Principal Finance Specialist - Strategic Analysis & Project Finance

Title: Principal Finance Specialist - Strategic Analysis & Project Finance

Employee Working Location: Partially Virtual / Hybrid (Canada)

Employment Status: Permanent Full-time

The Canadian Red Cross (Red Cross) - an inspirational not for profit organization, helps people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supports them in strengthening their resilience. As a Canada's Best Employers 2026, we are committed to having an accessible, diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free work environment.

The Principal Finance Specialist, Strategic Analysis & Project Finance, serves as a senior Financial Planning & Analysis expert responsible for providing advanced financial analysis, strategic decision support, business case development, and project finance leadership across the organization.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director, FP&A, this role focuses on high-value financial work that extends beyond traditional budgeting and month-end reporting. The position leads complex financial assessments, scenario modelling, investment analyses, long-range planning activities, project evaluations, and cross-functional reviews that support executive decision-making and organizational priorities.

The role partners closely with operational leaders, project sponsors, Finance leadership, and the accounting team responsible for projects and fixed assets within D365 to provide expert financial advice on strategic initiatives, capital investments, organizational performance, and enterprise-wide decision-making.

In this role, you will :

Enterprise Financial Analysis

• Conduct deep financial analysis across programs, projects, departments, and organizational functions
• Analyze trends, performance drivers, financial risks, and resource utilization to support strategic decision-making
• Lead financial reviews of emerging issues, opportunities, and complex business challenges
• Translate large volumes of financial and operational data into meaningful insights and recommendations
• Support long-range planning and enterprise forecasting to inform organizational priorities and resource allocation decisions

Business Cases and Strategic Financial Analysis

• Lead development, financial assessment, and review of business cases for strategic initiatives, programs, projects, and investments
• Develop complex financial models to evaluate costs, benefits, risks, funding requirements, and long-term sustainability
• Conduct scenario modelling, sensitivity analysis, and options evaluations for strategic initiatives and investments
• Evaluate investment proposals and strategic initiatives, providing recommendations and risk assessments
• Support post-implementation reviews to evaluate whether expected business outcomes and financial benefits were achieved

Project Finance Business Partnering

• Act as the FP&A lead for major organizational projects and initiatives
• Provide project sponsors with financial analysis, forecasting, budget oversight, and project reporting support
• Monitor project performance against approved budgets and forecasts
• Develop project portfolio reporting and financial dashboards to support leadership oversight
• Identify risks, issues, and opportunities affecting project financial performance and recommend corrective actions

Capital Planning and D365 Partnership

• Lead the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and investment analysis processes for capital investments and major organizational projects
• Work closely with the accounting lead responsible for projects and fixed assets to support project financial governance and reporting
• Partner on project setup, financial structures, reporting requirements, and investment monitoring within D365
• Develop multi-year capital forecasts, funding plans, and investment scenarios to support organizational priorities and resource allocation decisions
• Monitor capital project performance against approved budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment between FP&A forecasts, project plans, and accounting records related to projects and capital investments

Executive Decision Support

• Prepare financial analysis, briefing materials, dashboards, presentations, and recommendations for senior leaders
• Advise on the financial implications of strategic decisions, investments, and organizational priorities
• Support executive decision-making by evaluating trade-offs, risks, opportunities, and resource allocation alternatives
• Challenge assumptions through independent analysis and evidence-based recommendations
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for leadership audiences

FP&A Excellence and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain business case templates, modelling frameworks, reporting tools, and analytical standards
• Promote consistent methodologies for forecasting, scenario modelling, project evaluation, and investment analysis
• Mentor finance team members and support development of analytical capabilities across the FP&A function
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, planning processes, financial tools, and decision-support capabilities
• Contribute to the evolution of FP&A practices and organizational financial maturity

What Success Looks Like in This Role

A successful Principal Finance Specialist, Strategic Analysis & Project Finance will:

• Deliver high-quality business cases that support informed strategic decisions
• Provide trusted, objective financial advice to leaders and project sponsors
• Develop robust financial models and analyses that withstand scrutiny and support decision-making
• Improve visibility into project performance, financial risks, and investment outcomes
• Translate complex financial information into actionable insights for executive audiences
• Strengthen project finance governance and financial oversight across the organization
• Improve analytical tools, frameworks, and decision-support capabilities within FP&A
• Build strong partnerships across Finance, Operations, Technology, and leadership teams
• Be recognized as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert for strategic financial analysis

What we are looking for:

• 12+ years of relevant experience in finance, FP&A, corporate finance, strategic planning, or financial analysis
• Post-secondary education in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, or a related field CPA designation required
• Advanced financial modelling, forecasting, and business case development experience
• Demonstrated experience providing financial advice and decision support to senior leaders
• Experience supporting projects, capital investments, organizational initiatives, or enterprise transformation activities
• Strong understanding of project financial management and investment analysis
• Experience working with ERP systems and financial reporting tools, including D365 and Power BI considered an asset
• Exceptional analytical, communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills

Working Conditions :

• As we work with and support people (managers, colleagues, beneficiaries/customers, volunteers, donors and external partners) and communities in Canada and around the world, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to perform the responsibilities of the role in English.
• Eligibility to work in Canada: At this time, we welcome applications from candidates eligible to work in Canada. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, we encourage you to carefully review your visa to find out whether you are eligible to work in the job you are considering applying for. Refer to our FAQ for more information.
• If you are selected for this role, you will be required to complete a successful pre-employment screening process which includes a satisfactory Enhanced Police Information Check (E-PIC).
• FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Join Our Team - Canadian Red Cross