Finance Specialist - Finance Business Partnership

ZS; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ZS Associates in Chicago seeks a Senior Finance Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, delivering clear financial insights for account, practice, or portfolio decisions that influence commercial outcomes.

You will lead forecasting, budgeting, and scenario analyses, provide P&L analysis and investment tracking, and mentor junior staff while ensuring robust financial controls and cross‑functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA/CPA, other designations a plus, but not required.
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in commercial finance, corporate finance, FP&A, consulting, or similar finance business partnering role.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, variance analysis, and commercial modeling.
• Proven experience partnering with senior stakeholders to influence decision making.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, and PowerPoint and financial analysis skills; strong proficiency in financial systems and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial concepts into clear insights.
• Sound judgment, ownership, and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted finance partner to senior business leaders, supporting decision making with clear financial insights.
• Influence commercial outcomes by identifying risks, opportunities, and trade-offs related to revenue, margin, and resources.
• Directly support pricing, deal structuring, and commercial evaluations aligned with financial objectives.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting, and scenario analysis for short and long term planning.
• Monitor performance vs plan, explain variances, and recommend actions to leadership.
• Develop and deliver management reporting including P&L analysis, margin drivers, and investment tracking.
• Mentor and coach junior Finance Business Partners and analysts.
• Ensure strong financial hygiene across reporting, forecast accuracy, and controls.
• Partner with cross functional teams to support procurement, investment tracking, and compliance with processes.
• Support month end, quarter end, and year end closes with data integrity.
• Act as SME in Finance Business Partnering, supporting best practices and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of finance tools, processes, and reporting standards.
• Model professional partnership, drive financial rigor, and raise team maturity.

Skills

P&L management

Forecasting

Variance analysis

Commercial modeling

Excel

Power BI

PowerPoint

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field

MBA/CPA optional

Tools

Financial systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted finance partner to senior business leaders, supporting account, practice, or portfolio level decision making with clear financial insights and perspectives.
• Influence commercial outcomes by proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and trade-offs related to revenue, margin, investment, and resource allocation.
• Directly support pricing, deal structuring, and commercial evaluations, ensuring alignment with firm financial objectives and risk thresholds.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting, and scenario analysis processes to support short and long term business planning.
• Monitor financial performance versus plan, identify variances, and provide clear explanations and recommendations to leadership.
• Develop and deliver meaningful management reporting, including P&L analysis, margin drivers, and investment tracking.
• Serve as a mentor and coach to junior Finance Business Partners and analysts, responsible for helping them develop their technical skills, business acumen, and confidence in stakeholder engagement.
• Ensure strong financial hygiene across project and account level reporting, including forecast accuracy, committed spend visibility, and financial controls.
• Partner with cross functional teams to support procurement, investment tracking, and compliance with finance processes.
• Support month end, quarter end, and year end close activities, ensuring data integrity and timeliness.
• Serve as a subject matter expert within Finance Business Partnering, supporting best practices, training, and knowledge sharing.
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement of finance tools, processes, and reporting standards.
• Act as a role model for effective business partnership, professionalism, and financial rigor, helping raise the overall maturity and effectiveness of the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; MBA/CPA, other designations a plus, but not required.
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in commercial finance, corporate finance, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), consulting, or similar finance business partnering role.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, variance analysis, and commercial modeling.
• Proven experience partnering with - and presenting to - senior stakeholders in order to influence decision making.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, and PowerPoint and financial analysis skills; strong proficiency in financial systems and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial concepts into clear, business relevant insights and recommendations.
• Sound judgment to constructively challenge stakeholders while also supporting business needs.
• Highly motivated with a strong work ethic, ownership, and personal initiative.
• Excellent organizational and task management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Key Attributes

• Fluency in English.
• Client-first mentality.
• Intense work ethic.
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach.

How you’ll grow

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways.
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities.
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s‑curves, individual contribution and role expansions.

Perks & Benefits

At ZS, your growth matters. We offer a comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well‑being, financial future, time away, and professional development. With robust skills‑building programs, multiple career progression paths, internal mobility, and a deeply collaborative culture, you’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, expand your capabilities, and thrive as part of a global community.

Hybrid working model

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on‑site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face‑to‑face connections.

Travel

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client‑facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.