Financial Analyst

Spencer Stuart; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus program

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Spencer Stuart’s Chief Financial Officer Group in Chicago seeks an Analyst - FP&A to lead global budgeting and forecasting for multiple functions. You will partner with business leaders, analyze variances, and present actionable insights to executives.

The role emphasizes accuracy, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in FP&A or related fields, strong Excel skills, and experience with Workday and Adaptive Planning.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of FP&A, corporate finance, accounting, or audit experience.
• End-to-end ownership of a budget or forecast cycle.
• Experience with Workday and Adaptive Planning is a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel with complex models and nested logic.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end budget and forecast process for assigned functions.
• Investigate variances and provide clear written commentary.
• Be primary finance contact for business partners and leadership.
• Support consolidated reporting and board-level materials.
• Identify process gaps and improve models and workflows.

Skills

FP&A experience

Budget ownership

Advanced Excel

Strong communication

Cross-functional partnering

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

Tools

Workday Financials

Adaptive Planning

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Financial Officer Group (CFOG) is responsible for the Firm's global financial and controllership functions. Because all financial data for the Firm from all over the world flows into our team, we are in a unique position to spot trends and advise business leaders. Our first mission is to collect and report information with flawless accuracy. Our next commitment is to provide insightful analysis and serve as business advisors to our front-line managers. In addition, our team members embody a deep commitment to providing brilliant service to our internal clients. We treat our business leaders and front-line professionals like valued clients who deserve first-rate, highly responsive service. Our final commitment is to each other. The CFO division has a unique culture defined by collaboration, mutual support, and a "team first" attitude, combined with a strong commitment to professional excellence. We like go-getters who embody our values about first-rate work and continuous improvement.

Analyst - FP&A

The Analyst - FP&A is a core member of the FP&A team, responsible for developing the global annual budget and driving periodic forecasting cycles in partnership with business function leaders across the firm. This is a business-partnering role: you will own the budget and forecast for an assigned portfolio of functions, analyze variances between actual results and plan, and present your findings and recommendations directly to the leaders who own that spend. You'll build a working understanding of Spencer Stuart's business model and the operations of the CFO Group, and use it to make your analysis sharper over time.

What you’ll do

• Own the end-to-end budget and forecast process for an assigned set of business functions, from assumption-setting through final submission.
• Investigate variances to root cause and deliver clear, written commentary that explains why results moved not just what changed.
• Serve as the primary finance point of contact for your business partners, including asking clarifying questions, challenging assumptions, and holding the line on approved plan figures.
• Support consolidated reporting and executive-level materials, including board and leadership presentations.
• Identify process gaps and build the fix improving models, reporting, and workflows as the firm's planning environment evolves.

What you’ll bring

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, accounting, or audit.
• Prior end-to-end ownership of a budget or forecast cycle is required.
• Working knowledge of an enterprise planning system (e.g., Adaptive Planning & Workday) and a BI/visualization tool (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Exposure to Workday Financials is a strong plus.
• Advanced Excel skills, including nested logic, lookup functions, and maintenance of large, linked financial models.
• The ability to operate with minimal direction: you identify the issue, do the work to understand it, ask the right questions and capably deliver a recommendation.
• Comfort managing multiple concurrent deadlines across close, forecast, and budget cycles with competing stakeholder demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex financial detail for non-finance audiences.
• Exceptional attention to detail and an internal client service mindset.
• Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting.
• Location: 353 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the main point of contact for Business Function teams within the Finance department, providing insights and analysis to support sound decision‑making.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams, ensuring that financial insights are integrated into business strategies and operations.
• Prepare and present accurate and timely financial reports and analyses to senior management, highlighting key trends and variances to inform business decisions.
• Ensure the integrity and quality of financial data through meticulous attention to detail, conducting thorough reviews and validation of reports and process outputs.
• Deliver exceptional service to internal stakeholders by anticipating needs, addressing inquiries, and providing solutions in a responsive manner.
• Manage multiple priorities effectively, ensuring that deliverables are completed within established timelines while adhering to high standards of quality.
• Liaise closely with the Controllership team to align financial reporting processes, ensure compliance, and contribute to the overall financial governance framework.
• Leverage tools such as Workday, Adaptive Planning, and Office Connect to enhance financial analyses, streamline reporting processes, and improve data integrity.
• Provide guidance and support to Business Function teams on financial best practices, tools, and systems to foster a culture of financial literacy across the organization.
• Identify opportunities for process enhancements within the FP&A function, driving efficiency and effectiveness in reporting and analysis activities.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to Manager FP&A, Planning & Forecasting
• Other key relationships Full Chief Financial Officer Group including FP&A and Controllership Teams Business Function Leadership

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Education: Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting with strong academic record. Proficient with Software and Databases: Advanced Excel skills are a must. Intermediate skills with PowerPoint. Prior experience using accounting and planning systems, strong preference for Workday and Adaptive Planning. Work Experience: Three to five years as an FP&A Analyst is required. Previous experience with budgeting and forecasting is required, ideally in a business partner role supporting senior leadership. Experience in a global, professional services firm is preferred.

