Senior Financial Analyst - Planning and Decision Support

HR Service Jobs is seeking a highly analytical, detail-oriented, and business-focused Senior Financial Analyst – Planning and Decision Support to support financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis, and strategic decision-making. The successful candidate will play a key role in transforming financial data into meaningful insights that help management evaluate business performance, identify growth opportunities, control costs, and achieve long-term financial objectives.

This role requires a strong understanding of financial modeling, management reporting, variance analysis, and financial planning and analysis (FP&A). The Senior Financial Analyst will collaborate with finance leaders, department heads, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop reliable financial forecasts, evaluate business initiatives, and provide actionable recommendations that improve profitability and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate combines technical financial expertise with strong communication, problem-solving, and business partnering skills. They should be comfortable working with complex financial datasets, presenting findings to senior management, and managing multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Lead and support annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range financial planning processes.
• Develop comprehensive financial plans based on historical performance, business objectives, market conditions, and operational expectations.
• Work with department managers to establish budgets, financial targets, and performance indicators.
• Consolidate departmental budgets and identify potential financial risks, resource gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate financial planning models and ensure assumptions are clearly documented and regularly reviewed.

Financial Analysis and Decision Support

• Analyze revenue, operating expenses, profitability, cash flow, and other key financial metrics to assess business performance.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic investments, operational changes, pricing decisions, and resource allocation.
• Evaluate business cases, capital expenditure proposals, and new initiatives using appropriate financial analysis techniques.
• Conduct scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and what-if modeling to assess the potential impact of changing business conditions.
• Translate complex financial information into practical recommendations for senior leaders and non-finance stakeholders.

Management Reporting and Performance Monitoring

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, dashboards, and management presentations.
• Analyze actual financial results against budgets, forecasts, and prior-period performance.
• Investigate material variances, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), financial trends, and business performance against established targets.
• Ensure reports are accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with internal reporting requirements.

Financial Modeling and Forecasting

• Build and maintain financial models to support business planning, profitability analysis, and strategic decision-making.
• Develop revenue forecasts, expense projections, cash flow estimates, and profitability scenarios.
• Assess the financial implications of operational changes, market developments, and business growth plans.
• Improve forecasting methodologies by incorporating relevant historical data, operational drivers, and updated assumptions.
• Maintain model integrity through appropriate validation, documentation, and regular review.

Business Partnering and Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with finance, accounting, operations, sales, human resources, and other departments to understand business needs.
• Explain financial results and performance trends to stakeholders who may not have a financial background.
• Challenge assumptions constructively and encourage data-driven decision-making.
• Support senior management with financial presentations, strategic reviews, and executive-level reporting.
• Build productive working relationships across teams to improve financial accountability and planning accuracy.

Process Improvement and Financial Governance

• Identify opportunities to streamline financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analytical processes.
• Automate recurring reports and improve the use of financial systems, spreadsheets, and business intelligence tools.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, internal controls, and data-quality standards.
• Support internal and external audit requirements by providing relevant financial analysis and supporting documentation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen financial transparency, efficiency, and business performance.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• A masters degree in Finance, an MBA, or a relevant professional qualification is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, financial modeling, and data analysis.
• Experience using financial planning, enterprise resource planning (ERP), or business intelligence systems.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, profitability analysis, cost management, and financial performance indicators.
• Ability to interpret large datasets, identify trends, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent analytical thinking, numerical reasoning, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial insights to senior stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, confidentiality, and professional integrity.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Experience

• Typically, 5–8 years of relevant experience in financial planning and analysis, corporate finance, management accounting, financial reporting, or a similar analytical role.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, preparing forecasts, and analyzing financial performance.
• Proven ability to develop financial models and provide decision-support analysis for business leaders.
• Experience conducting variance analysis and explaining financial performance against budgets and forecasts.
• Previous exposure to executive reporting, strategic planning, and cross-functional business partnering.
• Experience with ERP systems and financial reporting platforms is preferred.
• Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or other analytical tools is an advantage.
• Experience in a multinational organization, a large corporate environment, or a complex business operation is desirable.
• Candidates with professional qualifications such as CMA, ACCA, CPA, or CFA may receive additional consideration, depending on the organizations requirements.

