Financial Analyst - FP and A

Title: Financial Analyst - FP&A
Salary Range: $81,000 - $86,000 Annually
Status: Exempt
Location: Salinas, CA
Reports to: Finance Manager

GENERAL DISCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:
The Financial Analyst role provides crucial financial support to key teams within the Bud Antle organization, helping drive profitable growth for both the company and its customers. This position is a key support for corporate planning functions, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and data analysis. The role also involves detailed analysis of variance (forecast/budget/close) related to Selling, Marketing, General & Administrative expenses. The work requires the ability to analyze complex data, often with incomplete information, and deliver insights with a focus on speed and accuracy. The Financial Analyst will provide in-depth financial analysis to help optimize decision-making, identify opportunities for cost control, and support the overall financial health of the organization.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS / DUTIES OF THE POSITION:
• Forecasting and Budgeting – Assist in the preparation and maintenance of the annual budget as well as periodic forecasts. Provide variance analysis against budget and forecast to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Expense Tracking and Analysis - Analyze key variances between actual and forecasted expenses, identifying trends, and explaining deviations to senior management and business partners. Provide actionable recommendations to improve expense management.
• Key financial resource to business partners for financial guidance, as well as in pursuit of Operational Excellence objectives.
• Cost Control and Optimization – Partner with department heads to identify cost optimization and efficiency improvements in SMG&A expenses.
• Reporting and Presentation - Prepare detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual SMG&A reports for senior management, highlighting key insights, trends, and variances. Provide presentations and recommendations to stakeholders regarding budget performance, cost trends, and opportunities for cost containment.
• Management Reporting - Prepare and publish a periodic internal management reporting package (Tuesday Package) with key metrics to monitor the Company’s performance and future outlook. If required and beneficial, develop and distribute a weekly flash report with simple key metrics.
• Research and investigate variances, analyze balances, pinpoint drivers behind the variances, spot trends, find errors and discrepancies, question processes, find out the why’s and maintain focus on the company’s goals and objectives.
• Readily accepts new opportunities and takes appropriate actions to ensure the work is done; energizes team members to achieve timely results; sets expectations and empowers others to problem solve; demonstrates good judgment; facilitates successful and appropriate solutions
• Other - Work on special projects and provide ad hoc analysis and projects as directed

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:
• 2-3 years of financial reporting and cost accounting experience preferred. Agriculture experience is helpful.
• Intermediate / Advance Microsoft Excel skills to include XLOOKUP, SUMPRODUCT, MATCH, INDEX, PowerPivot, Power Query and proper database management and accuracy to ensure data quality and integrity. Experience structuring data is good to have. Proactiveness and Curiosity are critical in this topic.
• Basic knowledge of SQL and DAX language preferred.
• Strong drive and attitude to simplify and make processes more efficient.
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate with different departments to resolve issues, clear discrepancies, provide answers, make sense and/or clarify information requested and received from other parties.
• Familiarity with mainframe systems, i.e., J.D. Edwards and/or an equivalent system or planning tool.
• Language Requirements: English, Spanish knowledge helpful.
• Must have the ability to do thorough research on issues and document findings, appear for work on time, follow directions, interact well with co-workers, work well both independently as well as in a team environment, understand and follow posted work rules/procedures.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk or hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift (including overhead) and/or up to 15 lbs.

WORK HOUR & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to work beyond regular business hours, weekends if necessary, during period close week and final weeks of the budget cycle, as needed.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Economics is required.

EEO STATEMENT: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) English
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Spanish
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) English
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Spanish
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)