2027 Executive Associate Program - Financial Planning & Analysis

M&T Bank; South Dakota; On-site; USD 100,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank is seeking MBA graduates for its Executive Associate Program in Buffalo, NY. The program accelerates leadership development within Finance, FP&A, and enterprise planning, pairing you with senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives.

You will perform financial analyses, support annual planning, prepare executive materials, and help evaluate capital allocation decisions while developing strategic problem-solving and presentation skills.

Qualifications

• MBA completed from an accredited business school.
• Minimum of 3 years’ professional work experience.
• Demonstrated leadership potential with prior experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong project management skills; can handle multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Work visa sponsorship not offered for this role.

Responsibilities

• Support annual strategic planning with financial target setting, performance measurement, and enterprise reporting.
• Conduct financial, operational, and strategic analyses to inform decisions and capital allocation.
• Partner with Finance leaders to evaluate performance and ROI opportunities.
• Prepare materials for senior leadership forums including SIC and RAC.
• Assess business cases for strategic initiatives by validating costs, benefits and risks.
• Track initiative performance and resource utilization in governance processes.
• Develop profitability measurement tools and reporting capabilities across units.
• Analyze product, client, and segment profitability to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop executive presentations and leadership reporting materials.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to support enterprise priorities.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Education

MBA

Tools

AI Tools

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 problemsDemonstrated 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

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