Lead Finance Specialist – Financial Planning and Advanced Analytics

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston seeks a Lead Finance Specialist to advance budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven insights. This senior role blends core finance expertise with modern analytics and automation to enhance FP&A processes, reporting, and decision support across the organization.

You will work with executives and technology teams, mentor analysts, and lead cross-functional initiatives while ensuring strong financial controls and data governance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of cost and expense management, financial statements, accounting, and budgeting/forecasting methods.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in financial analysis, forecasting, and financial systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex financial analysis of operating expenses, capital spending, and workforce planning.
• Develop, review, and consolidate bank-wide budgets and multi-year plans.
• Provide guidance on financial management practices and control implementation.

Skills

Communication

Analytics

Project management

Independence

Education

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

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Workday

Adaptive Insights

Tableau

Power BI

SQL

Python

Job description

Company

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

As an employee of the Boston Fed, you will work to promote sound growth and financial stability in New England and the nation. You will contribute to communities, the region, and the nation by conducting economic research, participating in monetary policy‑making, supervising certain financial institutions, providing financial services and payments, playing a leadership role in the payments industry, and supporting economic well‑being in communities through a variety of efforts. The Boston Fed is one of 12 Reserve Banks and we serve all or parts of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Our mission is accomplished through our Bank's values: community, innovation, integrity, trust, leadership, and excellence.

The position will be primarily on‑site. The individual is expected to reside in the First District.

Job Summary

The Lead Finance Specialist is a senior member of the FP&A team and plays a critical role in delivering high‑quality financial analysis, supporting Bank‑wide planning and budgeting, and strengthening the organization’s ability to use data effectively in decision‑making. The role combines strong foundational financial management skills with modern analytical and automation capabilities. This position works independently, partners with senior leaders, and may lead cross‑functional initiatives.

The Lead Finance Specialist is responsible for conducting complex financial analysis, interpreting results, and developing insights that guide strategic and operational decisions with clarity and certainty. While financial management remains the core of the role, the position also incorporates responsibilities related to improving how the organization collects, analyzes, and uses data.

Success in this role requires strong finance and accounting knowledge, the ability to communicate clearly, and comfort using modern analytical tools that enhance FP&A processes. The individual will collaborate across business and technology teams and help bring greater consistency, efficiency, and insight to financial reporting and forecasting.

Principal Accountabilities

• Conducts and oversees complex financial analysis of operating expenses, capital spending, workforce planning, and forecasts.
• Leads the development, review, and consolidation of Bank‑wide budgets and multi‑year financial plans.
• Reviews and interprets business plans and budgets, summarizes key issues, and works with business leaders in support of their operational execution.
• Advises business areas on financial management practices, policy interpretation, and the implementation of new programs.
• Ensures strong financial controls, accurate documentation, and integrity of financial data throughout FP&A processes.

Data-Enabled Financial Insights & Process Improvement

• Uses effective AI prompting techniques to gather information, refine analyses, and generate clear, higher‑quality financial insights using AI‑enabled tools.
• Analyzes data from ERP and financial systems to support budgeting, forecasting, and strategic decision‑making.
• Uses data visualization to clearly communicate trends and risks.
• Applies modern analytical techniques—such as trend analysis, scenario modeling, and pattern identification—to enhance financial insights.
• Uses emerging tools, including AI‑supported capabilities, to improve forecasting, reporting, and insight generation.
• Automates recurring reports and processes to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Promotes strong data stewardship, including accuracy, consistency, and responsible use of financial and operational data.

Strong Collaboration and Leadership

• Prepares executive summaries, presentations, and communications that translate complex analysis into clear and simple messages for senior leaders.
• Serves as a subject‑matter resource on financial analysis, data interpretation, and effective business partnership practices.
• Provides guidance to less experienced analysts to strengthen FP&A capabilities across the organization.

Risk & Controls

• Identify and mitigate financial planning and budget risks across the organization.
• Maintain documentation, version control of relevant procedures.

Knowledge and Experience

Required Financial Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong understanding of cost and expense management, financial statements, accounting, and budgeting/forecasting methods.
• At least 8 years of experience in financial analysis, forecasting, and the use of financial systems (e.g., Workday, Adaptive Insights).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Data and Analytical Skills

• Understanding of how to apply modern analytics features—including AI‑enhanced tools—to improve and deliver proactive business insights.
• Ability to develop effective AI prompts to improve the quality, clarity, and relevance of outputs from AI‑enabled analytical tools.
• Experience with data modeling, data analysis, databases and working with structured datasets.
• Proficiency with visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
• Familiarity with tools that support process automation and basic scripting or analytics (e.g., SQL, Python, agent building or similar), with emphasis on practical application rather than deep technical development.
• Strong understanding of data governance principles, including data quality and responsible data use.
• Degree or certification in any of these skill sets preferred.

Other

Performs other duties as assigned.

Full Time / Part Time

Full time

Regular / Temporary

Regular

Job Exempt (Yes / No)

Yes

Job Category

Accounting/Finance Family Group

Work Shift

First (United States of America)

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and to provide equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, or military service.

All employees assigned to this position will be subject to FBI fingerprint/ criminal background and Patriot Act/ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) watch list checks at least once every five years.

As a condition of employment, all Federal Reserve Bank of Boston employees must comply with the Bank's ethics rules, which generally prohibit employees, their spouses/domestic partners, and minor children from owning financial interests – such as stocks or bonds – from banks, savings associations, and systemically important financial institutions or their affiliates, such as bank holding companies or savings and loan holding companies. If you, your spouse or domestic partner, or your minor child own such assets and would be unwilling or unable to divest them if you were to accept a job offer, you should raise this issue with our recruitment team. Applicants should review the Bank's Employee Code of Conduct to ensure compliance with conflict of interest rules and personal investment restrictions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work required of this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or skills associated with this position or the personnel so classified. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of this position, management reserves the right to revise this or any job description at its discretion at any time.

The starting salary for this position is $115,800 - $144,800 - $173,800. The Boston Fed believes in salary transparency. The final salary and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, skills, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Whether you’re developing into the job or are a more seasoned candidate, we aim to pay competitively.