Senior Financial Analyst-Financial Analysis and Planning

001 Sentry Insurance Company; Stevens Point (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Dining stipend

Tuition reimbursement

Comprehensive benefits

Paid time off

401(k) match

Community giving

Job summary

Sentry Insurance Company in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to join our Financial Planning and Analysis team in a hybrid work model. The role focuses on budgeting, variance analysis, and FP&A tasks, partnering with stakeholders to drive financial insights and performance.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Financial Services and 5+ years of experience in financial planning, reporting, and analysis. CPA designation is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Financial Services required (Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science or a related field).
• 5+ years of related work experience Applies broad and deep knowledge of financial practices with a solid understanding of business dynamics and variables.
• Expert ability to leverage financial accounting skills to prepare financial statements for internal and external stakeholders.
• Skilled ability to extract, transform, and analyze data to gain insights, improve predictions, and support decision making.
• Ability to serve as a valuable business partner to operational units outside of accounting/finance departments.
• Ability to plan and organize resources, both people and financial, to complete projects.
• Collaborate effectively with other teams to achieve positive results.
• Ability to effectively identify, analyze, and resolve problems.
• Skilled analytical, research, and documentation skills.
• Advanced knowledge of PC-based business software, including word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications.
• Skilled ability to listen effectively and convey ideas through written and verbal communications.
• Proven experience in setting priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, or the ability to work towards attaining the designation (i.e. 150 credits), is highly encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Review financial information, statements, and reports for accuracy and thoroughness and communicates results, in accordance with accounting principles and reporting schedules, to ensure the organization has a full and accurate statement of its financial position.
• Prepare unique or complex financial reporting to provide accurate and timely information for making financial decisions and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, laws, and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the development of financial budgets and forecasts based on business, industry, competitor, and economic data trends and analysis.
• Identify areas of concern and help create corrective action plans.
• Advise management on opportunities or improvements to achieve desired objectives.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to support strategic initiatives and goals Perform data projections, predict initiative and operating program impacts and provide recommendations and communicates plans.
• Recommend and implement changes in procedures and systems.
• Anticipate and develop ad-hoc analysis and reporting based on understanding of business and industry data and communicates results in effective manner to support business decisions.
• Analyze and interpret complex financial activity and variances, identifies trends and corrective actions, and makes recommendations to management.
• Provide technical advice on complex subjects within area of expertise to functional, operational area managers to help them develop revenue and expense budgets, understand financial reports, and manage their financial responsibilities.
• Provide basic advice in other related areas of expertise.
• Review and monitor financial activity, system interfaces, and reporting to ensure strong financial compliance to external rules and internal controls.
• Lead and participate in various projects providing project management, research and collaboration with multiple resources to address specific finance related needs/issues.
• Respond to inquiries regarding finance issues and programs.
• Interpret policy guidelines and plan documents, provides dialogue and advises the business on possible solutions.
• Provide work direction and learning opportunities to other team members and is relied upon to troubleshoot complex issues that are escalated from the team or referred from management.
• Act as a resource for team members with less experience.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned from time to time.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Variance analysis

Financial reporting

Data analysis

CPA encouraged

Education

Bachelor's degree in Financial Services

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

You will have a primary role in assisting corporate areas with staff planning, expense budgeting & tracking, reporting of actual to plan variances, & additional FP&A tasks as assigned. We’re seeking a self-motivated professional with technical and analytical skills to join our Financial Planning and Analysis team as a Senior Financial Analyst. If you’ve got a passion for helping others, our goal is to turn that passion into action. At Sentry, we care about delivering long-term results. Our associates embody this same future-focused approach - meeting challenges head-on and offering solutions and pricing that keeps customers coming back down the line. This position will be located at our office in Stevens Point, WI in a hybrid work model and is not a fully remote opportunity. For this position, Sentry does not offer employment to holders of F-1, J-1, and H-1 Visas.

What You'll Do

• Review financial information, statements, and reports for accuracy and thoroughness and communicates results, in accordance with accounting principles and reporting schedules, to ensure the organization has a full and accurate statement of its financial position.
• Prepare unique or complex financial reporting to provide accurate and timely information for making financial decisions and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, laws, and reporting requirements. These reports may include, but are not limited to profit and loss statements, balance sheets, depreciation statements, cash flow, debtor and creditor lists, repayment schedules, regulatory reports and filings.
• Coordinate the development of financial budgets and forecasts based on business, industry, competitor, and economic data trends and analysis.
• Identify areas of concern and help create corrective action plans.
• Advise management on opportunities or improvements to achieve desired objectives.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to support strategic initiatives and goals Perform data projections, predict initiative and operating program impacts and provide recommendations and communicates plans.
• Recommend and implement changes in procedures and systems.
• Anticipate and develop ad-hoc analysis and reporting based on understanding of business and industry data and communicates results in effective manner to support business decisions.
• Analyze and interpret complex financial activity and variances, identifies trends and corrective actions, and makes recommendations to management.
• Provide technical advice on complex subjects within area of expertise to functional, operational area managers to help them develop revenue and expense budgets, understand financial reports, and manage their financial responsibilities.
• Provide basic advice in other related areas of expertise.
• Review and monitor financial activity, system interfaces, and reporting to ensure strong financial compliance to external rules and internal controls.
• Lead and participate in various projects providing project management, research and collaboration with multiple resources to address specific finance related needs/issues.
• Respond to inquiries regarding finance issues and programs.
• Interpret policy guidelines and plan documents, provides dialogue and advises the business on possible solutions.
• Provide work direction and learning opportunities to other team members and is relied upon to troubleshoot complex issues that are escalated from the team or referred from management.
• Act as a resource for team members with less experience.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned from time to time.

