Financial Analyst

Company: Confidential Company

Location: Houston, TX (On-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Seniority Level: Entry Level / Early Career

Job Summary

A leading financial services organization in Houston is seeking a Financial Analyst to support financial planning, reporting, and analytical functions within a fast-paced corporate finance environment.

This position plays a key role in driving data-informed decision-making, improving financial reporting accuracy, and strengthening budgeting and forecasting processes across the organization. The role is ideal for recent graduates or early-career professionals seeking hands-on experience in a structured, high-performance finance setting — with direct exposure to budgeting, forecasting, and executive-level reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Support the development of annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and long-range financial plans
• Build and maintain financial models including scenario analysis and sensitivity testing
• Assist in translating business assumptions into quantitative projections for leadership review
• Monitor budget-to-actual performance and flag variances with supporting commentary
• Participate in continuous improvement of forecasting accuracy and planning processes

Reporting & Variance Analysis

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow summaries
• Conduct detailed variance analysis comparing actuals vs. budget vs. prior period
• Identify trends, anomalies, and drivers behind financial performance
• Ensure all reports are accurate, timely, and aligned with internal reporting standards
• Support documentation of reporting procedures and version-controlled workpapers

Financial Close Support

• Collaborate with the accounting team during month-end and quarter-end close cycles
• Assist in journal entry preparation, accrual calculations, and account reconciliations
• Help resolve discrepancies and ensure completeness of close checklists
• Maintain organized, audit-ready financial records and supporting documentation
• Ensure all close activities meet internal deadlines and compliance requirements

Data Analysis & Dashboards

• Analyze financial and operational data to identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities
• Develop and maintain dashboards and tracking tools for KPIs and financial performance metrics
• Prepare clear, concise summary reports for finance and business leadership
• Support financial impact assessments related to operational decisions and new initiatives
• Assist in automating recurring reports to improve team productivity

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with accounting, operations, HR, and business unit teams on financial matters
• Participate in cross-functional planning discussions and business reviews
• Support mentoring and training efforts related to financial tools and best practices
• Communicate financial findings clearly and professionally within technical and non-technical teams

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related quantitative field
• Master's degree from a US-accredited university in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field — required
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to interpret financial statements, reports, and business data
• Solid understanding of core finance and accounting principles
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Skills

Finance & Accounting Knowledge

• Exposure to corporate finance, FP&A, investment banking, audit, or management consulting environments
• Familiarity with US GAAP principles and financial statement interpretation (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
• Understanding of financial ratios, valuation methods (DCF, comparable company analysis), and capital budgeting techniques
• Knowledge of SOX compliance, internal controls, or regulatory reporting frameworks
• Awareness of financial markets, trading principles, and macroeconomic indicators

Analytical & Modeling Skills

• Experience building 3-statement financial models, sensitivity analyses, and scenario planning tools
• Ability to work with large datasets, identify patterns, and derive actionable business insights
• Familiarity with statistical analysis, regression modeling, or quantitative research methods
• Exposure to cost-benefit analysis, ROI evaluation, and investment appraisal techniques
• Experience supporting or leading variance analysis and budget-to-actual reporting cycles

Tools & Technology

• Advanced Microsoft Excel — Power Query, Power Pivot, dynamic arrays, VLookups, and advanced charting
• SQL — ability to write queries, join tables, and extract financial data from relational databases
• Power BI or Tableau — experience designing and publishing live financial dashboards and KPI trackers
• Python or R — exposure to data automation, financial modeling scripts, or analytics workflows
• ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle Financials, NetSuite, or Workday — familiarity preferred
• Bloomberg Terminal or FactSet — exposure preferred for candidates with investment or markets background
• Microsoft PowerPoint — ability to build clean, executive-ready presentations that translate data into narrative

Process & Operations

• Experience supporting month-end or quarter-end close processes including accruals and reconciliations
• Familiarity with budgeting cycles — from initial submissions through consolidation and final approval
• Exposure to audit preparation, workpaper organization, and compliance documentation
• Understanding of cost management, headcount planning, or departmental spend tracking
• Experience developing or improving recurring reporting templates and financial tracking tools

Soft Skills & Professional Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail — ability to self-review work before submission and catch errors proactively
• Strong written and verbal communication — able to present financial findings clearly to both finance and non-finance audiences
• Ability to manage multiple deliverables across different business units under tight deadlines
• Comfort working in ambiguous environments where data may be incomplete or assumptions need to be validated
• Collaborative mindset — experience working cross-functionally with operations, HR, accounting, or strategy teams
• Intellectual curiosity and a proactive approach to identifying process improvement opportunities

Certifications (Preffered)

• CFA Level 1 candidate or passed
• Progress toward CPA licensure
• Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification
• Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certificate
• Six Sigma or Lean fundamentals

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States (OPT and STEM OPT accepted)
• Must be available to work fully on-site in Houston, TX
• Graduating May 2025 or December 2025 only
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience required — internships and co-ops count