We are looking for a Financial Reporting Analyst to support a financial services organization in Chicago, Illinois through a contract-to-permanent opportunity. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys turning complex financial data into clear reporting, identifying performance drivers, and delivering insights that guide business decisions. The analyst will partner with cross-functional teams to prepare accurate financial information, investigate variances, and contribute to reporting processes that support compliance and operational visibility.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare recurring and ad hoc financial reports by gathering, organizing, and interpreting data from multiple sources.
- Evaluate financial results against forecasts, budgets, and prior periods to explain trends and highlight key variances.
- Build and maintain financial models that support planning, reporting, and decision-making across the business.
- Perform data analysis to uncover patterns, reconcile discrepancies, and improve the reliability of reported information.
- Track project-related financial activity, maintain supporting documentation, and monitor progress against established milestones.
- Assist with audit-related requests by compiling schedules, validating records, and helping ensure readiness for internal or external reviews.
- Support tax and reporting activities through organized workpapers, detailed checklists, and timely follow-up on outstanding items.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to strengthen reporting accuracy, streamline processes, and address evolving business needs.
- Experience in financial analysis with a strong understanding of reporting, forecasting, and performance measurement.
- Ability to create and refine financial models used for business analysis and operational planning.
- Skill in conducting variance analysis and presenting findings in a clear, business-focused manner.
- Proficiency in reviewing large data sets and applying data mining techniques to identify meaningful insights.
- Familiarity with audit support, compliance documentation, and structured checklist-driven processes.
- Working knowledge of corporate tax return support and related financial documentation is preferred.
- Background in public sector organizations or training from a Big 4 accounting firm is valued.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and track deliverables effectively.