Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

YA Group; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vis

Annual performance-based bonus

Remote work option

Job summary

YA Group is seeking an FP&A Manager to lead budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting for our growing professional services organization. Reporting to the VP of FP&A, you will own the monthly business review package and deliver actionable insights to executive leadership and our private equity sponsor.

You will build automated financial reporting and analytics using NetSuite, Power BI, and AI tools, shaping YA Group's data foundation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field.
• 5+ years of FP&A or corporate finance experience, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills (three-statement, driver-based, scenario models).
• Strong GAAP knowledge and month-end close understanding.
• Experience with NetSuite, Power BI, and AI tools, with automation track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual budgeting and periodic reforecasts with driver-based plans for revenue, headcount, and expenses.
• Own the monthly business review (MBR) package with variance analysis and executive commentary.
• Prepare board, sponsor, and lender reporting, including KPI packages and covenant support.
• Define and report KPIs such as utilization, billable hours, realization, and DSO.
• Partner with operational leaders on pricing, staffing, and profitability.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

Data analysis

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field

Tools

NetSuite

Power BI

AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT)

Job description

YA Group is a leading professional services firm providing forensic consulting, engineering, risk mitigation, and related services to insurance, legal, government, and corporate clients. Founded in 1997, the firm has grown to more than 600 professionals serving complex projects across the U.S. and internationally. Backed by THL Partners, a premier private equity firm investing in middle market growth companies, YA is scaling through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

YA’s multidisciplinary experts specialize in the forensic assessment of the built environment, construction consulting, forensic accounting, government grant consulting, and accident reconstruction. With an active M&A program and continued investment in operational infrastructure, YA combines the momentum of a growing, acquisitive firm with the rigor of a technical, expert-driven business.

Position Summary

YA Group is seeking a FP&A Manager to lead budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting for our growing professional services organization. Reporting to the VP of FP&A, this role will own the monthly business review process, deliver actionable insight to executive leadership and our private equity sponsor, and lead and develop FP&A analysts.

A defining part of this role is building. The FP&A Manager will help lead the way in automating YA’s financial reporting and in building out the data foundation and AI-driven analytics tools that the finance team and business leaders rely on. Building these tools is a core expectation of the role, and it calls for someone with a genuine interest in designing and creating them hands-on. For the right person, this is what makes the opportunity exciting: the chance to shape how YA uses data and AI to run the business.

This is a remote position with a preferred location of Chicago. Occasional travel (typically a few times per year) may be required for leadership meetings, planning sessions, or team events.

Responsibilities

• Planning & Forecasting: Lead the annual budget and periodic reforecast processes, partnering with business unit and regional leaders to build driver-based plans for revenue, headcount, and expenses.
• Management Reporting: Own the monthly business review (MBR) package, including budget-vs-actual and prior-year variance analysis with clear commentary for executive leadership.
• Sponsor & Lender Reporting: Prepare board, private equity sponsor, and lender reporting, including KPI packages, covenant support, and ad hoc requests.
• KPI Ownership: Define, track, and report professional services KPIs such as utilization, billable hours, bill rates and realization, revenue per FTE, backlog, unbilled revenue/WIP, and DSO.
• Business Partnering: Serve as a trusted advisor to operational leaders on pricing, staffing and profitability, translating financial results into actionable recommendations.
• Strategic Analysis: Support M&A activity, including acquisition modeling, integration tracking, and post-close performance analysis.
• Systems & Automation: Help lead the automation of financial reporting and build out the data foundation and AI-driven analytics tools, leveraging NetSuite, Power BI, and AI tools.
• Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop FP&A analysts, setting priorities and reviewing work product.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive experience in FP&A or corporate finance, including leading budget and forecast cycles.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills (three-statement, driver-based, and scenario models).
• Strong understanding of GAAP financial statements and the month-end close process.
• Proven ability to analyze complex data and communicate findings clearly to executive and non-financial audiences.
• Private equity-backed or professional services experience preferred, including sponsor, board, and lender reporting and billable-hours KPIs.
• Experience with NetSuite, Power BI, and AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT) preferred, with a track record of automating reporting and reducing manual work.
• Highly organized, self-directed, and able to manage multiple deadlines in a remote environment.
• Prior experience supervising or mentoring analysts
• Competitive Salary based on experience.
• Eligibility for an annual performance-based bonus.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.