Associate Director – Business Interpreter, Finance Reporting & Analysis COE

Job Description

General Summary:

The Associate Director – Business Interpreter, Finance Reporting & Analysis COE is critical to financial data strategy and execution, and champions data-driven decision making across the enterprise.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Finance Reporting & Analysis COE, this role will serve as a critical liaison between data analysts, finance teams, and business stakeholders, translating complex data insights into actionable business strategies. The Business Interpreter will play a key role in enhancing data-driven decision-making and ensuring that our financial reporting aligns with organizational goals.

This role will develop and execute a comprehensive data and analytics strategy, data integration and governance efforts, foster a culture of innovation, and promote data literacy within finance. To be successful in this role, candidates will require a blend of leadership acumen and technical expertise with a deep understanding of financial systems, data architecture and advanced analytics. This position offers a unique opportunity to drive innovation, enhance financial performance, and support the enterprise’s long-term strategic goals.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. Develop and execute data strategy:

Assist in implementing and maturing a comprehensive data and analytics strategy that supports the enterprise’s financial and business goals. Support the transformation of the finance function through advanced analytics. Collaborate with finance leaders to identify and prioritize key financial reporting and analytics initiatives. Ensure these initiatives align with organizational objectives and deliver measurable value.

2. Oversee data operations and delivery:

Act as the primary point of contact for Finance on the development of predictive and prescriptive analytics models to support financial management. Ensure these models provide actionable insights for decision making. Oversee the design, development and implementation of financial dashboards and reporting tools. Ensure these tools provide real-time, actionable data to support strategic and operational decisions. Manage the prompt and precise delivery of data and insights to stakeholders. Set and maintain high standards for data quality, on-time delivery, and relevance to support informed decision-making. Coordinate with cross-functional analytics teams to ensure alignment of financial data initiatives with organizational analytics objectives. Oversee data operations to ensure efficiency, scalability and reliability. Implement best practices to optimize performance and support organizational growth. Lead the development and management of data as a product in partnership with DTE (IT) and Data Governance stakeholders. Measure and monitor performance: Establish and continuously monitor KPIs to assess the effectiveness of financial Data and Reporting initiatives.

3. Foster a data-driven culture, drive innovation and solve complex technical and operational problems:

Encourage the use of advanced statistical techniques and motivate team members to innovate with machine learning to extract actionable insights from complex financial data sets, and to influence important business decisions. Facilitate knowledge sharing and integration of best practices across the enterprise to enhance data-driven decision making. Champion data literacy across finance and the enterprise. Create development plans that improve finance’s Data and Analytics  knowledge.

General Finance Leadership

• Elevates analytical capabilities to incorporate higher level concepts including quantitative and statistical analyses to deliver increased value to the organization and incorporate predictive insights.
• Serves as an inspirational and engaging Data lead who motivates and engages through demonstration of our Vertexian culture & values.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance or Accounting
• Typically requires 7+ years of relevant experience in an analytics role demonstrating strong technical and analytical skills and a track record of success working in a team-based environment.  Must have a strategic vision of future ways of working for finance professionals.

Preferred Knowledge/Skills:

• Experience in leading cross-functional teams and processes; able to manage through ambiguity and influence with and without authority, and work effectively with senior leaders
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills including visualization capabilities and an ability to “tell a story”
• Exceptional analytical, quantitative, and financial modeling skills
• Possesses a continuous improvement mindset, with flexibility and ability to adapt to