Principal Financial Analyst

Capital One•McLean, VA

50d•$106,700 - $133,900

About The Position

Principal Financial Analyst In this role, you will serve as the work lead for Retail Marketing & Product Strategy (MAPS) and Retail Bank Product (RBP) OPEX, playing a critical role in supporting Retail's growth strategy. This is a high-visibility position responsible for the overall financial management, analysis, and reporting of MAPS and RBP expenses. You will ensure strong partnership with business stakeholders, drive adherence to financial goals, and provide direct leadership within the finance team for this critical area. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, sound judgment, and a proactive ownership mindset.

Requirements

Analytical & Results Focus Ability to analyze complex data, prioritize asks, and deliver error-free outputs/data.
Communication Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to tailor the message to various audiences.
Partnership & Teamwork Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (Finance, Business, Tech) and build solid relationships.
Judgment & Ownership High degree of independence, ownership of tasks (e.g., outlooks), and the ability to incorporate business knowledge to provide an independent Point of View (POV) on budget decisions and work direction.
Aptitude for learning Retail Marketing and Product goals, and proficiency/willingness to learn platforms like Snowflake, XSTREAM, Finsight, Coupa, Beeline, and Tableau.
Bachelor’s Degree or military experience
At least 4 years of experience in financial analysis

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Master’s Degree in Finance
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) license or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license
5+ years experience in financial analysis
4+ years experience with financial modeling
Proficiency in Google Suite.

Responsibilities

Financial Management & Analysis Analyze and report on MAPS & RBP expenses, including monthly actuals performance versus forecast.
Manage budget risks and opportunities, providing insights and recommendations to business partners and Retail Finance.
Lead and manage the monthly outlook process, including loading updates into XSTREAM.
Execute in-depth, project-based work: Analyze costs and their underlying drivers (e.g., tech/product gearing, BillPay, Cashload, letter automation initiatives).
Understand and track the financial impact of Retail volume changes (e.g., new checking accounts, transactions) on money movement-related expenses (e.g., Zelle, BillPay).
Develop an intuition for generating true 50/50 expense forecasts based on analysis of hiring/attrition trends, vendor performance, and overall business growth.
Leadership & Team Direction Serve as the primary finance partner for MAPS & RBP business teams, acting as the subject matter expert and finance lead for this portfolio.
Work closely with other analysts in the team, taking the lead in managing the work within the MAPS/RBP space and providing coaching and guidance to ensure consistent quality and strategic alignment.
Prepare and lead the monthly financial reviews (MFR’s) with business partners (LT and team).
Tailor written and verbal communication depending on the audience, simplifying financial terms for the business and providing high-level narratives for the finance team ( VP+ level communication required ).
Constant communication with MAPS/RBP business partners to understand headcount needs, volume growth, and business strategy.
Attend business meetings to integrate strategy and tactical knowledge into financial planning and budget decisions.
Collaborate closely with Tech Finance to understand product gearing needs.
Act as a team player, leveraging internal team members to understand total business expense impacts.