Strategic Finance Analyst

Aquent; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent in Irvine, CA is seeking a Senior Strategic Finance Analyst to join the Corporate Finance / Strategic Planning team. You will translate complex datasets into actionable financial models and executive-level recommendations, with a focus on strategic decision-making, ad-hoc business evaluations, and long-term planning.

You will build end-to-end financial models from raw data, present insights in executive presentations, and partner with business units to assess financial implications of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting or related quantitative field.
• 5–8 years of experience in Strategic Finance, Corporate Strategy, Investment Banking, or FP&A analytics.
• Advanced Excel modeling capabilities with data aggregation and building models from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial modeling and scenario analysis for high-priority ad-hoc initiatives (e.g., real estate footprint, headcount planning).
• Aggregate and structure large datasets in Excel to build robust models.
• Create executive-ready PowerPoint presentations with key findings and recommendations.
• Partner with business units to evaluate financial implications of strategic decisions.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Financial modeling

PowerPoint

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Economics/Accounting

Tools

SAP Analytics Cloud

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Strategic Finance Analyst

Location: [Irvine, CA] — On-site 4 days/week

Department: Corporate Finance / Strategic Planning

About the Role

We are seeking an intellectually curious, analytically sharp Senior Strategic Finance Analyst to join our Corporate Finance team. In this role, you will serve as a key strategic partner to business leadership, translating complex datasets into actionable financial models and executive-level recommendations. Unlike standard corporate finance roles focused primarily on recurring month-end actuals and standard variance reporting, this position is focused heavily on strategic decision-making, ad-hoc business evaluations, and long-term planning. You will tackle ambiguous, high-impact business questions—ranging from analyzing the financial feasibility of global location strategies to modeling complex headcount trajectory scenarios.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Project Execution: Lead financial modeling and scenario analysis for high-priority ad-hoc initiatives (e.g., real estate footprint adjustments, software implementations, organizational headcount planning).
• End-to-End Financial Modeling: Aggregate and structure raw, multi-source datasets (thousands of rows) in Excel from scratch to build robust, dynamic financial models without relying on rigid templates.
• Executive Storytelling: Synthesize quantitative outputs into clean, high-impact PowerPoint presentations that highlight key findings, drivers, and recommendations for senior finance leadership.
• Business & Strategic Planning: Partner with business units to evaluate the financial implications of strategic decisions, connecting corporate finance concepts to overall business growth and investment management operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work alongside corporate finance directors and managers to refine project frameworks, continuously learning the core drivers of our investment management business.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: 5–8 years of experience in Strategic Finance, Corporate Strategy, Investment Banking, Management Consulting, or advanced analytics-driven FP&A roles.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related quantitative field (Advanced degrees or relevant certifications are a plus).
• Excel & Modeling Expertise: Advanced Excel modeling capabilities (complex formulas, mapping tables, data aggregation) with a proven ability to build models from scratch using unorganized datasets.
• Presentation Skills: Strong PowerPoint skills with a track record of translating complex financial outputs into clear, visual stories and executive summaries.
• Financial Acumen: Solid understanding of financial hierarchies, cost center structures, General Ledger (GL) account frameworks, and core corporate finance principles.

Soft Skills & Attributes for Success

• Comfort with Ambiguity: Thrives when given open-ended business problems without a predefined blueprint; proactive in building structures toward a solution.
• Intellectual Curiosity: Driven to understand the "why" behind business operations and how finance decisions drive revenue, rather than simply "running the numbers".
• Self-Motivation & Collaboration: Eager to ask thoughtful questions, challenge the status quo, and collaborate with team members to refine best practices.

Nice to Have

• Prior exposure to investment management, capital markets, or asset management distribution/sales models.
• Exposure to cloud-based Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) or similar corporate planning systems.
• Familiarity viewing data in PowerBI or Tableau (building dashboards is not required).