Project Finance Analyst

Meridian Technologies; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Meridian Technologies is seeking a detail-oriented Business Analyst II to support financial analysis, project accounting, and asset management processes. This role focuses on investigating discrepancies, analyzing cost variances, and ensuring financial records comply with business rules.

You will collaborate with Project Controls, Project Managers, and Engineering to develop reports, reconcile costs, and support project closeout, requiring strong Excel skills and an investigative mindset.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in business, accounting, finance or related field required.
• 3–6 years of experience in financial analysis, project accounting or related discipline.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for large data analysis and discrepancy identification.
• Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of financial analysis, project budgeting, cost tracking and reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and resolve financial exceptions and discrepancies in project accounting and asset management.
• Analyze deviations between estimated and actual project costs and identify variances.
• Review project data and transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with rules.
• Manage assigned project portfolio and conduct recurring financial reviews.
• Research unusual cost trends to identify root causes and propose corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Project Controls, PMs, Engineering and others to resolve issues.
• Discuss findings with stakeholders to determine appropriate resolutions.
• Support project closeout by reconciling costs and validating completion requirements.
• Prepare and process journal entries to correct discrepancies.
• Maintain documentation to support audits and trace investigations.
• Analyze large datasets and develop reports to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Prioritize workload to meet established timelines.

Skills

Financial analysis

Project accounting

Excel proficiency

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Associate degree in Business/Accounting/Finance

Bachelor's degree preferred

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

PowerPlan

Maximo

EcoSys

Job description

Business Analyst II – Financial & Project Analysis

36 Month Contract with potential to extend

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Business Analyst II to support financial analysis, project accounting, and utility asset management processes. This individual will investigate and resolve financial discrepancies, analyze project cost variances, and ensure project financial records are accurate and compliant with established business rules. The ideal candidate has a strong analytical and investigative mindset, advanced Excel skills, and experience working with financial data, project budgets, or cost controls. This role requires someone who is naturally curious, comfortable asking questions, and capable of independently researching complex issues to identify root causes and recommend solutions. The analyst will work closely with project controls, project management, and engineering teams to support financial accuracy, reporting, and project closeout activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate and resolve financial exceptions and discrepancies identified through project accounting and asset management systems.
• Analyze differences between estimated and actual project costs, identifying significant variances and potential accounting irregularities.
• Review project financial data, coding, and transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with established business rules.
• Manage an assigned portfolio of projects and conduct recurring financial reviews to identify and address outstanding exceptions.
• Research unusual cost trends, discrepancies, and financial issues to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Project Controls, Project Managers, Engineering, and other stakeholders to gather information and resolve financial discrepancies.
• Conduct investigative discussions with internal stakeholders, asking questions to understand underlying issues and determine appropriate resolutions.
• Support project closeout activities by reviewing financial status, reconciling project costs, and validating completion requirements.
• Prepare and process journal entries when necessary to correct financial discrepancies.
• Maintain detailed documentation of investigations, findings, financial adjustments, and resolutions to support audit requirements.
• Analyze large datasets and develop reports to identify trends, exceptions, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Independently prioritize assigned workload and ensure financial reviews and resolutions are completed within established timelines.

Required Qualifications

• Associate degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 3–6 years of relevant professional experience in financial analysis, project accounting, project cost controls, business analysis, or a related discipline.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to analyze large datasets and identify discrepancies.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of financial analysis, project budgeting, cost tracking, and financial reconciliation principles.
• Ability to investigate complex financial issues, identify root causes, and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to independently manage multiple priorities and recurring deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within the utility, energy, or infrastructure industry.
• Experience with financial or project management systems such as PowerPlan, Maximo, or EcoSys.
• Background in project controls, project cost analysis, asset accounting, or project financial management.
• Experience preparing journal entries, performing financial reconciliations, or supporting project closeouts.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in accounting, finance, project management, or business analysis.

Work Location & Schedule

• Location: Plainfield, IN.
• Hybrid schedule requiring three days per week onsite, with the remaining days worked remotely.

Do you now or in the future require sponsorship (e.g. H-1B)? Y/N

EEO and ADA Statement:

Consulting Solutions and its family of companies is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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