Finance Analyst

djeholdings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

djeholdings in Chicago seeks a Financial Analyst to own the reconciliation of salaries and freelance costs within the North American Controllership, and to forecast workforce expenses while aiding the redesign of freelance management processes. The role requires 2+ years of accounting experience, strong Excel skills, and the ability to work with large data sets and confidential information.

Collaboration with Payroll, HR, and business leaders is essential to drive accurate forecasting and cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in accounting or finance.
• High degree of confidentiality and ability to manage sensitive data responsibly.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and automation tools including ChatGPT and Copilot.
• Demonstrated analytical ability and understanding of financial statements, budgeting, and forecasting concepts.

Responsibilities

• Own the reconciliation process of salaries and freelance costs at month end close, comparing Payroll wage reports and GL to forecasted costs.
• Prepare journal entries for month end close including expense accruals and reclassifications.
• Coordinate with Payroll and HR to resolve discrepancies and update forecasts for hires/terminations.
• Maintain supporting schedules used to forecast salaries and employee expenses and review severance accruals.
• Manage the freelance tracking process, document processes, and track spend against forecast and budgets.
• Review freelance requests, enter POs for agency freelancers, and reconcile active freelance population with business need.
• Coordinate budgeting and tracking of non-salary compensation and taxable fringe benefits.
• Support maintenance of welfare budget trackers for market, practice and other leaders.

Skills

Excel

ChatGPT

Copilot

Analytical skills

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

Tools

Workday

Adaptive

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

The Financial Analyst will sit within the North American Controllership function and report to the Finance Manager. The Analyst will have primary responsibility for the accounting, reconciliation and forecasting of U.S. workforce-related costs, including salaries, professional freelance and temporary clerical costs, taxable fringe benefits and employee perquisites. The role will also support employee welfare budgeting and play a significant role in redesigning the end-to-end freelance management process.

This is a visible role requiring regular partnership across front- and back-office functions, including Payroll, Resource Management, Human Resources & Employee Relations, and various market and practice leaders. The successful candidate will be expected to combine detailed accounting execution with analytical judgment, proactively investigate exceptions and communicate both findings and recommended solutions.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• High degree of confidentiality and ability to manage sensitive data responsibly.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and automation tools including ChatGPT and Copilot.
• Demonstrated analytical ability and understanding of financial statements, budgeting, and forecasting concepts.
• Ability to organize and analyze detailed financial data, identify inconsistencies, and clearly communicate findings with explanations and/or proposed solutions in a clean and timely manner.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage recurring deadlines while responding to ad hoc requests.
• Consistently demonstrates curiosity, willingness to learn and sound judgment.
• Comfortable working with large datasets and developing repeatable analytical processes.
• Familiarity with Workday and Adaptive products a plus.
• CPA candidates a plus (role will be eligible for Edelman's tuition reimbursement program after 6 months of employment and CPA testing and licensing fee expense reimbursements, if desired).

Key Responsibilities

Salaries & Freelance Compensation

Own the reconciliation process of salaries and freelance costs as part of month end close by timely, completely and accurately comparing Payroll wage reports and general ledger (GL) balances to forecasted costs within Adaptive and subsequently investigating and resolving all exceptions as appropriate. This may require:

• Preparing journal entries for month end close including expense accruals and reclassification entries.
• Coordinating with Payroll and HR to resolve identified discrepancies.
• Updating forecast for hires, terminations, promotions, compensation changes, and other workforce activity.
• Maintaining supporting schedules used to forecast for salaries and other employee expenses.
• Partnering with the Controller and Employee Relations in review of the severance accrual.
• Preparing monthly forecast-to-actuals variance commentary.

Freelance Process

Manage the freelance tracking process, evaluating spend by practice, analyzing trends and identifying ongoing opportunities for cost savings. Additionally, collaborate with Resource Management and Finance to document existing freelance processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop an efficient process for tracking, managing, and reporting freelance activity.

General responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing requests to engage freelance.
• Entering and reconciling purchase orders for agency freelancers.
• Monitoring freelance spend against forecast and approved budgets.
• Maintaining accurate freelance tracking and supporting schedules, including start dates, end dates, rates, expected costs, and organizational alignment.
• Partnering with Resource Management and Finance to reconcile the active freelance population and validate ongoing business need.

Other Employee Costs

In partnership with HR Compliance and Payroll, coordinate the budgeting and tracking of non-salary compensation and miscellaneous taxable fringe benefits including reimbursed office parking, statutorily required stipends and cash equivalent compensation (gift cards). Responsibilities include reviewing the ledger population for completeness and classification, investigating forecast to actual variances, quarterly compilation of data required by Payroll for processing, and periodic updating of policies and procedures.

May also support in the budgeting of employer payroll taxes and pension plan contributions.

Other Budget Support

Support the Finance Manager with maintaining employee welfare budget trackers for market, practice and other business leaders as needed including: Making p