Sr Financial Analyst

GATX Corporation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 81,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

GATX Corporation in Chicago is seeking a Sr. Financial Analyst to support the North American Rail business with forecasting, budgeting, and financial modeling. The role emphasizes accurate reporting, data-driven insights, and collaboration with commercial teams.

Hybrid work arrangement with in-office at Willis Tower three days a week; requires 4+ years in FP&A, strong Excel, SAP, and data analysis skills; Bachelor's in Finance or related field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related analytical field.
• 4+ years of relevant experience in financial analysis, FP&A, or operational finance.
• Strong experience in financial modeling, reporting, and forecasting.
• Experience with SAP, data systems, and large datasets.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills required.

Responsibilities

• Own preparation and analysis of key locomotive maintenance performance metrics for monthly and quarterly reporting.
• Interpret results and provide clear insights on cost drivers, operational trends, and performance gaps.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve reporting processes, data queries, and documentation.
• Analyze SG&A and maintenance cost variances across cost centers and identify actionable improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Locomotive Operations to support capital project tracking, IO management, and capitalization processes.
• Own key components of the forecasting and budgeting process for locomotive maintenance and SG&A cost centers.
• Develop and refine driver-based models and assumptions in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Translate operational inputs into financial projections and risk assessments.
• Prepare and present clear, data-driven insights to support management decision-making.
• Continuously enhance forecasting tools, assumptions, and documentation to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Prepare monthly Fleet Performance Analysis, ensuring accuracy and clarity of key drivers.
• Own Rail maintenance capitalization budget process and ensure alignment with financial plans.
• Contribute to development and refinement of budget assumptions and financial models.
• Provide analytical support that connects operational performance to financial outcomes.
• Perform ad-hoc analysis for senior management with a focus on insight generation, not just data delivery.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement, cost optimization, and operational efficiency.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Financial modeling

SAP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Engineering or related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Overview

Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, GATX Corporation (NYSE: GATX) is an industry leader with 125+ years of success—success that is powered by our people. We are proud of our high-performance culture, hard-working and enthusiastic management team, and beautiful office space in the Willis Tower.

At GATX, we hire the best and offer our employees a dynamic, energetic, collaborative environment to enable them to make an impact from day one. Enjoy the perks and benefits of a global company with the close-knit culture and community of a much smaller one. In the same way we strive to empower our customers to propel the world forward, we are dedicated to providing our people with the tools and resources they need to advance in their careers.

The Business Analysis Group performs a wide range of activities around financial data management, analysis, reporting and modeling. The Sr. Financial Analyst is primarily focused on supporting Commercial functions within the North American Rail business. The Rail Commercial group relies heavily on this individual and group on a regular basis to meet virtually all analytical and reporting needs. The Sr. Financial Analyst must therefore provide accurate and timely reporting and analysis to support commercial strategies, investment decisions, and performance improvement efforts.

Responsibilities

North American Locomotive Operations reporting and analysis:

• Own preparation and analysis of key locomotive maintenance performance metrics for monthly and quarterly reporting, including variance to budget, forecast, and prior periods.
• Interpret results and provide clear insights on cost drivers, operational trends, and performance gaps
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve reporting processes, data queries, and documentation
• Analyze SG&A and maintenance cost variances across cost centers and identify actionable improvement opportunities
• Partner with Locomotive Operations to support capital project tracking, IO management, and capitalization processes

Forecasting, Budgeting & Financial Modeling:

• Own key components of the forecasting and budgeting process for locomotive maintenance and SG&A cost centers
• Develop and refine driver-based models and assumptions in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Translate operational inputs into financial projections and risk assessments
• Prepare and present clear, data-driven insights to support management decision-making
• Continuously enhance forecasting tools, assumptions, and documentation to improve accuracy and efficiency

Rail Operations Analysis & Financial Support:

• Prepare monthly Fleet Performance Analysis, ensuring accuracy and clarity of key drivers
• Own Rail maintenance capitalization budget process and ensure alignment with financial plans
• Contribute to development and refinement of budget assumptions and financial models
• Provide analytical support that connects operational performance to financial outcomes

Strategic Analysis & Special Projects:

• Perform ad-hoc analysis for senior management with a focus on insight generation, not just data delivery
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement, cost optimization, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related analytical field
• 4+ years of relevant experience in financial analysis, FP&A, or operational finance
• Strong experience in financial modeling, reporting, and forecasting
• Experience with SAP, data systems, and large datasets
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills required

Other:

• Heavy workloads at times may require working evenings or weekends at office or from home.
• Minimal travel

This is a hybrid position that will require the employee to work in the office at least 3 days a week throughout the year.

Posting Duration

This posting will remain open until the role is filled. As of the post date, the salary range for this position is:

Min

USD $80,800.00/Yr.

Max

USD $113,000.00/Yr.

This role may be eligible to participate in the Company’s short-term incentive plan, the details of which will be provided to the applicant upon hire. This range is a reasonable estimate and takes into account several factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including, but not limited to, geographic location, skill set, experience, education, training, internal equity, and other business needs.