Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis

About the role

The name “Fairwater” speaks to our firm and steadfast commitment to partnership, equity, and trust.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously maintain the annual budget process — from template design and department head coordination to consolidation, review meetings, and board-ready outputs.
• Lead quarterly and rolling forecast cycles, incorporating business updates, operational changes, and market dynamics to ensure forecast accuracy and relevance.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated driver-based financial models for short- and long-term strategic planning.
• Own and prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports and presentations, including Monthly Operating Reviews (MOR), Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR), and other recurring executive deliverables.
• Partner with senior leadership to validate forecast assumptions, strategic financial targets, and capital investment decisions.
• Conduct rigorous monthly and quarterly variance analysis with clear, driver-focused commentary for executive and board-level audiences.
• Support M&A financial analysis, capital allocation decisions, and strategic growth initiatives through robust scenario planning and valuation frameworks.
• Transform raw financial and operational data into actionable business intelligence — identifying trends, risks, and opportunities that inform strategic decisions.
• Design, build, and maintain dynamic executive dashboards and automated reporting solutions in Power BI for real-time fleet and corporate performance monitoring.
• Leverage SQL, Python, or equivalent tools to query, manipulate, and analyze large datasets across ERP and operational systems.
• Utilize AI tools and capabilities to enhance data analysis, surface patterns, generate commentary, and accelerate the delivery of financial insights to leadership.
• Serve as the organization's primary steward of financial data integrity — enforcing data governance policies and validating reporting accuracy across Finance, Accounting, and Operations.
• Track and report on KPIs across departments, enabling management to assess performance against plan at all levels of the organization.
• Support cross-departmental reporting requests, including ad-hoc analysis for executive leadership, technical, and operations teams.
• Develop and maintain standardized reporting frameworks, analytical methodologies, and documentation for financial procedures.
• Drive automation initiatives — leveraging Excel/VBA, Python, and BI platforms — to improve data quality, accelerate close cycles, and expand analytical capabilities.
• Support ERP and financial technology implementations, including data migration and testing.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline financial reporting cycles, reduce manual effort, and enhance analytical quality.
• Facilitate monthly results reviews with operational leadership to prioritize performance gaps and develop corrective action plans.
• Champion a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all Finance deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required.
• 5 years of progressive experience in financial planning & analysis, business intelligence, or corporate finance.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, variance analysis, and executive reporting.
• Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, or equivalent) and advanced data visualization.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, or equivalent analytical languages.
• Solid understanding of GAAP, financial reporting standards, and internal controls.
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or equivalent financial platforms).
• Expert-level Excel proficiency, including advanced formulas, complex financial modeling, and VBA/macros.
• Strong command of BI and data visualization tools.
• Ability to build automated, scalable reporting frameworks from raw data sources.
• Hands-on experience leveraging AI and machine learning tools in a finance context — including AI-assisted analysis, natural language reporting, or automation of analytical workflows (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT/Claude for finance, or equivalent AI platforms).
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to present complex financial analysis to executive and non-finance audiences.
• Prior experience in maritime, Jones Act, shipping, logistics, or transportation industries is a plus but not required.
• Familiarity with maritime ERP or vessel management systems.
• Industry experience with advanced analytics platforms (Databricks, Azure, etc.).
• MBA preferred.
• CPA or CFA a plus.
• CMA, CFA, or equivalent finance/analytics certification a plus.
• AI-related credentials (e.g., Microsoft Copilot certification, Google AI Essentials, or equivalent) are a differentiator.

Skills

• Expert-level Excel proficiency, including advanced formulas, complex financial modeling, and VBA/macros.
• Strong command of BI and data visualization tools.
• Ability to build automated, scalable reporting frameworks from raw data sources.
• Hands-on experience leveraging AI and machine learning tools in a finance context — including AI-assisted analysis, natural language reporting, or automation of analytical workflows (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT/Claude for finance, or equivalent AI platforms).

Benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disability Fairwater reserves the right to revise or change job descriptions and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.