Financial Analyst

Do you have a servant's heart and desire to put your talents to work in a ministry environment? Do you have strong attention to detail and a passion for finance and analytics? If so, this may be the role for you!

Lifeway's Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Team is seeking an experienced Financial Analyst.  In this position, you'll provide financial analysis and informed insight to assigned ministry areas. You'll work alongside ministry leaders to help advance Lifeway’s mission by providing leadership and expertise in the areas of: budget development; pro forma development; periodic and ad hoc financial analysis and reporting of results; quarterly forecasting;  inventory management; and long-term planning.

Why Lifeway? 

Lifeway is a place where you can bring your faith and work experience to join in the most important mission in the world: making disciples of Jesus Christ. Whether you’re a creator or storyteller, data guru or problem-solver, or anywhere in between, if you’re passionate about serving the church, we have a place for you. Lifeway has a strong Work from Anywhere (WFA) culture that is deeply focused on our mission and values. While headquartered in Nashville, TN, many of our positions are remote-eligible and have autonomy and flexibility with work hours. We provide equipment and resources to ensure team members have access to a productive and ergonomic workspace. We believe building relationships and community is essential to how we work together, so Lifeway hosts all-team meetings several times per year and provides travel for key team gatherings for remote-based team members. Full-time employees are eligible for enrollment in our comprehensive benefits plans including healthcare, vacation and sick time, holiday pay, care days, 401(k) plan, maternity and paternity leave, adoption assistance, mission trip time, and more. If this sounds like a place where you would be excited to serve the kingdom of God, we would love for you to join our team.

This is a remote position in the U.S. with occasional travel to Nashville for in-person team gatherings. #LI-Remote 

Learn more about our culture at team.lifeway.com/culture-code 

A Financial Analyst......:

• Advises business leaders based on data and reporting leading to recommendations for actionable business decisions. Communicates financial results to business leaders on a regular basis. 

• Analyzes revenues, product costs, and operating expenses. Investigates variances and makes correcting journal entries as necessary. 
• Calculates annual budgets utilizing Lifeway's budgeting tools and processes in partnership with business leaders, sales, and marketing. Prepares quarterly forecasts which are leveraged in the budgeting process. Calculates variances to budget and tells the story behind the numbers. Improves the quality of internal and external financial data to drive business decision making and performance. 

• Creates and maintains financial reporting and KPI's based on business leaders requirements and needs.

• Monitors inventory levels and recommends reprints and other inventory decisions as necessary. This is related to analyst positions in Publishing areas that involve physical inventory. 
• Generates proformas to recommend financial viability of products. 
• Become the subject matter expert in the business area you support and develop an understanding of Lifeway's overall finances. 
• Make additional contributions to the FP&A team by helping with budget files, technological expertise, and other special projects as necessary. 

• Live out Lifeway’s mission and values, showing deep commitment to Kingdom work

• Bachelors in business administration with an emphasis in finance or accounting

  • MBA or CPA preferred

• 3 plus years experience financial support and leadership in areas of budgeting, operational analysis, and planning

• 3 plus years experience working with large data sets and the ability to extract, summarize, and report results efficiently

• 3 plus years experience in cost accounting focusing on contribution analysis and ROI metrics

• Detailed oriented and able to work through large amounts of data

• Objective mindset that is data driven, focused on facts

• Advanced use of Microsoft tools, expert level in Excel (i.e. pivot tables, XLookup, query tools, etc.)

• Strong data mining skill set using modern Business Intelligence tools (i.e., PowerBI, MicroStrategy, Business Objects, etc.)

• Healthy financial acumen including proforma development, GAAP standards, accounting principles, financial metrics, etc.

• Effective communication style and able to adapt to the audience, easy to understand and provide necessary insight.

• Capable of being operational and strategic at the same time, keeping the macro view in mind while mining details

• Demonstrated ability to protect and utilize sensitive information responsibly

• Strong problem solving, analytical and time management skills. Ability to dig through complexity, finding the truth the data presents

• Actively attend an evangelical Christian church and serve/participate in church events or ministries