Senior FP&A & Financial Operations Specialist

Senior FP&A & Financial Operations Specialist 

Do you want a career without limits? Do you want to shape your own future and be surrounded by people who listen? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you at Smith + Howard. 

Smith + Howard is a family of companies that offers tax, audit, accounting and advisory and wealth management services. We are headquartered in Atlanta with offices across the Southeast, while still offering a local firm flavor. 

We offer competitive pay, excellent training opportunities and great benefits. You can help influence our culture and have the support and dedication from our leaders to help you achieve your career goals. Smith + Howard provides a great opportunity for professional growth and advancement within one of the nation’s top accounting firms. 

If you are ready to make a career move and join a firm consistently named a “Best of the Best Firms” (Inside Public Accounting), we invite you to complete our employment application.

Summary

Reporting to the VP of Finance and serving as a strategic partner to practice leaders and firm leadership, you drive financial decision-making, practice-level performance analysis, and revenue strategy while maintaining oversight of key accounting processes and financial controls. Because this position spans both operational accounting and strategic FP&A, the ideal candidate works comfortably across the full financial picture—from general ledger detail and month-end close accuracy to leadership-ready executive analysis and forecasting. You will partner directly with practice directors and managers to help them understand and act on financial performance while ensuring the firm's financial processes remain efficient, accurate, and scalable.

Essential Functions 

Practice-Level Financial Analytics & Advisory

• Partner with Advisory practice leaders to analyze financial data at the engagement, service line, and practice levels, identifying trends, performance drivers, and opportunities for revenue growth, margin expansion, and cost discipline within the Advisory business.
• Translate complex financial data and analyses into clear reports and presentations that help Advisory practice leaders and management make informed strategic and operational decisions.
• Conduct detailed revenue analysis of Advisory business lines using invoice-level and engagement data, evaluating trends related to geographic dispersion, service line profitability, client segmentation, ownership type, cross-selling opportunities, and revenue retention.
• Serve as a trusted resource to Advisory practice managers and leaders, explaining financial metrics, business drivers, and performance implications in terms relevant to operational decision-making.

Financial Planning, Forecasting & Modeling

• Develop and maintain comprehensive rolling forecasts, budgets, and integrated financial models that support strategic planning and decision-making for the Advisory business lines.
• Model revenue drivers, practice economics, profitability, and cash flow dynamics at both the Advisory and individual practice levels to inform strategic discussions and resource allocation decisions.
• Conduct scenario analysis and variance analysis, evaluating the financial impact of different business decisions and diagnosing root causes of budget-to-actual variances.
• Support long-term financial planning including headcount planning, capacity analysis, and workforce economics that align with growth strategy.

Executive Reporting & Strategic Communications

• Prepare comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages for senior leadership, including financial performance summaries, variance commentary, and forward-looking analysis.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards (Power BI or similar tools) that provide practice leaders and finance leadership with real-time visibility into KPIs across financial, operational, sales, and people metrics.
• Provide ad-hoc analysis and insights to support strategic decisions and executive discussions on matters such as pricing, resource allocation, service line economics, and growth initiatives.

Accounting Operations & Financial Oversight

• Understand and oversee the Advisory business's month-end close process, including reconciliations, balance sheet review, and financial statement accuracy to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Work collaboratively with accounting staff to ensure data integrity, proper account reconciliations, and clean financial data flowing from source systems into the general ledger.
• Review and improve financial processes, systems, and controls, identifying inefficiencies or gaps and recommending practical enhancements to reporting quality and operational efficiency.
• Help standardize financial processes, reporting templates, and chart of accounts structures to ensure consistency and scalability across Advisory practice areas.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Continuously evaluate and improve financial tools, reporting infrastructure, and systems (e.g., ERP, financial reporting software, business intelligence platforms) for better data quality, accuracy, and user accessibility.
• Collaborate across finance and operations to streamline processes, automate manual work, and enhance the overall efficiency of the finance function.

Required Position Requirements 

• 5-7+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, accounting, or a hybrid role combining both
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, and close processes
• Advanced Excel skills; ability to build and maintain integrated financial models from the ground up
• Proficiency with core financial systems and accounting software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, QuickBooks)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex financial concepts clearly to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and build strong relationships
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• Strong ethical standards and integrity in financial reporting

Preferred Position Requirements 

• Background in professional services, including familiarity with practice-based business models, billable hour economics, and service-line profitability
• Experience with professional services organizations (PSO), consulting firms, accounting firms, or similar advisory businesses
• Experience building and maintaining dashboards in Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence tools
• Experience in a hybrid FP&A and controller/accounting operations role
• CPA certification or progress toward certification
• MBA or other advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business
• Experience with revenue recognition and engagement-level profitability analysis

What We're Looking For

Analytical rigor combined with strong operational discipline. You thrive when working across the financial spectrum—equally comfortable with general ledger detail and executive-level strategic analysis. You are a problem-solver who takes ownership of data quality and process improvement, and you communicate complex financial concepts in clear, actionable ways. 

You are a relationship-builder who earns the trust of practice leaders and accounting teams alike. You have demonstrated success influencing business decisions through thoughtful analysis and clear communication, and you adapt your communication style for different audiences. You work well in collaborative, fast-paced environments and take initiative to anticipate needs and drive continuous improvement.

The Opportunity

Direct partnership with Advisory practice leaders and finance leadership, contributing to strategic financial decisions and performance analysis for the Advisory business. Meaningful impact on the Advisory business through direct partnership with practice leaders and influence over financial strategy and operations. A role that rewards both analytical depth and strong interpersonal skills, offering variety and challenge in equal measure. Opportunity to shape the financial infrastructure and processes that support the Advisory business's growth and success.