Data Strategy and Business Analytics Director

cbh; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Bekaert is seeking a Data Strategy and Business Analytics Director to lead management reporting and analytics firmwide. You will translate questions from service lines, Finance and executive leadership into accurate, repeatable dashboards developed by the data analytics team in IT.

You will own data definitions and support monthly financial reporting to the board, advising leaders on interpretation of results and driving continuous improvement across performance metrics to ensure

Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive experience in public accounting, financial reporting or management reporting and analytics.
• Active CPA license.
• Audit experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of financial accounting, financial statement analysis and the economics of a professional services firm.
• Demonstrated experience translating business questions into reporting requirements and validating the resulting output before it reaches leadership.
• Practical knowledge of business intelligence and reporting platforms, including Power BI, and of the data structures that support them.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership to team including coaching, mentoring and professional development or oversight to a department.
• Engages the data analytics team in Information Technology to develop, review and deploy management reporting dashboards throughout the Firm.
• Confirms that dashboard output reconciles to the Firm's systems of record and that source data, definitions and calculation methods are documented and repeatable.
• Collaborates on monthly financial reporting delivered to service lines, the Finance Committee and the Board.
• Establishes and maintains firmwide definitions and data standards for performance metrics.
• Advises service line and department leaders on interpretation of reported results, and identifies trends, exceptions and matters requiring management attention.
• Prioritizes the reporting and analytics portfolio with the Chief Data Officer.
• Applies accounting and audit knowledge to evaluate data quality and support controls over the reporting process.
• Communicates with internal clients to help meet objectives for all parties.
• Participates in priority projects and strengthens cross-functional relationships.

Skills

Power BI

Excel skills

Team leadership

Executive presenting

Education

CPA license

Public accounting experience

Tools

Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Ranked among the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country and consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work , Cherry Bekaert delivers innovative advisory, assurance and tax services to our clients. We are proud to foster a collaborative environment focused on enabling your career growth and continuous professional development. Our team is looking for a Data Strategy and Business Analytics Director.

This position leads management reporting and business analytics for the Firm, translating the questions asked by service line, Finance and executive leadership into reporting that is accurate, consistent and ready for decision-making. The Director works through the data analytics team in Information Technology to develop, review and deploy dashboards firmwide, and works alongside the Financial Planning & Analysis team in Finance on monthly financial reporting to the service lines, the Finance Committee and the Board. The role owns the definitions, calculation methods and data standards behind firmwide performance metrics so that reported results are comparable across the organization. It combines accounting judgment with analytical capability, so that every reported figure can be explained and supported.

As Data Strategy and Business Analytics Director, you will:

• Provides leadership to team including coaching, mentoring and professional development or oversight to a department. Responsible for providing performance feedback on a regular basis.
• Engages the data analytics team in Information Technology to develop, review and deploy management reporting dashboards throughout the Firm, including defining requirements, reviewing logic and calculations prior to release, conducting user acceptance review and supporting adoption after deployment.
• Confirms that dashboard output reconciles to the Firm's systems of record and that source data, definitions and calculation methods are documented and repeatable.
• Engages the Financial Planning & Analysis team in Finance to collaborate on monthly financial reporting delivered to the service lines, the Finance Committee and the Board, including review of results, variance explanations and supporting analysis.
• Establishes and maintains firmwide definitions and data standards for performance metrics so that reporting is consistent across service lines, industries and departments.
• Advises service line and department leaders on interpretation of reported results, and identifies trends, exceptions and matters requiring management attention.
• Prioritizes the reporting and analytics portfolio with the Chief Data Officer, balancing recurring reporting obligations against new development requests.
• Applies accounting and audit knowledge to evaluate data quality, assess the reliability of management reporting and support controls over the reporting process.
• Communicates with internal clients to help meet objectives for all parties.
• Participates in priority projects and creates and strengthens cross-functional relationships to enable broader success.
• Exercises discretion with confidential information.

What you bring to the role:

• 10 years of progressive experience in public accounting, financial reporting or management reporting and analytics.
• Active CPA license.
• Audit experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of financial accounting, financial statement analysis and the economics of a professional services firm.
• Demonstrated experience translating business questions into reporting requirements and validating the resulting output before it reaches leadership.
• Practical knowledge of business intelligence and reporting platforms, including Microsoft Power BI, and of the data structures that support them.
• Ability to review analytical work critically and identify errors in logic, source data or calculation.
• Ability to influence other teams and co-pilot cross-team initiatives without direct authority.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, committees and boards, with the ability to move between summary-level narrative and hands-on data review.
• Outstanding analytic and Excel skills.
• Focus on continuous improvement to enhance business processes from diagnosis to documentation to execution.
• Comfort operating independently in a fast-changing environment.
• Ability to lead, develop and retain a small team of analytics professionals.

What you can expect from us:

• Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect
• The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you
• A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development
• Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing
• Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work
• Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with differen