Financial Analyst

SUMMARY

The Financial Analyst is a key partner in achieving the Exploratorium’s mission and vision by providing financial guidance, support, and analysis to senior management and multiple departments within the organization. The Financial Analyst serves as a primary financial planning authority for assigned departments and leads cross-functional finance processes across the organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Own and lead the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes for assigned divisions.

• Work with Financial Analyst peers to prepare budget and forecast packages, including explanatory narratives, variance analysis, and presentation materials.

• Provide independent financial oversight across cost centers and departments within assigned portfolio.

• Create financial models for specific high-visibility projects or scenarios to facilitate operational or strategic decision-making.

• Identify financial risks and opportunities and provide strategic recommendations to department and senior leadership.

• Review data at the cost center/project level, division/consolidated group level, and organization level; ensure integrity of the submitted data.

• Improve financial outcomes by analyzing results, monitoring variances, identifying trends, and recommending actions to budget owners.

• Prepare presentation-ready financial reports, charts, tables, written summaries, and other materials.

• Acts as a financial business partner to department heads and senior managers, guiding budget decisions and financial strategy for assigned portfolios.

• Serves as the financial planning authority for assigned departments, providing independent recommendations to senior leadership on budget, forecast, and long-range planning decisions.

• Research and resolve inquiries for assigned departments and/or functional areas.

• Lead personnel cost tracking and payroll variance analysis.

• Support the Director of FP&A in the development and maintenance of long range financial plan.

• Convene and lead financial planning meetings with department leadership to align assumptions, timelines, and resource strategies.

• Serve as institutional administrator and functional owner of Workday Adaptive Planning, responsible for system governance, reporting architecture, access controls, and continuous improvement.

• Manage special projects and other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree in finance, accounting, business or closely related field

• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and institutional or departmental financial management

• Experience in a complex nonprofit, museum, higher education, or similarly matrixed organization preferred

• Demonstrated experience guiding annual budget development, regular forecasting, and long-range financial planning processes for multiple departments, programs, or business units

• Advanced Excel skills; strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace applications

• Advanced knowledge/ownership of software administration and experience in administration of enterprise financial planning systems

• Prominent ability to develop, maintain, and interpret complex financial models, scenario analyses, and management reports to support strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational decision-making

• Strong attention to detail combined with sound judgment and the ability to maintain a broad institutional perspective

• Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively with minimal direction and manage multiple projects; adeptness at working on both solo projects and team projects

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Proven ability to build effective working relationships and influence decision-making across all levels of the organization, including guiding budget managers and departmental leaders through planning and forecasting processes

• Proven ability to interpret financial information for managers, directors, and non-finance stakeholders and work collaboratively all levels of the organization

• Demonstrated discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment in handling confidential and sensitive financial information

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a non-profit organization; understanding of non-profit financials and accounting practices

• Experience working in Workday Adaptive Planning, especially work experience as an Administrator

• Familiarity with business intelligence and data visualization tools (e.g. MS Power BI or Tableau)

• Experience with SQL/database report building, particularly in Salesforce