Senior Analyst - Accounting & Transformation (Hybrid)

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

36d•Hybrid

About The Position

We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning & Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals. The Senior Analyst - Accounting & Transformation role combines strong technical accounting skills with a focus on process improvement, digital transformation, and change management. The ideal candidate will be proactive in identifying opportunities and supporting initiatives to optimize ongoing processes, implement automation, and enhance the overall efficiency and accuracy of our financial operations while ensuring compliance with accounting rules. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment within an evolving industry. This position, in part, will support the monthly close process and preparation of financial reports as well as other day-to-day accounting related activities that can include ad hoc reporting and analysis on trends/KPIs of business data and collaboration with business partners to early-detect anomalies. In addition, this role will support and independently monitor continuous improvement opportunities and business process redesign initiatives with the objective to improve efficiencies, elevate the division's ability to provide insight to our business partners and gain transparency into trends in financial data

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
Certified Public Accountant
3+ years of accounting experience
Strong understanding of technical accounting rules, accounting processes, and key internal controls
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to perform complex analysis, with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiency
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
A highly motivated individual with a strong understanding of how people, processes, and technology work together to produce a strong and sustainable capability
Ability to work independently with minimal guidance needed
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

Nice To Haves

Master's degree
Accounting, Finance, or related field
Experience in airline or similar industry
Understanding of data and experience with data analytic tools like Alteryx, Power BI, etc.

Responsibilities

Assess and enhance current accounting processes for process improvements focusing on simplification and standardization
Improve manual processes through identification of automation opportunities that align with the department's transformation initiatives
Partner with internal business partners to drive process efficiency and help foster an environment that embraces transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement
This role requires the individual to collaborate cross-functionally with internal business areas to drive process efficiency end-to-end and earlier visibility to trends in data
Independently support accounting operations through ad hoc analysis and reporting
Independently perform day-to-day accounting operations, including preparation of necessary reports and ad hoc analysis, supporting the month-end close processes, and preparing quarterly/annual reporting to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting
Assess and provide recommendations or solutions to ensure current and future transformation initiatives comply with accounting standards (e.g., GAAP) and regulatory requirements where applicable (e.g., DOT, etc.)
Assess and provide recommendations or solutions to ensure appropriate controls are embedded in existing and/or modified for new business processes
Function as primary liaison with external and internal audit when necessary to facilitate audit procedures in support of SOX compliance
Drive process optimization and automation
Independently assess current accounting processes to identify areas for process improvements through simplification, standardization, end-to-end optimization (by working cross-functionally), and automation
Utilize automation tools (e.g., EPM, Alteryx, RPA, etc.) to streamline accounting processes and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of reporting, reconciliation, and month-end close activities
Continuously assess and evaluate opportunities for process improvement, focusing on cost savings and operational efficiency
Support financial transformation initiatives
Collaborate cross-functionally to help define accounting transformation initiatives
Partner with stakeholders (e.g., DT, Finance, others) to ensure an integration of accounting initiatives with the broader organizational goals
Independently monitor transformation initiative milestones, maintain timelines, and report on progress for multiple projects at once