Lead Business Analyst

SmartNews is a leading global information and news discovery company dedicated to delivering quality information to the people who need it. Thanks to our unique machine-learning technology and relationships with more than 3,000 global publisher partners, we provide news that matters to millions of users.

Founded in 2012 in Tokyo, SmartNews also has offices in Palo Alto, New York, Beijing, and Singapore.

If you share our vision and are passionate about our mission, we encourage you to apply!

The Business Operations and Strategy team empowers the organization with forward-looking, data-driven insights into markets, competitors, emerging business models, and revenue dynamics — enabling timely and strategic decision-making that drives sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.

In this role, you will play a critical role in optimizing ad revenue performance .You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Ad Business, Product, Data Science, Finance, and Scaled Operations, to drive data-backed decisions that directly impact business growth. Your work will be key to identifying revenue opportunities and ensuring efficiency across our ecosystem.

• Analyze advertising revenue performance across platforms (e.g., display, video, native, programmatic) to identify growth drivers and inefficiencies
• Monitor key revenue metrics (e.g., eCPM, fill rate, ARPA, retention) and deliver actionable insights to maximize yield
• Build and maintain forecasting models to support revenue planning, budgeting, and reporting
• Collaborate with Finance on revenue reporting, reconciliation, and ensuring billing/performance accuracy
• Identify optimization opportunities in pricing, inventory management, and audience segmentation
• Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear, compelling, and data-driven format

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Business, Statistics, or a related field (Master’s degree a plus)
• 3+ years of experience in ad monetization, revenue analytics, or a data-heavy role in digital media, apps, or ad tech
• Strong collaboration skills to work in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in SQL, Excel, and data visualization tools such as Looker, Tableau, or Power BI
• Familiarity with digital advertising ecosystems (e.g., Google Ad Manager, AdMob, programmatic networks, header bidding)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Detail-oriented self-starter with strong multitasking and prioritization skills

Nice to have experiences/skills

• Experience working in consumer mobile apps, mobile games, or user-generated content platforms
• Familiarity with tools like Salesforce, Tableau, or other data management and CRM platforms
• Experience developing or improving yield/pricing strategies for ad inventory
• Ability to distill complex datasets into clear business narratives
• Bilingual ability in English and Japanese strongly preferred

Benefits available at the SmartNews US Office

• Compensation range: $150,000 to $230,000 base salary, plus bonus and equity
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Up to 100% medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family
• Benefit plan with monthly allowances
• Complimentary lunch, snacks, and beverages in the office