Operating within the organization’s core values and principles, the Financial Analyst II coordinates the monthly expense close and performs key expense functions for AAA business units. Serving as a primary liaison between financial planning and business leaders, this role prepares budgets, forecasts, and other expense analyses. The position conducts research on expense and budgeting issues, ensuring necessary modifications are integrated into financial processes. It also supports projects that influence financial performance and requires strong collaboration with all levels of management.

• Support the monthly expense close process through preparation and monitoring of closing entries and expense management reporting.
• Prepare variance analysis on expenses and staffing counts vs. budget/forecast. Evaluate actual results and projected impact on full-year operating plan. Anticipate/discover problems through analysis and influence change.
• Continuously reassess project forecasts to detect and analyze variances to the operating plan.
• Identify opportunities for automation throughout the monthly expense close process and implement new processes to improve efficiency and deliver high-quality results to business units.
• Maintain various spreadsheets, including accruals, expense models, trend analysis, departmental budgets.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with project sponsors, other business unit associates, and senior management.
• Develop and maintain complex financial models using advanced spreadsheet and database applications.
• Support the annual budget and quarterly forecast processes by reviewing historical trends, challenging assumptions and assisting cost center managers with expense budgets/forecasts. Create and analyze metrics to monitor the performance of our business units.
• Identify project impacts on the budget and expense systems and modify appropriate models (Excel, Access, X_One, etc.) as needed.
• Analyze financial data to evaluate past financial performance and project financial outcomes.
• Provide guidance and recommendations to cost center management.
• Work independently toward agreed upon objectives.
• Develop and maintain job documentation and procedures, including process and control documentation as it relates to Model Audit Rule compliance.
• Work toward becoming an expert on the Company’s cost structure and understanding the financial impact of changing variables.

Core Competencies

• Achieves Results/Has Bias for Action - Delivers strong results, demonstrates urgency and high energy, and fosters collaboration to achieve more.
• Customer Focus -Understands customer perspectives and is viewed as a trusted business partner by both internal and external customers. Anticipates customer needs to ensure no barriers to doing business.
• Effective Communication Skills - Communicates candidly, clearly, and concisely. Adapts style, tone, and method to audience; connects with intended recipients; and manages communication and feedback effectively.
• Functional/Technical Skills – Possesses the knowledge and technical skills to perform at a high level.
• Attention to Detail – Reviews data/documents for accuracy and consistency, prevents errors, follows procedures closely, maintains accurate records, and rigorously tests services/applications when required.
• Planning/Time Management – Accurately scopes project length/difficulty, manages multiple activities simultaneously, uses resources efficiently, and organizes information/files for easy access.
• Collaboration/Relationships – Works effectively with others to accomplish goals, values team input, offers/asks for help as needed, builds trust, demonstrates consideration for others, and fosters teamwork.

Required Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Math or Accounting.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in an accounting/finance or related position; experience in the insurance industry is preferred.
• Detailed-oriented, with a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong financial aptitude.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and work independently in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in PC applications and advanced spreadsheet modeling.
• Knowledge and experience in Microsoft office applications and data base systems required.
• General understanding of Statements of Statutory Accounting Principles (SSAP).
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Essential Job Functions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

This job requires the ability to perform duties contained in the job description for this position, including, but not limited to, the above requirements.  Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants as needed to enable them to fulfill these requirements.