Head of Financial Planning Analysis

Cognesense; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognesense in Oak Brook, IL is building its FP&A function from the ground up. This role will consolidate entities, own the budgeting cycle, and develop a robust rolling forecast and cash flow model using modern tools including AI.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in three-statement modeling, advanced Excel, and experience guiding acquisition due diligence, integration planning, and cross-functional collaboration in a private equity-backed environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• Demonstrated fluency in three-statement financial modeling.
• Experience building and owning rolling forecasts, budgets, and/or 13-week cash flow models.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, comfortable presenting to executive leadership.
• Comfort working across multiple business units in a fast-paced PE-backed environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the consolidated three-statement operating model across all Cognesense entities.
• Own the annual budget process and rolling forecast, coordinating inputs across business units.
• Maintain and refine the rolling 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Build scenario and sensitivity models to support strategic and capital allocation decisions.
• Assist with financial due diligence analysis for acquisition targets, including revenue quality, EBITDA sustainability, working capital, and capex requirements.
• Prepare acquisition models and build transaction case studies that evaluate synergy opportunities, deal economics, and post-close integration costs.
• Support valuation analysis and negotiation by synthesizing financial data, comparable companies, and transaction multiples.
• Develop 100-day integration plans and post-close financial reporting frameworks for new acquisitions.
• Partner with operational teams to identify and quantify cost synergies, revenue opportunities, and working capital optimization.
• Monitor integration progress against plan and flag execution risks or variance to sponsor and management.
• Consolidate acquired entities into the Cognesense financial model and reporting structure.

Skills

Three-statement modeling

Rolling forecasts

13-week cash flow

Advanced Excel

Executive presentation

Cross-unit collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field

Tools

Adaptive

Vena

Prophix

Datarails

Causal

Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

This is a build role, not a maintenance role. Cognesense's FP&A function is nascent and needs to be largely created from the ground up — consolidated forecasting, standardized KPIs, and a reporting cadence that can support an active PE sponsor and a multi-entity operating platform at the same time. The right candidate is analytically rigorous, fluent in three-statement modeling, and genuinely energized by using modern tools — including AI — to move faster and go deeper than a spreadsheet-only approach allows. Big 4 or investment banking training is ideal preparation for the pace and precision this role demands, though we're open to strong candidates from other rigorous backgrounds.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and maintain the consolidated three-statement operating model across all Cognesense entities
• Own the annual budget process and rolling forecast, coordinating inputs across business units
• Maintain and refine the rolling 13-week cash flow forecast
• Build scenario and sensitivity models to support strategic and capital allocation decisions
• Assist with financial due diligence analysis for acquisition targets, including revenue quality, EBITDA sustainability, working capital, and capex requirements
• Prepare acquisition models and build transaction case studies that evaluate synergy opportunities, deal economics, and post-close integration costs
• Support valuation analysis and negotiation by synthesizing financial data, comparable companies, and transaction multiples
• Develop 100-day integration plans and post-close financial reporting frameworks for new acquisitions
• Partner with operational teams to identify and quantify cost synergies, revenue opportunities, and working capital optimization
• Monitor integration progress against plan and flag execution risks or variance to sponsor and management
• Consolidate acquired entities into the Cognesense financial model and reporting structure

Reporting & Sponsor Communication

• Prepare monthly and quarterly board, sponsor, and lender reporting packages, in partnership with the CFO
• Develop management reporting that ties operating performance to financial results
• Translate financial and operational data into clear, decision-ready narratives for leadership
• Support ad hoc analysis requests from the sponsor and board

Operational Reporting & KPIs

• Design and maintain a KPI framework spanning all business units and departments
• Build and maintain dashboards that give leadership real-time visibility into operating performance
• Partner with business unit leaders to define and track the metrics that matter
• Flag trends, variances, and emerging risks in operating data before they surface elsewhere

Multi-Entity & Consolidation Support

• Support consolidation of budgets, forecasts, and actuals across multiple entities and brands
• Partner with the Controller's team on actual-to-budget variance analysis
• Help standardize reporting and modeling practices across business units as the platform integrates

Systems, Tools & Process

• Evaluate and implement FP&A tooling to reduce manual, spreadsheet-based processes
• Apply AI and automation to accelerate modeling, reporting, and analysis workflows
• Partner with the Controller and IT on ERP (Business Central/Dynamics 365) reporting capabilities
• Build repeatable, well-documented models that don't depend on tribal knowledge

A Note on Scope

The responsibilities above reflect current priorities, not a fixed job description. This function is being built from the ground up, and scope will shift as the business evolves. M&A activity is a core strategic driver for Cognesense, so diligence and integration work will expand alongside operational FP&A responsibilities as acquisition opportunities emerge.

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• Demonstrated fluency in three-statement financial modeling
• Experience building and owning rolling forecasts, budgets, and/or 13-week cash flow models
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Strong analytical and communication skills, comfortable presenting to executive leadership
• Comfort working across multiple business units in a fast-paced, private equity-backed environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Big 4 transaction advisory, valuation, or M&A advisory experience
• Investment banking experience with M&A and financing expertise
• Prior FP&A experience in a multi-entity or private equity-backed platform with acquisition exposure
• Direct experience supporting due diligence, purchase price allocation, and post-close integration
• Experience with modern FP&A tools (e.g., Adaptive, Vena, Prophix, Datarails, Causal, or similar)
• Experience leveraging AI tools to accelerate modeling, reporting, and analysis work
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a recent ERP migration
• Manufacturing or industrial products experience
• Experience with Government and Contracts
• MBA or progress toward the CFA designation