Financial Analyst, Planning & Analysis

Job Description

The Financial Services Department (F$D) is looking for a motivated individual to join the Planning and Analysis (P&A) group.  The P&A Team manages Laboratory-wide support area budgets and maintains, redefines, develops, and prepares meaningful financial reports, dashboards, and metrics for management decision making.  The group is responsible for identifying and implementing financial planning and reporting processes, systems, and reporting tools, all the while coordinating with the Laboratory business community and MIT campus on budgeting and forecasting issues.

Reporting to the Senior Financial Manager, P&A and working closely with the entire P&A Team, the Financial Analyst, Planning and Analysis will play a hands-on role in expanding the group’s financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting capabilities.  The role will figure prominently in  supporting the roll-out and maintenance of a new Budget, Planning & Forecasting software solution along with associated process improvements.  The Financial Analyst will be the point person for ad-hoc analytics and partnering with our data analytics team will play a supporting role related to maintaining reporting and data visualizations.  The right candidate will have a strong attention to detail and be well-versed in financial analytics, budgeting/forecasting and working with large data sets.  Ultimately, the Financial Analyst, Planning and Analysis will be an integral part of our planning and analysis efforts to ensure maximum efficiencies and business success. 

Duties and Responsibilites

• Gather and analyze financial data
• Prepare detailed reports and analytics, both periodically and ad-hoc
• Work with Sr. Manager on Planning & Analysis in all Laboratory matters pertaining to budgeting/planning/forecasting, including the roll-out of a new Budget, Planning & Forecast software solution.
• Help management make important decisions based on costs and benefits (e.g. investments, market growth, inflationary impacts, pricing changes)
• Conduct audits on financial processes and transactions; Monitor changes in processes or methods to calculate effects on overall costs
• Examine data to help with reducing costs in all operations.
• Contribute to developing yearly operation plans, and budgets, and estimating new product costs, including economic analysis.
• Suggest cost-reducing or efficiency-enhancing solutions where appropriate

Requirements

• 5-10 years proven work experience as a financial analyst, Budget analyst or similar role
• Experience in operational and financial analysis, including working with large amounts of data
• Knowledge of accounting processes and software including Budgeting, Planning and Forecasting software tools.
• Demonstrated analytical/problem solving skills and effective written and oral communication skills (including presentations)  
• Excellent customer service, verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze, discuss and present financial results/reports
• Able to work independently, problem solve and drive positive change within an organization
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance
• Proficient in MS Office (primarily Excel, Word & PowerPoint); Experience with SAP S/4 a plus
• Bachelor’s degree is required (Degree in Finance, Accounting or similar field)