Sr. Business Intelligence Engineer (SQL, Finance & HR Reporting)

1872 Consulting; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

1872 Consulting in Chicago is seeking a hands-on Senior Business Intelligence Engineer to own recurring finance and HR reporting in a large SQL Server environment.

You will read complex SQL, trace root causes, and fix data at the source. Build reports in Power BI and Cognos, support Crystal reports, and collaborate with product managers, analysts, and data engineers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a data analyst, reporting analyst, or similar role owning recurring data processes.
• Expert-level SQL Server skills: reading, troubleshooting, and safely modifying SQL you didn’t write.
• Experience running month-end/year-end close cycles against hard deadlines.
• Report development in enterprise BI platforms (Power BI, Tableau, or Cognos).
• Discretion with sensitive financial and personnel data.
• Bachelor’s degree in data analytics, information systems, CS, accounting or finance.

Responsibilities

• Own recurring finance and HR reporting processes, from daily data validation through month-end and year-end close.
• Read and unravel complex existing SQL (nested views, stored procedures, multi-table logic) to explain how reported numbers are produced.
• Trace discrepancies back to source systems, find the root cause, and make targeted corrections.
• Run close activities, including reconciliations and confidential deliverables for firm leadership.
• Build and maintain reports in Power BI and Cognos, and support the remaining legacy Crystal reports.
• Partner with product managers, business analysts, and data engineering on system changes and report modernization.
• Document recurring processes so anyone on the team can run them.

Skills

5+ years experience

SQL mastery

Attention to detail

Finance & HR reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics/IS/CS/Accounting/Finance

Tools

SQL Server

Power BI

Cognos

Crystal Reports

SSIS

Databricks

Job description

Location: Downtown Chicago, hybrid (minimum 3 days onsite)

Compensation: $100K-$145K

Type: Full-time, permanent (direct hire)

Schedule: Monday to Friday, with occasional extra hours during heavy periods like month-end and year-end close

We're hiring a hands-on Senior Business Intelligence Engineer for an established international law firm. You'll own the recurring finance and HR reporting that firm leadership relies on. You'll work inside a large legacy SQL Server environment, tracing why a number is wrong and fixing it at the root. This is a SQL-first individual contributor role.

What You'll Do

• Own recurring finance and HR reporting processes, from daily data validation through month-end and year-end close
• Read and unravel complex existing SQL (nested views, stored procedures, multi-table logic) to explain how reported numbers are produced
• Trace discrepancies back to source systems, find the root cause, and make targeted, safe corrections
• Run close activities, including reconciliations and confidential deliverables for firm leadership
• Build and maintain reports in Power BI and Cognos, and support the remaining legacy Crystal reports
• Partner with product managers, business analysts, and data engineering on system changes and report modernization
• Document recurring processes so anyone on the team can run them

What You Need

• 5+ years as a data analyst, reporting analyst, or in a similar role owning recurring operational data processes
• Expert-level SQL Server skills: reading, troubleshooting, and safely modifying SQL you didn't write
• Experience running month-end or year-end close cycles against hard deadlines
• Report development in at least one enterprise BI platform (Power BI, Tableau, or Cognos)
• Exceptional attention to detail and discretion with sensitive financial and personnel data
• Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics, Information Systems, Computer Science, Accounting, Finance, or a related field

Nice to Have

• Law firm or professional services experience
• Elite 3E or Workday data experience
• Crystal Reports, SSIS, or Databricks exposure
• SQL performance tuning (reading execution plans)

Not a Fit If

Your SQL experience is mostly SELECT queries against clean tables, or your background is primarily dashboard and visualization work. The interview process includes a live, hands-on technical panel.

Why This Role

• Close-knit, collaborative team that genuinely supports one another
• Modern stack including Databricks, on a growing Data & AI team
• Clear growth path with two structured career tracks

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship, now or in the future.