Director, Finance - Data Science & Attendance Forecasting

Universal Orlando•Orlando, FL

About The Position

This role focuses on designing, developing, and evaluating advanced predictive and machine learning models specifically for attendance and ticketing revenue forecasting and planning across Universal Destinations & Experiences (UDX) properties, including UOR, USH, USJ, and UBR. The position involves analyzing guest behaviors and preferences from various data sources to understand visitation patterns by sales channel, origin, and ticket type. The Director will help define and optimize financial strategy using techniques like statistical analysis, artificial intelligence, and complex data mining. Key responsibilities include delivering clear findings through data visualization and presentations to inform internal stakeholders, and collaborating with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and IT to improve forecasting accuracy and profitability through predictive analytics.

Requirements

10+ years prior hands-on experience in data science.
Experience programming with statistical modeling tools to fuel and deliver forecasts with financial accuracy.
Strong familiarity with manipulating and mining unstructured data to transform business decisions that impact the bottom line.
Expert knowledge programming/statistics (R, Python, SAS)
Expert in Microsoft Products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access)
Capable of interacting with relational databases through SQL
Ability to manipulate unstructured data to form insights about the business
Ability to handle multiple projects required and work independently in a deadline-oriented environment

Nice To Haves

Experience leveraging artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, big data analytics, exploratory data analysis, and machine learning to drive significant business impact
Experience with visual analytic tools Power BI
Ability to paint a picture through analytics that will enhance and determine business decisions
Demonstrated a willingness to both teach others and learn new techniques
Desire to work in a fast-paced environment required

Responsibilities

Develops relevant statistical models such as mathematical optimization, stochastic process models, artificial intelligence, econometric methods and decision analysis in the development of predictive analytics to assist in attendance and ticket revenue forecasting.
Create and execute automation and data mining requests utilizing SQL, Excel, R/SAS/Python and other statistical programs detecting patterns, opportunities and insights that drive our business.
Create the analytics to leverage known, inferred and appended information about origins and recognizing patterns to assist in outlook forecasting.
Trouble shoot forecast and optimization anomalies with FP&A team through the use of statistical and mathematical optimization models. Develop testing to explain and or reduce these anomalies.
Oversee and develop key visitor forecasts as well as provide budget support based on trends in the business/industry.
Understands and actively participates in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UO policy, procedures, training and team member involvement activities.
Performs other duties as assigned.