Data Strategy and Business Analytics Director

Cherry Bekaert•Jeffersonville, IN

2d•$148,200 - $190,000

About The Position

This position leads management reporting and business analytics for the Firm, translating the questions asked by service line, Finance and executive leadership into reporting that is accurate, consistent and ready for decision-making. The Director works through the data analytics team in Information Technology to develop, review and deploy dashboards firmwide, and works alongside the Financial Planning & Analysis team in Finance on monthly financial reporting to the service lines, the Finance Committee and the Board. The role owns the definitions, calculation methods and data standards behind firmwide performance metrics so that reported results are comparable across the organization. It combines accounting judgment with analytical capability, so that every reported figure can be explained and supported.

Requirements

10 years of progressive experience in public accounting, financial reporting or management reporting and analytics.
Active CPA license.
Working knowledge of financial accounting, financial statement analysis and the economics of a professional services firm.
Demonstrated experience translating business questions into reporting requirements and validating the resulting output before it reaches leadership.
Practical knowledge of business intelligence and reporting platforms, including Microsoft Power BI, and of the data structures that support them.
Ability to review analytical work critically and identify errors in logic, source data or calculation.
Ability to influence other teams and co-pilot cross-team initiatives without direct authority.
Experience presenting to executive leadership, committees and boards, with the ability to move between summary-level narrative and hands-on data review.
Outstanding analytic and Excel skills.
Focus on continuous improvement to enhance business processes from diagnosis to documentation to execution.
Comfort operating independently in a fast-changing environment.
Ability to lead, develop and retain a small team of analytics professionals.

Nice To Haves

Audit experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership to team including coaching, mentoring and professional development or oversight to a department. Responsible for providing performance feedback on a regular basis.
Engages the data analytics team in Information Technology to develop, review and deploy management reporting dashboards throughout the Firm, including defining requirements, reviewing logic and calculations prior to release, conducting user acceptance review and supporting adoption after deployment.
Confirms that dashboard output reconciles to the Firm's systems of record and that source data, definitions and calculation methods are documented and repeatable.
Engages the Financial Planning & Analysis team in Finance to collaborate on monthly financial reporting delivered to the service lines, the Finance Committee and the Board, including review of results, variance explanations and supporting analysis.
Establishes and maintains firmwide definitions and data standards for performance metrics so that reporting is consistent across service lines, industries and departments.
Advises service line and department leaders on interpretation of reported results, and identifies trends, exceptions and matters requiring management attention.
Prioritizes the reporting and analytics portfolio with the Chief Data Officer, balancing recurring reporting obligations against new development requests.
Applies accounting and audit knowledge to evaluate data quality, assess the reliability of management reporting and support controls over the reporting process.
Communicates with internal clients to help meet objectives for all parties.
Participates in priority projects and creates and strengthens cross-functional relationships to enable broader success.
Exercises discretion with confidential information.