Private Equity Value Creation (FP&A) - Senior Associate

CohnReznick; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary performance bonus

Generous paid time off

Parental benefits

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

CohnReznick invites a Senior Associate to join the Private Equity Value Creation team in the CxO Advisory practice. The role focuses on strategic finance workstreams, data analysis, and client collaboration to optimize portfolio company performance.

You will build models, dashboards, and reporting that leadership uses, working with client finance teams to solve real problems. Strong Excel and data analytics are essential, with travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• 2+ years in accounting/finance with FP&A or financial consulting background.
• Strong FP&A processes: budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills with complex modeling.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Execute workstreams on PE value creation engagements with quality on time.
• Track tasks, deadlines, and progress; communicate risks to the team.
• Collaborate with portfolio company finance/ops data gathering and validation.
• Build and maintain financial/operating models and dashboards (Power BI).
• Prepare client-ready presentations and analyses for leadership and sponsors.
• Travel up to 30% to support client engagements.

Skills

Accounting knowledge

FP&A experience

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Finance storytelling

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance/Economics

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

Power Pivot

Alteryx

EasyMorph

Job description

Private Equity Value Creation (FP&A) - Senior Associate

Opportunity ID

10160

Department Advisory

Location(s) Chicago

State Illinois

Function Advisory

Job Description

As CohnReznick grows, so do our career opportunities. As one of the nation’s top professional services firms, CohnReznick creates rewarding careers in advisory, assurance, and tax with team members who value innovation and collaboration in everything they do!

CohnReznick helps organizations optimize performance, manage risk, and maximize value through CohnReznick LLP (assurance services) and CohnReznick Advisory LLC (advisory and tax services). Together, the firm provides leaders with deep industry knowledge and relationships, solutions to address clients’ unique business goals and risks, and insight on how emerging market forces can drive opportunity. With offices nationwide, the firm serves organizations around the world as an independent member of Nexia.

We currently have an exciting career opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our Private Equity Value Creation team in our CxO Advisory practice.

CohnReznick is a hybrid firm and most of our professionals are located within a commutable distance to one of our offices. This position is considered remote which means it does not require job duties be performed within proximity of a CohnReznick office location. However, as a remote employee, you may be required to be present at a CohnReznick office with scheduled notice for client work, team meetings, or trainings.

YOUR TEAM.

CohnReznick’s CxO group offers our clients an extensive array of executive advisory (OCFO, OCOO, OCIO), digital and process transformation, and automation enablement services to adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. Our client focus is mid-market, and you will be exposed to a variety of industries including tech, consumer, manufacturing & distribution, real estate, hospitality, private equity, and renewable energy to name a few.

We are seeking a Senior Associate to execute strategic finance workstreams for private equity-backed portfolio companies. This role is built for an aspiring operator: someone who enjoys digging into data, building models and reporting that leadership actually uses, and working directly with client finance teams to solve real problems.

Working closely with Managers and engagement leadership, the Senior Associate builds the analyses, models, dashboards, and deliverables that drive our engagements, and increasingly owns workstreams and client interactions. The ideal candidate brings a solid accounting and finance foundation, strong Excel and data analytics skills, sharp attention to detail, and a desire to grow into an engagement leader.

WHY COHNREZNICK?

At CohnReznick, we’re united by a common mission to create opportunity, value, and trust for our clients, our people, and our communities. Whether it’s working alongside your peers to solve a client challenge, or volunteering together at the local food bank, there are so many ways to find your “why” at the firm.

We believe it’s important to balance work with everyday life – and make time for enjoyment and fun. We invest in a robust Total Rewards package that includes everything from generous PTO, a flexible work environment, expanded parental leave, extensive learning & development, and even paid time off for employees to volunteer.

YOUR ROLE.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Execute assigned workstreams on private equity value creation engagements, delivering high-quality work on time and within scope.


• Track tasks, deadlines, and open items; communicate progress, risks, and issues proactively to the engagement team.


• Work directly with portfolio company finance and operations teams to gather data, understand processes, and validate findings.


• Collaborate with cross-functional CohnReznick teams on complex, multi-workstream engagements.


• Support 100-day plan initiatives, including finance function assessments, KPI development, and standing up reporting and planning cadences.


• Support annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, long-range planning, and monthly financial reporting processes.


• Build and maintain 13-week cash flow forecasts and support liquidity monitoring and working capital analysis.


• Build and maintain financial and operating models to support forecasting, scenario analysis, and strategic decision-making.


• Prepare monthly reporting packages, variance analysis, and KPI reporting that clearly explain business performance.


• Support buy-side diligence through financial and operational data analysis, including historical performance and KPI trends.


• Support go-to-market commercial readiness analysis, including pricing, customer, and product profitability.


• Build dashboards and visualizations in Power BI, using Power Query and Power Pivot to transform and model data.


• Use Alteryx, EasyMorph, or similar tools to cleanse, combine, and automate financial and operational data from client systems.


• Help convert engagement work into reusable templates, models, and tools for the practice.


• Prepare clear, client-ready presentations, reports, and analyses for client leadership and private equity sponsors.


• Present analyses and findings to client stakeholders with growing independence.


• Support the training of Associates and contribute to a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

YOUR EXPERIENCE.

The successful candidate will have:

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


• 2+ years of experience in accounting and/or finance, with a foundation in audit or assurance, corporate finance, FP&A, or financial consulting.


• Working knowledge of FP&A processes, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and financial reporting.


• Practical financial modeling experience, including operating models, forecasting, and business performance analysis.


• Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, lookups, pivot tables, and building well-structured models.


• Working proficiency with the Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot).


• Strong understanding of accounting fundamentals and financial statement analysis.


• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.


• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, high-quality work.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate financial and operational data into actionable insights.


• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 30% to support client engagements, on-site working sessions, and project delivery

Preferred:

• Experience supporting middle-market, private equity-backed companies, either in consulting or in industry.


• Consulting or advisory experience, ideally serving private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.


• Experience building or supporting 13-week cash flow forecasts and short-term liquidity planning.


• Experience with Alteryx, EasyMorph, or similar data preparation and automation platforms.


• Big 4 or national accounting firm experience; CPA licensed or in progress.


• Exposure to ERP and planning systems (for example NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, or Adaptive Planning).

In addition, please take a moment to review our Universal Job Standards.

Studies have shown that we are less likely to apply to jobs unless we meet every single qualification. At CohnReznick, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our other roles.

In Illinois, the salary range for a Senior Associate is $85,000 to $130,000. Salary is one component of the CohnReznick total rewards package, which includes a discretionary performance bonus, generous paid time off, expanded, and inclusive parental benefits, and access to best-in-class learning and development platforms, to name a few. To learn more about life at CohnReznick, visit Life at CohnReznick .

"CohnReznick" is the brand name under which CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC and their respective subsidiaries provide professional services. CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC (and their respective subsidiaries) practice in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. CohnReznick LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC provides tax and business consulting services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC and its subsidiaries are not licensed CPA firms.

CohnReznick is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive team to drive business results and create a better future every day for our team members, clients, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. For more information, please see Equal Employment Opportunity Posters

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] Please note: This email address is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.

CohnReznick does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are currently engaged by CohnReznick Talent Acquisition Team by way of a written agreement to provide candidates for a specified opening. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that CohnReznick will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.

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