles and responsibilities of a Data Analyst with experience in the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) domain. This role is critical for leveraging data to provide actionable insights that support strategic decision-making within the finance function.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Collection and Preparation:
- Gathering financial and operational data from various sources (e.g. ERP systems CRM data warehouses spreadsheets).
- Cleaning validating and transforming data to ensure accuracy and consistency for analysis.
- Developing and maintaining robust data models to support FP&A activities.
- Financial Analysis and Reporting:
- Conducting in-depth financial analysis including variance analysis trend analysis and forecasting.
- Developing and maintaining financial reports dashboards and visualizations to communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) and insights to stakeholders.
- Supporting the annual budgeting and forecasting processes through data-driven insights.
- Business Partnering and Collaboration:
- Collaborating with finance operations and other departments to understand business needs and translate them into data requirements.
- Presenting complex data findings in a clear concise and understandable manner to non-technical audiences.
- Providing analytical support for strategic initiatives investment evaluations and cost optimization efforts.
- System and Process Improvement:
- Identifying opportunities to automate data collection analysis and reporting processes.
- Working with IT and other teams to improve data infrastructure and analytical tools.
- Ensuring data governance and best practices are followed for data integrity and security.
- Ad-Hoc Analysis and Special Projects:
- Performing ad-hoc analyses to address specific business questions or challenges.
- Participating in special projects that require data expertise such as M&A due diligence or new product launches.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Educational Background:
- Bachelors degree in Finance Accounting Economics Data Science Statistics or a related quantitative field. Masters degree preferred.
- Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in data manipulation and analysis tools (e.g. SQL Python R).
- Strong expertise in spreadsheet software (e.g. Microsoft Excel) for financial modeling and analysis.
- Experience with Business Intelligence (BI) and data visualization tools (e.g. Tableau Power BI Qlik Sense).
- Familiarity with financial planning systems (e.g. Anaplan Hyperion Adaptive Insights).
- Domain Knowledge:
- Proven experience working as a Data Analyst within an FP&A function.
- Solid understanding of financial statements accounting principles and corporate finance concepts.
- Knowledge of budgeting forecasting and financial reporting processes.
- Soft Skills:
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail.
- Ability to translate data into actionable business insights.
- Strong communication presentation and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously.