Senior Financial Analyst

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Senior Financial Analyst is a key contributor to Portillo’s finance team, responsible for delivering the analysis, insight, and financial rigor that drive confident decision-making across the organization. This role owns plays a critical role in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance analysis, and partners directly with senior leaders to translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations that support Portillo’s growth strategy.  The ideal candidate combines strong financial modeling and analytical skills with intellectual curiosity, sound business judgement, and communication skills to influence decisions at every level of the organization. 

This is a hybrid position based at the Portillo’s Restaurant Support Center in Oakbrook, Illinois with on-site presence required Tuesday through Thursday.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Enable our Purpose to create lifelong memories by igniting the senses with unrivaled food and experiences:

Family: Work together to make everyone feel at home, and we step up when someone needs help

Greatness: We’re obsessed with being the best and work hard to continuously improve.  Our greatness is rooted in Quality, Service, Attitude and Cleanliness

Energy: We move with urgency and passion, while maintaining attention to detail

Fun: We entertain our guests, we connect authentically, and we make each other smile

• Prepare and analyze financial statements, monthly performance reports, and ad-hoc analyses to support the business's financial goals
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics, providing insights into trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement
• Pull data from multiple sources and develop analyses that lead to clear conclusions and hypotheses regarding root causes and trends
• Partner with senior leadership and department leadership to evaluate operational performance and recommend corrective actions and business improvements
• Lead components of the annual budgeting process, working closely with department leaders to gather data and align financial goals
• Develop and maintain financial forecasts to track performance against budgeted targets, adjusting projections based on changes in business conditions or operational needs
• Analyze variances between actuals and plan, translating findings into actionable insights and recommendations for management
• Build and maintain complex financial models to support strategic initiatives, such as new restaurant openings, pricing strategies, and expansion opportunities
• Provide financial analysis for decision-making related to capital expenditures, cost management, and pricing strategies
• Participate in special projects requiring financial analysis, modeling, and executive reporting
• Lead cross-functional initiatives from analysis through implementation
• Create executive-level presentations and materials for senior leadership and the Board
• Identify and drive opportunities to improve financial reporting processes, tools, and systems, increasing efficiency and accuracy across the FP&A function
• Maintain a strong understanding of restaurant industry trends and competitive dynamics to inform financial planning and strategic recommendations
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all financial deliverables, maintaining strong financial controls throughout the reporting process
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Educational Level/Certifications

• Bachelor Degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA or MBA preferred

Work Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Minimum of 3-5 years of financial analysis or FP&A experience; retail and/or hospitality experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and variance analysis
• Solid understanding of financial accounting, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and their application to business operations
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and financial modeling
• Experience with ERP and financial planning systems; Oracle EPM experience preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a natural curiosity to understand business performance drivers
• Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, and interpret company, industry, and market data
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate financial results into actionable recommendations
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to distill complex data into clear