Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis

Forward Air Corp.; Coppell (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with match

Paid time off

HSA

Equity incentives

Job summary

Forward Air Corp. in Dallas, TX is seeking a Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis to own the consolidated monthly forecasting and annual budget cycle, delivering clear executive-ready insights.

You will build driver-based models linking volume, yield, transportation costs, and labor; lead board reporting, variance analyses, and scenario planning for strategic opportunities. This role requires strong leadership and advanced Excel, Anaplan-like tools, and AI-enabled workflow enhancements.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field. MBA preferred.
• Certifications: CFA/ CPA preferred or progress toward credential.
• Industry: Transportation/logistics multi-entity experience preferred.
• Experience: 4+ years FP&A, corporate finance, or related analytical finance environment; leadership preferred.
• Financial acumen: strong income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow understanding.
• Technical: Advanced Excel, modeling, and data tools.

Responsibilities

• Own the consolidated monthly forecasting process and annual budget cycle.
• Develop driver-based financially models linking volume, yield, costs, and headcount to results.
• Build scenario analyses and pro forma models for acquisitions, restructurings, and strategic opportunities.
• Coordinate planning across segments and align forecast assumptions.
• Deliver monthly variance analyses with concise driver commentary.
• Prepare consolidated Business Review and Board materials (EBITDA bridges, margins, KPI dashboards).
• Partner with Finance, Accounting, and operations across Ground, Air, Ocean, and Contract Logistics.
• Lead ad hoc analyses on pricing, fuel surcharge, cost allocation, SG&A, capex, and working capital.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial Modeling

Driver-based Forecasting

Scenario Analysis

Power Query

Dynamic Arrays

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Education

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

MBA (preferred)

CFA/CPA (preferred)

Tools

Anaplan

Workday Adaptive Planning

OneStream

Oracle EPM

Tableau

Power BI

SQL

Python

Databricks

Job description

Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis

Job Info

• Job Identification 42175
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 3200 OLYMPUS BOULEVARD, Dallas, TX, 75019, US
• Job Category Corporate: Leadership
• Job Category Finance and Accounting
• Job Function Finance

Job Description

The Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis owns the consolidation of the company’s forecasting and planning processes and leads monthly business performance recaps, explaining what happened operationally each month: volume, yield, cost, and margin drivers behind the numbers. They sit at the center of the consolidated P&L, leading forecasting, budgeting, monthly business reviews, and Board reporting, while partnering closely with segment finance leaders and Accounting. The Manager translates complex financial and operational data into actionable insights for Finance leaders and the Executive team.

The ideal candidate:

Thinks like the business - understands how freight volume, yield, fuel and linehaul costs flow through the P&L

Owns the answer, not the file - goes from question to recommendation without being told which tab to update

Automates the second time - any task done twice gets a template, a query or a workflow

AI native - uses AI daily to draft commentary, build decks, reconcile files and research markets, and knows how to check the output

Responsibilities

Own the consolidated monthly forecasting process (3+9, 6+6, and 9+3 forecasts) and annual budget cycle, including timelines, templates, and segment submissions.

Develop and maintain driver-based financial models linking volume, yield, purchased transportation, labor, and headcount assumptions to financial results.

Build scenario analyses and pro forma models supporting acquisitions, divestitures, restructuring initiatives, and other strategic opportunities.

Coordinate planning activities across business segments and ensure alignment of forecast assumptions.

Deliver monthly variance analyses comparing actual results to forecast, budget, and prior year performance, including concise commentary on key drivers.

Prepare consolidated Business Review MBR and Board reporting materials, including EBITDA bridges, margin analysis, and KPI dashboards.

Partner with Finance, Accounting, and operational leaders across Ground, Air, Ocean, and Contract Logistics on forecast assumptions and performance.

Lead ad hoc analyses related to pricing, fuel surcharge impacts, cost allocation, SG&A initiatives, capital expenditures, and working capital (DSO/DPO).

Translate market data (freight indices, peer benchmarks) into planning assumptions

Support monthly close activities through variance investigation, reporting validation, and reconciliation of planning and financial results.

Serve as a power user and design partner for Anaplan implementation and related planning, consolidation, and reporting tools and data flows.

Design and enhance automated reporting solutions, dashboards, and data pipelines using tools such as Databricks, Tableau, Excel, and Power Query.

Leverage AI-enabled tools to automate recurring finance workflows, including reporting, commentary preparation, and data analysis.

Present financial results, insights, and recommendations to senior leadership in a concise, executive-ready format.

All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance , Accounting, Economics, or a related field from an accredited college or university required; MBA preferred.

Certification/ Licensure:, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or progress toward a professional finance certification preferred.

Industry Exposure: Preferred experience in transportation, logistics, distribution, or other complex multi-entity operating environments preferred.

Experience: 4+ years in FP&A, corporate finance, investment banking, consulting, or a related analytical finance environment; Prior people/team leadership preferred.

Strong understanding of income statement , balance sheet , and cash flow dynamics.

Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling, driver-based forecasting, scenario toggles, Power Query, and dynamic arrays.

Experience working with large, complex data sets and translating data into actionable business insights.

Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, variance analysis, and capital expenditure planning.

Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate financial concepts to executive audiences.

Experience with enterprise planning, financial consolidation, and business intelligence tools such as Anaplan, Workday Adaptive Planning, OneStream, Oracle EPM, Tableau, or Power BI.

Preferred experience with SQL, Python, Databricks, or similar analytics tools.

Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or ChatGPT, to improve efficiency and automate finance workflows.

Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.

Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)

Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

Forward Air is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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#LI-Onsite #LI-BT1

WHAT WE OFFER

• Compensation: Competitive base pay based on experience, industry/geographic benchmarks and internal equity. Some positions may be eligible for incentive pay programs and/or equity-based incentives. Pay ranges published on job boards are not provided nor verified by the Company.
• Health: Medical and Pharmacy insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA); Vision; Dental; Life and Disability; Critical Illness; Accident Indemnity; Hospital Indemnity; On-demand telehealth via Teladoc; Employee Assistance Program (counseling and financial/lifestyle coaching).
• Wealth: 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; Employee stock purchase program; Flexible Spending Account (FSA); Commuter Benefits; LegalEASE legal coverage.
• Time: 7 paid holidays and generous Paid Time Off (PTO) tiers ranging from 10–25 days annually.
• Culture: A collaborative, transformation-driven, solutions-first environment full of "can do" attitude and "will do" work ethic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Agencies: The Company does not accept unsolicited outreach from third parties. Absent an agreement signed by internal Talent Acquisition and Procurement, and a documented request from Talent Acquisition to submit candidates for a specified requisition, we will not approve payments to any third party.
• Work Authorization: Within the United States, the Company is an E-Verify employer. Unless otherwise indicated, U.S.-based workers must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, including but not limited to F-1, H-1, H-2, L, J, and TN visas, etc.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): The Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer . Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Physical/mental requirements are listed only to identify where potential accommodations may be needed, not as qualification standards. In compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including ADA, ADEA, and FMLA), accommodations may be available to qualified individuals unable to perform essential duties without them. Additional requirements may apply to meet legal, regulatory, and Company standards.