Strategic Finance Analyst

Self-Help Services Corp; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 72,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Self-Help Services Corp. in Durham, NC seeks a Strategic Finance Analyst to build and maintain financial models, analyze investments, and support strategic initiatives within affordable housing initiatives.

You will work with leadership to analyze pricing, staffing, and capital decisions, while ensuring rigorous documentation and governance. This role requires independence, strong Excel skills, and a commitment to the mission of expanding economic opportunity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, data analytics, accounting, business or related field preferred and 2 years of experience in finance, consulting, data analytics, or financial planning and analysis.
• Masters degree or advanced certification (CFA Charterholder, CPA, FRM) and 4+ years of experience preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and basic understanding of financial forecasting and investment analysis.
• Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to extract, transform, and analyze data from various source systems and databases.
• Strong commitment to the organization’s mission of creating economic opportunity for underserved communities.
• Demonstrated initiative, follow through, and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships.
• Keen attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Create, improve, and maintain financial projection models for the organization.
• Develop tools that enable organization and team-level leaders to analyze investment, staffing, pricing, and other financial decisions.
• Support financial analysis related to mergers, investments, and other strategic initiatives, including ad hoc modeling and due diligence support.
• Analyze loan product pricing relative to cost of funds, competitive benchmarks, and profitability expectations.
• Prepare clear recommendations and present findings to senior leaders and relevant committees.
• Independently back‑test assumptions used by Self-Help teams in financial models, forecasts, and strategic proposals.
• Identify key drivers of variance between projected and actual results and recommend improvements to forecasting methodologies and financial models.
• Maintain documentation of assumptions, methodologies, and validation outcomes for internal governance.
• Identify material variances between approved financial assumptions and actual operating results, and summarize impacts to sustainability, break-even expectations, and funding alignment.
• Assist with market research and asset management related to our multifamily affordable housing preservation efforts.
• Underwrite potential multi-family acquisitions and preservation opportunities while fostering relationships within the affordable housing community, including sellers, brokers, investors, and peers.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Forecasting basics

Investment analysis

Data analysis

Communication skills

Independent work

Presentation to leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or related field

Master's degree or CFA/CPA/FRM

Job description

Job Description:

WHO We Are:

Self-Help started in 1980 with a focus on economic inequality, especially in communities that have faced systemic barriers to building wealth. At the core of what Self-Help does is a drive to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity. In other words, we’re committed to economic justice! Economic Justice means that all communities have the basic infrastructure they need to thrive, from high-quality schools to grocery stores selling fresh food resources that support opportunities at a neighborhood level regardless of demographics, income, or wealth. Since our founding, we’ve constantly sought new ways to pursue greater economic justice: from providing fair and affordable loans to working with partners to demand that lawmakers change unjust policies. We are seeking a Strategic Finance Analyst to join our Durham, NC. team

WHAT You'll Do:

• Create, improve, and maintain financial projection models for the organization
• Develop tools that enable organization and team-level leaders to analyze investment, staffing, pricing, and other financial decisions.
• Support financial analysis related to mergers, investments, and other strategic initiatives, including ad hoc modeling and due diligence support.
• Analyze loan product pricing relative to cost of funds, competitive benchmarks, and profitability expectations.
• Prepare clear recommendations and present findings to senior leaders and relevant committees.
• Independently back‑test assumptions used by Self-Help teams in financial models, forecasts, and strategic proposals.
• Identify key drivers of variance between projected and actual results and recommend improvements to forecasting methodologies and financial models.
• Maintain documentation of assumptions, methodologies, and validation outcomes for internal governance.
• Identify material variances between approved financial assumptions and actual operating results, and summarize impacts to sustainability, break-even expectations, and funding alignment.
• Assist with market research and asset management related to our multifamily affordable housing preservation efforts.
• Underwrite potential multi-family acquisitions and preservation opportunities while fostering relationships within the affordable housing community, including sellers, brokers, investors, and peers.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Bachelors degree in finance, economics, data analytics, accounting, business or related field preferred and 2 years of experience in finance, consulting, data analytics, or financial planning and analysis
• Masters degree or advanced certification (CFA Charterholder, CPA, FRM) and 4+ years of experience preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and basic understanding of financial forecasting and investment analysis.
• Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to extract, transform, and analyze data from various source systems and databases.
• Strong commitment to the organization’s mission of creating economic opportunity for underserved communities.
• Demonstrated initiative, follow through, and ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships.
• Keen attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to effectively plan and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Proactive mindset and ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work beyond normal hours when needed.
• Ability to demonstrate Self-Help's Core Values:
• o Mission Before Self
• o Service With Excellence
• o Embracing & Promoting Change
• o Results Not Credit
• o Diversity as a Strength
• o Financial Sustainability for Mission Impact

Compensation range $72,300-108,500Company Disclaimer: Self-Help is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status. Self-Help is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Self-Help is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Company Disclaimer: Self-Help is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status.

Welcome to Self Help Careers! Self-Help is a family of Mission Driven non-profit financial organizations.

Our national foot-print means we offer strong benefits and opportunities across the country.

Our inclusive collegial culture means that no matter where you're located, you're part of a shared mission.

At Self-Help we don't just go to work. We create change - and we do it together.

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