Lead Finance Specialist – Financial Planning and Advanced Analytics

01A Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 116,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Finance Specialist at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is a senior member of the FP&A team, delivering complex financial analysis, supporting Bank-wide planning and budgeting, and strengthening data-driven decision making.

This role partners with senior leaders, drives forecasting and reporting with AI-enabled tools, and mentors analysts while ensuring strong controls and data integrity across finance processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
• Strong understanding of cost and expense management, financial statements, accounting, and budgeting/forecasting methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Conducts complex financial analysis of operating expenses, capex, workforce planning, and forecasts.
• Leads development, review, and consolidation of budgets and multi-year financial plans.
• Advises business areas on financial management practices, policy interpretation, and new programs.
• Ensures strong financial controls and integrity of financial data across FP&A processes.
• Leads data-enabled insights, automation, and AI-enabled forecasting improvements.

Skills

Finance analytics

Forecasting

Data visualization

AI prompting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/economics

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

Financial Management and FP&A (foundational responsibilities)

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.

Compensation

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Background Checks and Ethics Rules

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.

General Statement

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.

Employment Conditions

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)

Compliance Statement

The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences.

Company Overview

Why Our People Choose Us: Our reputation precedes us There will always be room for personal growth Our people are first You’ll find the right balance Your responsibilities will be meaningful We hope that you will be our future colleague. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States- one of the world's most influential, trusted and prestigious financial organizations. The Federal Reserve is charged with the important mission of promoting a strong economy and a stable financial system and fulfills this responsibility by formulating national monetary policy, supervising and regulating banks and bank holding companies, and providing financial services for banks and the U.S. government. OUR PEOPLE are diverse in background and ideas, which allows for ongoing creativity and innovation. Ultimately, they are the ones who push our high-performance, exchange-driven culture forward.

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