Manager, FP&A

Description

Crain Communications seeks a highly analytical and business-focused Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) to join its Financial Services team.

The Manager, FP&A serves as the architect and owner of Crain Communications' financial planning and forecasting framework. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the financial models, reporting processes, and analytical insights that guide strategic decision-making across the organization.

As the primary steward of the company's financial outlook, the Manager, FP&A serves as the single source of truth for budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting. The role translates operational performance and strategic initiatives into actionable financial insights, helping executive leadership understand current performance while anticipating future risks and opportunities.

Working closely with the Senior Vice President of Finance, business leaders, publishers, and executive management, this position enables informed decision-making through advanced financial modeling, long-range planning, scenario analysis, and strategic business partnership.

Strategic Financial Planning & Forecasting

* Design, implement, and continuously improve the company's annual budget, quarterly forecast, monthly outlook, and long-range planning (3-5 year) processes.

* Own the financial forecasting framework for revenue, operating expenses, profitability, cash flow, and key business drivers.

* Develop scalable, driver-based forecasting models that support business planning across publications, events, subscriptions, digital products, and shared services.

* Translate strategic initiatives and operational plans into quantified financial outcomes and performance expectations.

* Perform scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to evaluate business risks, opportunities, and strategic alternatives.

Executive Reporting & Financial Leadership

* Serve as the organization's primary source of financial planning and performance insights.

* Partner with the Senior Vice President of Finance to develop executive-level financial updates, dashboards, forecasts, and presentations.

* Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reporting packages that communicate financial performance, trends, risks, opportunities, and key business drivers.

* Translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable narratives for executive leadership.

Business Partnership & Decision Support

* Act as a strategic finance partner to publishers, sales leaders, department heads, and business leaders.

* Evaluate investments, new business initiatives, pricing strategies, staffing decisions, and capital expenditures through ROI analysis and business case development.

* Assess the financial implications of new products, market opportunities, acquisitions, and growth initiatives.

Performance Management & Risk Identification

* Partner with Accounting to lead monthly actual-versus-plan reviews and identify key drivers of performance variances.

* Establish processes to proactively identify financial risks, emerging trends, and performance gaps.

* Serve as an early warning system for leadership by highlighting issues before they materially impact business results.

* Develop KPIs and operational metrics that improve visibility into business performance and forecast accuracy.

Reporting Innovation, Automation & Analytics

* Partner with the Director of Data & Analytics to modernize FP&A reporting and analytics capabilities.

* Identify opportunities to leverage AI-enabled tools and automation to streamline financial data collection, forecasting, reporting, and analysis.

Leadership & Team Development

* Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Financial Analysts, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and analytical excellence.

* Manage team priorities, workload, and performance to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and strategic analysis activities.

* Provide ongoing coaching, training, and career development opportunities while conducting performance evaluations and supporting the growth of future finance leaders.

Special Projects

* Lead and support strategic initiatives, operational improvement projects, and executive-level analyses.

* Perform ad hoc financial modeling and business analysis as requested by senior leadership.

Basic Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.

* Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, business analysis, or related disciplines.

* Advanced financial modeling capabilities, including integrated P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow forecasting.

* Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling.

* Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

* MBA, CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional certification.

* Experience with Workday Financials, Adaptive…