FP&A Sr Manager

Ascend Learning; Leawood (KS); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible paid time off

Competitive medical, dental, vision, &

401(k) employer matching

Parental leave

Wellness resources

Charitable matching program

On-site workout facilities

Community outreach groups

Job summary

Ascend Learning seeks an experienced FP&A professional to lead financial reporting, forecasting, and planning for ITS and ILAS. You will deliver accurate headcount, spend, and capital analyses to support budgeting and strategic decisions.

The role emphasizes rigorous analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and a reliable reporting backbone to guide technology and content development investments. Hybrid work from Leawood, KS is offered with strong benefits.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive FP&A or financial reporting experience.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with data visualization tools.
• Familiarity with large-scale financial systems and Power BI.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deliverables.
• Experience supporting technology or product orgs is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own all financial reporting for ITS and ILAS, including monthly close, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Prepare reconciled reporting packages showing actuals vs. plan and drivers of variance.
• Partner with ITS and ILAS leaders to align on P&L, headcount, and spend.
• Maintain documentation and ensure reporting consistency across teams.
• Provide insights to inform leadership decisions and capital planning.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Power BI

Financial reporting

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting

Job description

We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture

Ascend Learning is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning.

Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers.

We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.

Ascend Learning leads the way in innovation and solution creation to improve outcomes and deliver results for students, educators, and healthcare workers in the ever-changing field of healthcare. We offer advanced resources that drive nursing success, empower front-line certified allied health workers, help physicians pass boards and stay current, and provide education management tools for medical education programs.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Ascend Learning is hiringahands-onfinance professionalwithstrong technical and operational reporting skillsto lead financial reporting, analysis, and planning for Ascend Learning’sInformation Technology Services (ITS)andInstructional Learning and Assessment Solutions (ILAS)organizations.This roleensuresaccurate, consistent, andtimelyreporting of headcount, spend, and capital activity supporting effective forecasting, disciplinedfinancial management, and transparency across teams.

The ideal candidateis detail-oriented while also seeing the big pictureand takes pride in delivering precise financial outputs that drive accountability and execution.

This positionprovidesthe financial backbone forAscend’stechnology and content development functions. The workdirectly supports capital planning, headcount management, andspendefficiency. The right candidate will ensure financial reporting serves as a reliableoperational system of record that supports better decision-making and disciplined execution.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

• This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Leawood, KS office

HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME

• Ownallfinancial reporting for ITS and ILAS, including monthly close support, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Prepareaccurate, reconciled reporting packages showing actuals vs. Plan and drivers of variance.
• Partner with ITS and ILAS leaders tomaintainalignment on controllable P&L, headcount, and spend tracking.
• Maintain detailed documentation and ensure reporting consistency across accounting and FP&A teams.
• Analyzedrivers and trends to informdecision making by theChief Technology Officer andtechnology leadership team

Capital Planning & Investment Tracking

• Track all technology and content capital investmentsin accordance withcapitalization policy.
• Maintaindashboardstomonitorcapitalization rates,projectspend, and earlywarning indicators.
• SupportROI and cost-efficiency analysestoinform resource allocation and project prioritization.

Headcount & Spend Forecasting

• Manage headcount and contractor forecasting in partnership with HR.
• Validate labor allocations and forecast models to ensureaccurateview of total spend and productivity.
• Support reporting of spend by function, vendor, and cost type toidentifyefficiency opportunities.

Reporting Process &Automation

• Maintain and continuously improve financial models and reporting templates.
• Streamline recurring reporting processes;identifyautomation opportunities to improve accuracy and timeliness.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance,Accounting, or related fieldrequired.
• 7+ years of progressive FP&Aorfinancial reporting experience, preferably supporting technology or product orgs.
• Advanced Excel skills; familiarity with large-scale financial systems and data visualization tools (eg,PowerBI).
• Strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple deliverables under tight timelines, and comfort with ambiguity.

BENEFITS

• Flexible and generous paid time off
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) employer matching program
• Parental leave
• Wellness resources
• Charitable matching program
• On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
• Community outreach groups

Fostering A Sense of Belonging

We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued and be their authentic selves. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.

About Ascend Learning

As a tech-enabled services company, Ascend Learning is a national leader in developing and delivering data-driven online educational content, software, assessments, analytics, and simulations serving institutions, students and employers across healthcare, fitness and wellness, public and workplace safety, skilled trades, insurance, financial services, cybersecurity, and higher education. We're committed to accelerating the learning pathways that can move people into careers where they have the knowledge and skills to have an impact and help change lives in the communities they serve. Headquartered in Burlington, MA with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America's 2023 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity.

Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S. based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.