Financial Analyst – AI Optimization

Jobtailor; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United States is seeking an entry-level FP&A analyst to support annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and long-range planning for assigned cost centers. You will analyze actual results versus budget and forecast, identifying variances and performance drivers.

You will prepare recurring financial reports, dashboards, and KPI metrics, translate financial data into business insights for operational leaders, and partner with leaders on financial analysis and decision support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in finance, accounting, economics, business or analytics.
• A0–2 years of Finance/FP&A/Controlling experience preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis helpful.

Responsibilities

• Support annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and long-range planning for assigned cost centers
• Analyze actual results versus budget and forecast, identifying variances and performance drivers
• Assist with ad hoc financial analyses and scenario planning
• Analyze expenses and cost center spending across assigned functions
• Track labor, overhead, and operating expenses against approved budgets
• Prepare recurring financial reports, dashboards, and KPI metrics
• Translate financial data into business insights for operational leaders
• Partner with operational leaders on financial analysis and decision support
• Assist leaders in understanding the financial impact of operational decisions
• Present financial results and key trends to non-financial partners
• Assist with month-end close activities, including journal entries, reclasses, and variance explanations
• Ensure financial data is accurate, complete, and submitted on time
• Support compliance with financial policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Streamline financial processes, reporting, and workflows
• Support automation and reporting optimization initiatives
• Participate in special projects, ad hoc analyses, and continuous improvement efforts
• Apply AI-enabled tools and analytics to improve reporting, forecasting, and business insights
• Validate and review AI-generated financial analyses and reporting outputs
• Automate routine financial processes and improve data accuracy
• Promote responsible and effective AI use within finance processes

Skills

Financial Analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Microsoft Excel

Data Analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, data analytics, or related

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Power Query

Power Automate

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

• Support annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and long-range planning for assigned cost centers
• Analyze actual results versus budget and forecast, identifying variances and performance drivers
• Assist with ad hoc financial analyses and scenario planning
• Analyze expenses and cost center spending across assigned functions
• Track labor, overhead, and operating expenses against approved budgets
• Support cost-control initiatives by identifying spending trends and cost-saving opportunities
• Prepare recurring financial reports, dashboards, and KPI metrics
• Compile financial and operational data for management decision‑making
• Translate financial data into business insights for operational leaders
• Partner with operational leaders on financial analysis and decision support
• Assist leaders in understanding the financial impact of operational decisions
• Present financial results and key trends to non-financial partners
• Assist with month‑end close activities, including journal entries, reclasses, and variance explanations
• Ensure financial data is accurate, complete, and submitted on time
• Support compliance with financial policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Streamline financial processes, reporting, and workflows
• Support automation and reporting optimization initiatives
• Participate in special projects, ad hoc analyses, and continuous improvement efforts
• Apply AI‑enabled tools and analytics to improve reporting, forecasting, and business insights
• Validate and review AI‑generated financial analyses and reporting outputs
• Automate routine financial processes and improve data accuracy
• Promote responsible and effective AI use within finance processes

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, data analytics, or a comparable area of study; equivalent experience also considered
• 0–2 years of experience in Finance, Accounting, FP&A, Controlling, or a related role
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem‑solving skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to manage several priorities and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and organization
• Proven willingness to learn and develop skills
• Ability to work optimally with cross‑functional teams
• Internship or co‑op experience in Finance, Accounting, FP&A, Operations, Data Analytics, or a related field preferred
• Academic background or coursework in Computer Science, Data Analytics, Business Analytics, or Management Information Systems preferred
• Experience with SAP or other ERP systems preferred
• Familiarity with budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and variance analysis preferred
• Experience using Power BI, Power Query, Power Automate, Microsoft Copilot, or similar analytics and automation tools preferred
• Curiosity about using technology, automation, and AI to improve financial processes and business decision‑making preferred

Core Competencies

Demonstrates strong analytical and quantitative skills to support budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. Proficient in utilizing tools like Microsoft Excel and Power BI to automate financial processes and provide actionable insights for decision‑making.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Financial Analysis
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Microsoft Excel
• Power BI

Hard Skills

• Financial Reporting
• Variance Analysis
• Cost Control
• Data Analytics
• Scenario Planning
• KPI Metrics
• Journal Entries
• Automation
• AI‑Enabled Tools
• Financial Policies

Soft Skills

• Analytical Skills
• Problem‑Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Organizational Skills
• Collaboration

Industry Keywords

• Finance
• Accounting
• FP&A
• Controlling
• Operational Decision‑Making

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• SAP
• Power Query
• Power Automate
• Microsoft Copilot