CRITICAL CAPABILITIES

• Highly analytical, insightful, curious.
• Able to delve deeply into and work meticulously with details, while also being able to pull up and offer meaningful insights to colleagues.
• Have the ability to step back from numbers to interpret what they mean, spot trends, and bring insight.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to lead meetings or discussion topics and must be able to provide excellent customer service to business colleagues.
• Dependable, self-motivated, and energetic with a proactive, problem-solving ability.
• Collaborative and team oriented.
• A great team player who is a natural relationship builder.
• Collaborates, shares information, seeks help, looks out for colleagues, and would never let a teammate down.
• Effectively manages multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Outstanding attention to detail and accuracy is a must.
• A willingness to dig deeply into information and to hunt down data.
• A strong commitment to the value of work by being able to digest and interpret the messaging and meaning of deliverables.
• Innately driven by personal excellence and pride in one's work.
• Strong work ethic and professional dedication.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The base compensation range for this position is $85,000 - $90,000 per year. The actual base compensation offered within this range will depend on the individual's skills, experiences, and qualifications. This position will be eligible to participate in our annual discretionary bonus program.

• Retirement savings plan with discretionary profit sharing contribution and employer match
• PTO (minimum 15 days per year, increases with tenure), paid sick time (10 days per year), company holidays (12 days per year), and paid leaves of absence when applicable
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and healthcare flexible spending account
• Life Insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Wellness benefits, including an employee assistance program, virtual mental health program, and mindfulness program
• Voluntary benefit options, including supplemental life insurance, identity theft protection, and whole life insurance with long-term care and critical illness coverage

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Spencer Stuart is a proud equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to non-discrimination without regard to actual or perceived race, ethnicity, creed, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, immigration status, ancestry, age, marital status, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law.

Founded in 1956

Founded in 1956 and privately owned, Spencer Stuart is one of the world’s leading executive search and leadership advisory firms. With 70 offices in 31 countries, the firm is considered to be the advisor of choice among top companies seeking guidance and counsel on senior leadership needs, and has unrivaled access to leading executives around the world.

Achieving Excellence

As a leading professional services firm, Spencer Stuart prides itself on having a unique culture—a company culture made up of extremely results-oriented individuals, who also have strong relationship and collaboration orientations.

Looking For Leaders

Spencer Stuart consultants apply real insight into clients’ strategic requirements and proven assessment tools to recruit leaders who have the necessary skill, experience, and personal qualities to advance company strategies and achieve outstanding results. Teams are organized into industry and functional practices to maximize sector specialization and knowledge sharing across the firm. These client service teams are supported by first-rate associates and research analysts, working across international borders and backed by state-of-the-art technology.

Problem Solvers

Spencer Stuart is not only matching the right management with the right business missions, it’s also creating incredibly meaningful Leadership Teams that add long-term value, solve a wide range of important problems across organizations, and help candidates further exceptional careers.

Professionally

Employees also learn multinational businesses inside out by working side‑by‑side with the world's most phenomenal clients and leaders.

Website Accessibility – U.S.

Spencer Stuart is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affinitive Action employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in application procedures. Disability Accommodation for Individuals Applying to Spencer Stuart U.S. Spencer Stuart U.S. is an equal opportunities employer whereby all employment decisions are based on job requirements, business needs and individual qualifications, with no attention to any protected characteristic. We are also a Level 1 Disability Confident Employer and will therefore provide reasonable adjustments to individuals in job application processes and ensure the process is fully inclusive and accessible. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the alternative email address below to contact us about your interest in employment in the United States or United Kingdom: [e-mail]. Only resumes for current open positions can be accepted.

Website Accessibility – U.K.

Spencer Stuart U.K. is an equal opportunities employer whereby all employment decisions are based on job requirements, business needs and individual qualifications, with no attention to any protected characteristic. We are also