Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Associate

Lotus Company•Salt Lake City, UT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The FP&A Associate is a mid-level role focused on driving the company’s financial planning processes and performing higher-level analysis to guide decision-making. They serve as a bridge between the junior analysts and the FP&A Manager, often taking ownership of specific components of budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting. In addition, the FP&A Associate may be involved in complex analytical projects, such as evaluating new initiatives or optimizing internal financial management practices. This role reports to the FP&A Manager (or Managing Director of Finance if the team is small) and may supervise an analyst.

Requirements

Strong grasp of corporate finance and accounting principles.
Ability to build and understand complex financial models that integrate P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
Familiarity with revenue recognition and cost allocation principles.
Ability to interpret financial numbers and advise on decisions.
Excellent ability to communicate financial information to non-financial managers.
Ability to distill detailed analysis into clear takeaways and action items.
Experience creating management presentations or dashboard reports.
Comfortable speaking up in meetings to explain financial results or projections.
Attention to detail and accuracy; ensuring all figures are accurate and assumptions are documented.
Ability to perform quality control on complex spreadsheets and catch errors.
Ability to work diplomatically and effectively with various department heads.
Proactive in identifying financial issues and investigating them.
Creative in finding ways to present data more effectively or to solve planning challenges.
Advanced Excel skills (including scenario analysis, possibly some VBA for automation if needed).
Experience with any enterprise planning software or ERP systems is a plus.
Ability to quickly learn the company’s internal systems to extract data.
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field required.
3–5 years of experience in financial planning & analysis, corporate finance, or a similar function.
Demonstrable experience with leading or significantly contributing to a budgeting cycle and producing management reports.
Ideally, some experience supervising or mentoring junior staff, or at least leading cross-functional projects.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or certification (MBA, CPA, or CFA) is advantageous and sometimes preferred for deeper knowledge.
Experience in the real estate sector or development company FP&A is highly valued.
References or examples of past work should reflect clarity of analysis and influence on management decisions.
Knowledge of affordable housing finance or LIHTC is helpful.
Willingness to learn about how development fee income, tax credit equity, and other specific items work in this business to incorporate them into planning.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the preparation of the annual budget across all departments, including distributing planning templates, consolidating departmental inputs, and checking for completeness and accuracy.
Analyze and challenge assumptions submitted by department heads to ensure revenue projections are realistic and expenses are justified.
Refine the budget in collaboration with the FP&A Manager before presentation to executives/Board.
Manage rolling forecast updates on a quarterly or monthly basis, reflecting actual results and new projections.
Perform variance analysis to explain differences between budgeted and actual figures, identifying key drivers for over-performance or under-performance.
Prepare narrative explanations and presentation slides for management reporting.
Oversee the preparation of regular internal financial reports (monthly management reports, project profitability analyses, overhead reports, etc.).
Ensure reports highlight key performance indicators (KPIs) important to the company’s success.
Continuously improve the reporting format for clarity and insight.
Present findings to the Managing Director of Finance and department heads, highlighting issues and opportunities.
Undertake in-depth financial analysis to support strategic decisions by leadership.
Monitor and forecast the company’s cash flow and liquidity.
Recommend actions if a cash flow shortfall is projected.
Prepare borrowing base certificates or compliance calculations and ensure adherence to covenants if the company maintains a corporate credit facility or revolving line.
Oversee and maintain all documents and databases associated with internally managed or owned entities.
Lead or support aggregation of investment reports from project managers across the portfolio.
Track the performance of company investments in projects or completed properties.
Create a portfolio view of all such investments, projecting distributions and returns to the company over time.
Oversee aggregation of portfolio and asset level forecasts.
Identify opportunities to improve FP&A processes, such as streamlining data collection or automating reports.
Supervise junior analyst(s) if applicable, reviewing their work, providing feedback, and helping prioritize tasks.
Act as a go-to resource for questions and training for junior analysts.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, with eligibility beginning 30 days after employment
Employer contribution of up to $1,430 per month toward insurance premiums
Health Savings Account (HSA) option for eligible plans
Access to telehealth and virtual care services
Mental health and wellness support, including access to therapy and counseling resources
Company-paid basic life insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage
Company-paid short-term disability insurance
Paid time off (PTO), accruing at 15 days per year
Ten (10) paid company holidays per year
401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
Performance-based bonus opportunities based on individual and company performance
Employee recognition and milestone celebrations
Access to an on-site fitness facility
Covered, year-round parking in an attached garage
Daily office amenities, including coffee, snacks, and beverages