Senior Financial Analyst

JOB DESCRIPTION
Large financial services company located in south Los Angeles is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst for a long term consulting engagement.  This Senior Financial Analyst will look to developing financial forecasts for the company’s insurance division by product with the objective of informing strategy.  The Senior Financial Analyst will also provide finance decision support to the insurance product team and the field sales team to enable fact based decision making.  Key Responsibilities will include:

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
35%: Financial Forecasts and Analysis
Lead development of the quarterly and annual financial forecasts
 

·         Prepare and present financial budgets to senior management

·        Develop the short and long term forecast including the preparation and accumulation of appropriate documentation supporting key assumptions and financial information.

·        Analyze key business drivers, revenues, and expenses used to develop the detailed budget and short-long term forecast.

·        Analyze investment portfolio to develop short-long term forecast.

·        Develop business reporting, supporting business reviews with insightful ad hoc analysis, and improving forecast capabilities

·        Analyze operating performance and develop and communicate recommendations to improve performance

·        Develop and implement financial forecasting methodologies/models and identify risks and opportunities to the plan.

·        Prepare actual versus plan analysis explaining monthly/quarterly financial performance.

·        Provide explanations on variance discrepancies

·        Generate management reporting packages.

55%: Financial Decision Support
Provide overall support in analyzing business financial performance.

·        Apply sophisticated analytical, scenario-based methods (Monte Carlo modeling) to estimate profitability impact of product changes / new business ventures.

·        Apply decision and risk analysis techniques to structure and model complex and analytical problems (stochastic cash flow modeling, dealer program incentive structure optimization, total profitability by segment)

·        Work with internal clients to facilitate and encourage utilization of information.

·        Use information to support strategic and tactical goals of the organization.

·        Formulate high quality recommendations and solutions cooperatively with customer departments.

·        Various ad hoc analytical and reporting projects, as assigned.  May include sales, cost, financial and operational analyses to enable fact based decision making.

5%: Process Improvement
Regularly review Insurance Planning and Analysis process.

·        Identify areas for process improvement and increased efficiencies.

·        Refine/strengthen process as appropriate.

 

5%: Industry Intelligence

·        Keep abreast of latest research and market trends in insurance pricing risk management to develop innovative ways to advance insurance risk-analytics capabilities


JOB REQUIREMENTS

·        A minimum of five years of experience; combination of quantitative/Finance at consulting firm/financial services and/or corporate finance

·        Strong financial acumen/quantitative skills, ability to bridge business drivers and financial performance, developing financial strategy and project management

·        Exposure to insurance and financial services industries preferred

·        Demonstrated experience with quantitative risk analysis and simulation modeling

·        Exposure and experience with complex financial technology and related process, financial modeling technology.   Hyperion Essbase, @Risk, or SAS desired.

·        Proficiency with advanced Excel is a must

·        Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Finance, Accounting or related field

·        MBA preferred

·        CPA or CFA a plus

·        Superior communication skills; written and verbal, leading/implementing change initiatives, advising/persuading business leadership  

·        Demonstrated progression from analytical to managing, change catalyst and influencing management decision making/enhancing financial/organizational performance  

·        Must demonstrate an engaged and collaborative interpersonal style which can build trusting relationships, team play, negotiate effectively and lead as appropriate.