Working Hours

• Employment Type: Full-time.
• Typical Schedule: Monday to Friday, with standard business hours determined by the organizations operating location.
• Working Hours: Generally 8 hours per day, subject to company policy and applicable employment regulations.
• Work Arrangement: On-site, hybrid, or remote, depending on business requirements and the position offered.
• Flexibility: Occasional flexibility may be required during month-end reporting, annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and financial planning cycles.
• Collaboration: The role may require meetings with stakeholders across different departments, business units, or time zones.
• Additional Hours: Occasional additional hours may be necessary to meet important reporting deadlines.
• The final working schedule and employment arrangement will be communicated during the recruitment process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Financial and Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of financial statements, management accounting principles, budgeting, and forecasting techniques.
• Knowledge of financial planning frameworks, cost allocation, profitability analysis, and performance measurement.
• Ability to construct integrated financial models and evaluate multiple business scenarios.
• Familiarity with financial controls, data validation, and reporting standards relevant to the organization.
• Understanding of business drivers that influence revenue, operating costs, margins, and cash flow.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Ability to evaluate complex financial information and identify meaningful patterns.
• Capacity to investigate variances, assess risks, and determine the underlying causes of financial performance changes.
• Confidence in developing alternative scenarios and assessing potential business outcomes.
• Ability to balance short-term financial priorities with long-term business objectives.

Communication and Collaboration

• Ability to present financial findings in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills for working with finance professionals, department leaders, and senior management.
• Ability to explain technical financial concepts using practical business examples.
• Confidence in challenging assumptions professionally and supporting recommendations with reliable data.

Organizational and Leadership Abilities

• Strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to manage multiple analytical projects while maintaining accuracy and consistency.
• Proactive approach to identifying financial risks and process improvements.
• Sound judgment when handling confidential financial information.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team.

Benefits

HR Service Jobs aims to provide a professional and supportive working environment. Depending on the employer, location, and employment agreement, potential benefits may include:

• Competitive salary aligned with qualifications, experience, and role responsibilities.
• Performance-based incentives or annual bonuses, where applicable.
• Health insurance and other employee welfare benefits, subject to company policy.
• Paid annual leave and applicable public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and financial certification support.
• Access to financial planning systems, reporting tools, and analytical technologies.
• Mentoring and guidance from experienced finance leaders.
• Flexible working arrangements where the role permits.
• Opportunities to participate in strategic projects and business improvement initiatives.
• Career development opportunities within finance, corporate planning, and business strategy.

Specific compensation, benefits, and eligibility requirements will be confirmed during the hiring process.

Why Join HR Service Jobs?

Joining HR Service Jobs for the Senior Financial Analyst – Planning and Decision Support opportunity offers the potential to contribute to meaningful financial and business decisions while advancing your professional career.

Make a Strategic Impact: Use financial insights to help management make informed decisions, improve performance, and allocate resources effectively.

Strengthen Your Financial Expertise: Expand your experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, profitability analysis, and strategic planning.

Collaborate Across Business Functions: Work with professionals from finance, operations, and other departments to understand business challenges and develop practical solutions.

Develop Leadership Capabilities: Build the communication, stakeholder management, and analytical skills required for future finance leadership positions.

Support Continuous Improvement: Help modernize reporting processes, improve forecasting accuracy, and introduce more efficient analytical methods.

Build a Long-Term Career: Develop experience that can support progression into roles such as Finance Manager, FP&A Manager, Finance Business Partner, Financial Planning Manager, or Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, depending on performance and organizational opportunities.

This position is suited to a finance professional who enjoys solving complex problems, translating data into business insights, and contributing to the organizations long-term success.