Role Summary

The Budget Analyst will review revenue and expense budgets, forecasts, and other financial data submitted by the Firm's various offices and administrative departments (e.g., technology, marketing, human resources), including the creation of various schedules relating to global headcount, billing rates, collections, salaries, and operating expenses. Serve as a liaison between the Finance department and the departments and offices responsible for submitting budget and forecast data. Create a variety of financial reports for internal and external use, such as monthly headcount reporting, monthly financial and statistical reporting, and ad hoc analyses as requested by Partners and Senior Management. Maintain the ProCube budgeting system (an OLAP-based software) to help the Finance department obtain financial data quickly and accurately.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, analyze, maintain, organize, and consolidate Firm level and individual assigned departments/offices budget and forecast data schedules relating to headcount, billing rates, collections, salary, and operating expenses.
• Assist Directors and Office Managers with the review and preparation of expense budgets and forecasts and ensure that the budget and forecast data submitted is reasonable and accurate.
• Respond to accounting/budgeting inquiries from individuals throughout the Firm, including office/finance managers and their local accounting staff, managers of departments in New York, and individuals throughout the Finance department.
• Prepare various monthly headcount schedules and reconcile information provided by Human Resources.  Reconcile movement between various offices and Practice Groups via preparation of various roll forward reports.  Discuss and resolve differences with Human Resources.
• Prepare monthly statistical and financial data variance analysis (e.g., budget vs. actual and forecast) and write “executive-ready” explanations for expense variances between actual, forecast and budgeted results.
• Communicate with offices in different time zones, participate in conference calls during their business hours, while being sensitive to their cultural differences and participate in peer review of work prepared by others in the group.
• Create financial models that employ many variables and analyze results (e.g., new office pro-forma P&L’s).
• Perform such other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time (e.g., short term rotations to other groups, assist with testing new systems, document processes.)

Job Qualifications

• Ability to analyze financial results to identify and investigate unusual trends and balances.
• Excellent communication skills and organizational skills (both written and oral)
• Ability to work independently and be proactive.
• Intermediate knowledge (Excel, Adobe, Word, and PowerPoint) Database/budgeting and general ledger system knowledge a plus.
• Basic knowledge of accounting principles.
• Fast learner, technology savvy with the drive to learn and understand the nature of the Firm’s business transactions to be able to identify unusual account variances and balances.
• 1-2 years of budgeting or financial reporting experience