Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis

About Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates (CRA) is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems.

The Financial Administration Services team is committed to optimizing financial performance and supporting the company's growth initiatives. Our culture embraces a growth mindset: inspiring excellence and bringing expertise and innovation to the role every day with a key focus on outstanding customer service and an ongoing commitment to efficient, ethical practices. Our motivated and action-driven team resides is the Boston office. 

Position Overview

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is a small team with an outsized impact. As a trusted source of management information and reporting, this group works closely with all members of the C-suite, including the CEO, CFO, CHRO, VP of Corporate Strategy, practice leaders, and other senior leaders across the firm to anticipate, manage, and disseminate financial and business information and insights. 

As the senior member of this team, you will lead the financial planning and analysis function, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning, to support strategic initiatives and business decision-making.  Along with 1-2 other colleagues, you will be responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning; regular financial reporting; and understand the key performance drivers and areas of variance for the firm. This role reports to the VP of Corporate Strategy. 

Primary responsibilities include:

• Develop financial models to support year-round business decisions, including revenue forecasting, expense management, variance analysis, and capital investment analysis;
• Work cross functionally to drive and lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic goals;
• Provide regular monthly/quarterly reporting to business leaders, including financial/headcount forecast vs. actuals and custom analyses. Investigate and communicate meaningful discrepancies and key business drivers;
• Manage and optimize current financial and reporting software and processes, including suggesting process improvements and ensuring appropriate documentation;
• Provide a high level of service that cultivates and maintains strong working relationships and effectively communicates information; takes ownership and accountability for timeliness, accuracy, and relationship-building;
• Serve as a trusted advisor to our C-suite and corporate departments (particularly Financial Administration, Human Capital, and ITS). Anticipate and conduct high impact analyses of business results, identifying trends, variances, and potential opportunities. Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership to drive business growth and operational efficiency.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, or quantitative field from a rigorous university program, MBA or advanced degree preferred;
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, preferably in a multi-unit or multi-location public company environment;
• Advanced skills in effective data integrity, cleaning, manipulation, and display to effectively communicate financial information;
• Must have familiarity with business intelligence and financial databases and comfort structuring SQL queries to generate dashboards and reports;
• Advanced Excel required; a strong preference for experience with Oracle, with Workday and/or Vena also desirable;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into insights for non-technical stakeholders;
• Creative thinker who can generate and use new insights from business information;
• Experience with process improvement and modernizing/implementing new tools and approaches, managing both the technical and analytical implementation as well as the user experience and change management;
• Ability to anticipate, understand, and explain discrepancies or unexpected results;
• High attention to detail and ability to deliver accurate and reliable information;
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with stakeholders;
• Working calmly under potentially stressful situations; able to disagree or challenge others in a constructive, professional way;
• High level of integrity and professionalism with the ability to handle confidential information.

Work Location Flexibility

CRA creates a work environment that enables our colleagues to benefit from being together in the office to best deliver on our promise of career growth, mentorship and inclusivity. At the same time, we recognize that individuals realize a range of benefits when working from home periodically. We currently ask that individuals spend 3 to 4 days a week on average working in the office (which may include traveling to another CRA office or to a client's location), with specific days determined in coordination with your practice or team. At certain times of the year (e.g. holiday periods), additional remote work options are offered to those whose work commitments permit it, although our offices remain open for those who choose or need to be there.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Charles River Associates is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer (EOE/AAE). As part of our focus on equity and inclusion, we work to ensure a fair and consistent hiring process, we celebrate diversity, and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.