What it Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Financial Services required (Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science or a related field).
• 5+ years of related work experience Applies broad and deep knowledge of financial practices with a solid understanding of business dynamics and variables.
• Expert ability to leverage financial accounting skills to prepare financial statements for internal and external stakeholders.
• Skilled ability to extract, transform, and analyze data to gain insights, improve predictions, and support decision making.
• Ability to serve as a valuable business partner to operational units outside of accounting/finance departments.
• Ability to plan and organize resources, both people and financial, to complete projects.
• Collaborate effectively with other teams to achieve positive results.
• Ability to effectively identify, analyze, and resolve problems.
• Skilled analytical, research, and documentation skills.
• Advanced knowledge of PC-based business software, including word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications.
• Skilled ability to listen effectively and convey ideas through written and verbal communications.
• Proven experience in setting priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, or the ability to work towards attaining the designation (i.e. 150 credits), is highly encouraged.

In addition, you will:

• Respond to inquiries regarding finance issues and programs.
• Interpret policy guidelines and plan documents, provides dialogue and advises the business on possible solutions.
• Provide work direction and learning opportunities to other team members and is relied upon to troubleshoot complex issues that are escalated from the team or referred from management.
• Act as a resource for team members with less experience.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned from time to time.

Here is what you can look forward to as part of our team:

• Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy the best of both worlds. With optional work from home on Mondays and Fridays and join your team in the office Tuesday through Thursday to collaborate and learn. We provide the technology and tools you need for both your office and home workspace from day one.
• Dining on Us: Depending on your location, we may provide a stipend that can be used at our on-site cafeteria or a meal allowance to keep you fueled.
• Continuous Learning: Unlock your potential through Sentry University and take advantage of our tuition reimbursement program.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We support your whole self with group medical, dental, and vision insurance along with parental leave, pet insurance, caregiver leave, and wellness resources. Options for HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care FSA are available.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy your generous Paid Time Off allowance to rest and take advantage of paid Volunteer Time Off to support your community.
• Investing in Your Future: We’re committed to your long-term financial well-being. We offer a 100% company match on the first 8% you contribute to your 401(k) each pay period, and those funds vest immediately.
• Giving Back: Through the Sentry Foundation, we’re proud to support the United Way and make a difference in our communities.

Why Join Sentry?

At Sentry, we believe our people are the heart of our success. We’re proud to be recognized for the culture we’ve built, earning spots on Forbes’ lists for America’s Best Midsize Employers and Best Employers for New Grads, as well as Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women and Diversity. These honors reflect our commitment to your professional satisfaction and growth.

Building on a Legacy

Our future is bright, but it’s anchored in a long history of stability. Since our founding in 1904, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping businesses protect their futures. That trust has made us one of the largest and most financially stable mutual insurance companies in the U.S. We’re proud to have maintained an A+ rating from A.M. Best, the industry’s leading authority, for over 30 years.

Your Career, Our Community

Whether you’re working at our headquarters in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, or one of our many offices across the country, you’ll find a challenging and rewarding environment. Explore the Our Teams tab on our Career Page to see the diverse career paths we offer, with a focus on ongoing development and professional growth.

Casey Van Der Geest Talent Acquisition Specialist [e-mail]

Equal Employment Opportunity Sentry is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy that there be no discrimination in employment based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. Our associates are the most important part of our company. We became one of the most financially strong mutual insurance companies in the U.S. by striving to provide the best possible service to our business customers. We do this by having conversations, forming relationships, and getting to know the people we work with and their businesses. We make that same commitment to our associates. When you join Sentry, we don’t just want you to perform tasks each day. We want you to enjoy your time with us. You’re in the driver’s seat of your career path here—sharing feedback, creating goals, accessing professional development resources, and identifying how you can contribute to both your success and the success of the company. Yes, we work hard. But we work with the purpose of helping others, and with the understanding that there’s more to life than work. We invite you to learn more about us. You’ll find we’re much more than insurance.