Sr. Analyst Finance Co-Pilot (Cost Controller)

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•St. Louis, MO

2d•$81,401 - $116,406•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Financial Analyst, Co‑Pilot, you’ll serve as a key financial partner to the Capital Project Team, supporting a multi‑million‑dollar investment portfolio for Nestlé Purina North America. You’ll manage project budgets, monitor expenditures, and maintain strong financial controls throughout the project lifecycle. This role works closely with End‑to‑End leaders, Project Engineering, scheduling, procurement, and finance leadership to ensure projects stay on budget through accurate forecasting, cost oversight, and informed decision‑making. By delivering actionable insights and ensuring compliance with financial standards, you will enable the successful execution of strategic capital initiatives. Travel is an important part of this role, with an expected average of 30% travel annually. During major project implementations or other high-priority business initiatives, travel requirements may increase to as much as 50% for limited periods of time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, or a related field
5+ years of experience in General Accounting, Cost Accounting, Internal Controls, Budgeting, and/or Variance Analysis
2+ years of experience with capital and/or construction projects

Nice To Haves

3+ years of advanced Microsoft Excel functionality experience (ex. pivot tables, v-lookup, and logical formatting)
Experience with Smartsheets
Experience with Microsoft PowerBI
Experience with SAP
Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time

Responsibilities

Oversee and manage the full capital project budget, including cost reporting, cash flow projections, and budget adjustments
Conduct cost‑assurance activities, including auditing field construction progress and managing timely project closeout
Integrate project schedules into Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecasts and support earned value management to connect cost and schedule
Review and approve contracts, purchase orders, and invoices to ensure cost assurance, compliance, and financial accuracy
Collaborate cross‑functionally with Procurement, Legal, Tax, and other stakeholders to ensure compliance and best‑practice deployment
Ensure strong financial controls and governance, including adherence to Capital Investment Standards, accounting policies, and change‑management processes
Safeguard Assets Under Construction (AUC) through inventory oversight, warehouse compliance, and governance gate participation