We’re seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Budget and Project Analyst to join our Finance team and support multiple divisions in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. In this role, you will gather, compile, and analyze financial data to help guide operational and strategic decisions. You’ll work closely with senior management to monitor budgets, identify trends, and support variance and outlook reporting.
Responsibilities and Essential Duties
Business Acumen
- Compiles annual budget information for assigned division(s), may include multiple locations or multiple budget centers. Some data is provided by multiple sources (i.e., Field/LOB Managers, Finance, Admin Services, etc.) to be compiled into database/systems for overall division budget.
- Project work may vary in role performed, length of project, and level of complexity. Typically, incumbent serves a contributory role within a larger project. Duties may consist of gathering and reporting on comparison of data to support a decision, such as data required for vendor selection or equipment requisition.
- Conducts analysis of historical data against current data, gathering explanations from others to explain anomalies for senior management review. Explores data to develop both insights and more questions for the business to discuss or for continued research.
Negotiation
- Provides revisions to prior views and assumptions based on new or revised credible data. Analyzes data quality and recommends improvements.
- Applies data to solve common business problems.
Results Oriented
- Maintains and reports on activities for the budget including support of variance reporting and outlook reporting.
- Correctly interpret financial department’s policies to research and resolve significant issues such as errors with chargebacks and accruals, as well as the distribution of assessments. Conduct expense analysis and identify trends for senior management. Develop tools and instructions to facilitate budget creation, monitoring, and creation of outlooks.
- Conducts data analysis in support of strategic projects.
- Compiles, manipulates, and analyzes data of varying complexity.
- Knowledgeable and proficient about what tools are available for data analysis and when they are appropriate to use.
Time and Priority Management
- Provide monitoring, analysis, and oversight on strategic project budgets and trending (i.e., controls and avoidance of overspends).
- Performs assigned tasks and objectives that relate to operational needs.
Decision Making
- Reporting for division results which includes gathering, formatting, and presenting data in an intuitive fashion (e.g., spreadsheets or graphs). Reporting should foster meaningful discussions of results by senior management or division managers.
- Effectively communicates analytical results graphically and via narrative. Follows best practices for visual display of quantitative information.
Performs other duties as may be assigned by the Manager, Financial Analysis.
Special Relationships
- Interacts with all levels of employees within their division and the organization.
- May interact with external organizations/vendors such as regulatory agencies and vendors.
Qualifications
Education/Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree required, accounting or finance, preferred.
- Continuing education in insurance related courses preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in budget processing, to include expense and/or data analysis.
Technical/Professional Knowledge
- Strong problem solving, oral/written communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills required.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, with focused attention to the accuracy and consistency of reported data.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- Knowledge of Oracle budgeting software preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of data systems to assist in obtaining and reporting data.
- Strong knowledge in creating and maintaining spreadsheets and other automated data storage systems, to include proficiency in Excel.
Job Requirements (as required by ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act)
- This position is primarily a sedentary position that requires occasional standing and walking throughout the office environment.
- Must be able to see and effectively use a computer monitor.
- Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard and applicable printers and other general office equipment.
- Must be able to access and enter information accurately using automated systems.
- Must be able to hear and communicate via the telephone and/or monitoring devices to both internal and external clients.
- Must be able to present information to individuals and groups.
- Must be able to interpret and apply concepts that may or may not be based upon established guidelines.
- Must be able to maintain acceptable attendance and adhere to scheduled work hours.
Why Choose Penn National Insurance?
At Penn National Insurance, we’re on a mission to help people feel secure and make life better when bad things happen . For over 106 years , we’ve been a trusted partner to individuals, families and businesses because we are a mutual insurance company where service and support for our policyholders are at the heart of everything we do.
We’re not just a company—we’re a community united by our core mission to “Make Life Better.” Here, you’ll find a place where your professional growth, success and personal well-being are our top priorities.
Your Career Journey: Empowering Your Growth
Your career should be more than just a job—it should empower you to feel secure, supported and inspired. At Penn National Insurance, we invest in your growth and celebrate your contributions with a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package. We’re committed to supporting your journey and helping you thrive at every stage of your career. Key highlights include:
- Benefits and Compensation : Generous 401(k) match, graded profit sharing, incentive compensation, and a wide range of benefits to support your financial health, physical well-being and career development.
- Flexibility : We offer remote and hybrid work options, flexible scheduling and a “dress-for-your-day” culture.
- Recognition : We celebrate your achievements, big and small, through employee recognition programs designed to honor your contributions.
Your Employer of Choice: A Legacy of Trust and Strength
Joining Penn National Insurance means becoming part of a company with over a century of experience , built on trust, innovation and strong relationships. From our beginnings as a mutual insurance company founded by farmers to our 100th anniversary in 2019, we've stayed true to our relationship-driven model, focusing on direct service and meaningful support.
Your Community: Making an Impact Together
Making life better isn’t just our mission—it’s a value that guides everything we do. Our employees are at the heart of this mission, giving back through community engagement and charitable efforts. We proudly support our community through financial support and employee volunteering opportunities including our annual United Way campaign, where employee contributions and company matches make a significant impact each year.
Your Future: Building a Rewarding Career Path
We’re not just offering a job; we’re providing a fulfilling and rewarding career. We support your growth with a range of resources designed to help you build your skills and achieve your goals, including:
- Continuing Education Support : Access to programs that help you enhance your knowledge, skills and educational goals along with 100% tuition reimbursement for academic studies.
- Professional Development Opportunities : Tailored designation programs to help you advance in your career such as CPCU, AINS, CPA, CISSP, and more.
- Long-Term Career Focus : With an average employee tenure of 14 years and many team members serving for over 40 years, we take pride in fostering a work environment that values long-term growth and development.
When you join us, you’re not just starting a job—you’re becoming part of a team that values your growth and invests in your future. Our commitment to long-term retention and employee development ensures that you will be part of a tradition and legacy of excellence that spans decades.
Only candidates from the following states will be considered for opportunities with Penn National Insurance: Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, affectional and sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law . Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and EEOC guidance, it is the policy of Pennsylvania National Insurance to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to a HR Business Partner via telephone at 800-368-4764, or through email, HRBusinessPartner@pnat.com .