2027 Executive Associate Program - Financial Planning & Analysis

M&T Bank Corporation; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank Corporation invites applications for an Executive Associate in its FP&A function in Buffalo, NY. The program targets 2nd year MBA students and emphasizes leadership development, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration alongside senior finance leaders.

You'll engage in financial planning, performance analysis, and enterprise priority initiatives, delivering executive-ready analyses, dashboards, and briefing materials to support strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• MBA from an accredited business school.
• Minimum of 3 years' professional work experience.
• Demonstrated leadership potential with strategic and analytical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of annual strategic planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Conduct financial, operational, and strategic analyses to inform decisions and capital allocation.
• Partner with finance leaders to evaluate performance, profitability, and ROI trends.
• Prepare materials and recommendations for senior leadership forums and committees.
• Assess business cases for major initiatives, validate assumptions, and identify risks.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic analysis

Financial planning

Communication

Presentation skills

Project management

Education

MBA

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

The Executive Associate Program is designed for 2nd year MBA students who seek to accelerate their career within M&T Bank. Program hires will undergo an immersive leadership experience designed to develop leadership competencies and strategic capabilities. Throughout the first year, the incoming cohort will be introduced to Program alumni, Bank-wide leadership, and collaborate with peers to drive change to support the vision and goals of the Bank.

Department Overview

The Finance organization plays a critical role in helping M&T Bank achieve its strategic objectives by providing financial insight, performance analysis, and decision support across the enterprise. Through financial planning, forecasting, business performance management, and strategic analysis, the team partners with senior leaders to evaluate opportunities, allocate resources, and drive long-term growth. The Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Business Line Finance teams serve as trusted advisors to executive leadership, translating financial results into actionable insights that support business decisions. By partnering across the organization, the team helps leaders understand performance drivers, assess investment opportunities, measure progress against strategic goals, and ensure the efficient deployment of capital and resources. As an Executive Associate within FP&A, you'll support finance leadership by providing analytical, strategic, and project support related to business planning, financial performance, and enterprise priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of the Bank’s annual strategic planning process, including financial target setting, performance measurement, and enterprise reporting.
• Conduct financial, operational, and strategic analyses to inform business decisions, capital allocation, and long-term growth objectives.
• Partner with Finance leaders and business line stakeholders to evaluate business performance, profitability trends, and return on investment opportunities.
• Assist in preparing materials, analyses, and recommendations for senior leadership forums, including the Strategic Investment Committee (SIC) and Resource Allocation Committee (RAC).
• Assess business cases for major strategic initiatives by validating assumptions, analyzing costs and benefits, and identifying key risks and opportunities.
• Support enterprise investment governance processes by tracking initiative performance, resource utilization, and expected business outcomes.
• Contribute to the implementation and optimization of profitability measurement tools and reporting capabilities across business units and product lines.
• Analyze product, client, and business segment profitability to identify opportunities for growth, efficiency, and improved financial performance.
• Support the monthly earnings forecasting process by gathering financial inputs, validating assumptions, preparing analyses, and developing leadership reporting materials.
• Synthesize complex financial and operational information into clear presentations and recommendations for executive leadership.
• Collaborate with senior leaders across Finance and business lines to support strategic initiatives, special projects, and enterprise priorities.
• Develop executive-level presentations, dashboards, and briefing materials that facilitate strategic decision-making.
• Conduct research and benchmarking to evaluate industry trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities impacting the Bank's financial performance.

Scope of Responsibilities

Complete project/management related assignments in field of expertise within the Executive Associate Program.

Supervisory/ Managerial Responsibilities

None

Education and Experience Required

• Completed MBA from an accredited business school.
• Minimum of 3 years' professional work experience.
• Demonstrated leadership potential, as evidenced through previous work experience, extracurricular activities, or community involvement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills to think strategically and critically analyze complex business challenges.
• Strong project management skills to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Work visa sponsorship not offered for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in Finance, Treasury, Accounting, or related function; understanding and working knowledge of Financial statements.
• Experienced or expert knowledge of Excel and PPT.
• Understanding of leveraging AI tools to support business initiatives.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technical tools to support research and analysis.
• Ability to proactively identify opportunities and solve complex business problems.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders through presentations, executive summaries, case competitions, consulting projects, leadership roles, or professional work experience.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to tailor messages to executive audiences.

Pay and Location

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees.

The pay range for this position is $100,000 - $171,000. The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation. The range listed above encompasses all geographic locations. The pay rate specific to your location will fall within this range and is available from your recruiter.

Location Buffalo, New York, United States of America.

About M&T Bank

Great companies have an enduring sense of purpose. At M&T, our purpose is a simple one: make a difference in people’s lives and uplift the communities we serve. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's affiliates offer advice, guidance, expertise and solutions across the entire financial spectrum, combining M&T Bank’s traditional banking services with the wealth management and institutional capabilities offered by Wilmington Trust. M&T Bank has a network of over 1,000 branches and 2,200 ATMs that span 12 states from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. For more than 165 years, M&T has strived to take an active role in our communities and build long-lasting relationships with our customers. We are a bank for communities-combining the capabilities of a large bank with the care of a locally focused institution.

As an employer of choice, we are proud to offer competitive benefits ranging from medical and retirement to forty hours of paid volunteer time, each year. Our core values - integrity, ownership, collaboration, curiosity, and candor - drive the work we do. We seek to further build upon our record of success by bringing in top talent and fresh skill sets while continuing to support the growth and development of all our team members.

Equal Employment Opportunity

M&T Bank is unwavering when it comes to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, citizenship, pregnancy, veteran status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local laws.

Workplace Policies

M&T Bank Corporation has policies and procedures in place to promote a drug free workplace.