Senior FP&A & Financial Operations Specialist

Smith & Howard•Richmond, VA

11d

About The Position

This role reports to the VP of Finance and serves as a strategic partner to practice leaders and firm leadership. The specialist drives financial decision-making, practice-level performance analysis, and revenue strategy while maintaining oversight of key accounting processes and financial controls. The position spans both operational accounting and strategic FP&A, requiring comfort with the full financial picture, from general ledger detail and month-end close accuracy to leadership-ready executive analysis and forecasting. The specialist will partner directly with practice directors and managers to help them understand and act on financial performance, ensuring the firm's financial processes remain efficient, accurate, and scalable.

Requirements

5-7+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, accounting, or a hybrid role combining both
Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, and close processes
Advanced Excel skills; ability to build and maintain integrated financial models from the ground up
Proficiency with core financial systems and accounting software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, QuickBooks)
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex financial concepts clearly to diverse audiences
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and build strong relationships
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
Strong ethical standards and integrity in financial reporting

Nice To Haves

Background in professional services, including familiarity with practice-based business models, billable hour economics, and service-line profitability
Experience with professional services organizations (PSO), consulting firms, accounting firms, or similar advisory businesses
Experience building and maintaining dashboards in Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence tools
Experience in a hybrid FP&A and controller/accounting operations role
CPA certification or progress toward certification
MBA or other advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business
Experience with revenue recognition and engagement-level profitability analysis

Responsibilities

Partner with Advisory practice leaders to analyze financial data at the engagement, service line, and practice levels, identifying trends, performance drivers, and opportunities for revenue growth, margin expansion, and cost discipline within the Advisory business.
Translate complex financial data and analyses into clear reports and presentations that help Advisory practice leaders and management make informed strategic and operational decisions.
Conduct detailed revenue analysis of Advisory business lines using invoice-level and engagement data, evaluating trends related to geographic dispersion, service line profitability, client segmentation, ownership type, cross-selling opportunities, and revenue retention.
Serve as a trusted resource to Advisory practice managers and leaders, explaining financial metrics, business drivers, and performance implications in terms relevant to operational decision-making.
Develop and maintain comprehensive rolling forecasts, budgets, and integrated financial models that support strategic planning and decision-making for the Advisory business lines.
Model revenue drivers, practice economics, profitability, and cash flow dynamics at both the Advisory and individual practice levels to inform strategic discussions and resource allocation decisions.
Conduct scenario analysis and variance analysis, evaluating the financial impact of different business decisions and diagnosing root causes of budget-to-actual variances.
Support long-term financial planning including headcount planning, capacity analysis, and workforce economics that align with growth strategy.
Prepare comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages for senior leadership, including financial performance summaries, variance commentary, and forward-looking analysis.
Develop and maintain performance dashboards (Power BI or similar tools) that provide practice leaders and finance leadership with real-time visibility into KPIs across financial, operational, sales, and people metrics.
Provide ad-hoc analysis and insights to support strategic decisions and executive discussions on matters such as pricing, resource allocation, service line economics, and growth initiatives.
Understand and oversee the Advisory business's month-end close process, including reconciliations, balance sheet review, and financial statement accuracy to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
Work collaboratively with accounting staff to ensure data integrity, proper account reconciliations, and clean financial data flowing from source systems into the general ledger.
Review and improve financial processes, systems, and controls, identifying inefficiencies or gaps and recommending practical enhancements to reporting quality and operational efficiency.
Help standardize financial processes, reporting templates, and chart of accounts structures to ensure consistency and scalability across Advisory practice areas.
Continuously evaluate and improve financial tools, reporting infrastructure, and systems (e.g., ERP, financial reporting software, business intelligence platforms) for better data quality, accuracy, and user accessibility.
Collaborate across finance and operations to streamline processes, automate manual work, and enhance the overall efficiency of the finance function.