Subject Matter Expert (SME) - AI for Financial Planning & Analysis (Spring 2027)

About Ziplines

Ziplines Education is a category-leading education company that partners with universities to deliver industry-focused certificate courses that prepare professionals for today’s digital-first workforce. Each year, we have the opportunity to help thousands of career advancers build the knowledge, skills, and credentials they need to move their careers forward. 92% of learners would recommend our programs, and our net promoter score is consistently in the excellent range. Together, we empower adult learners to confidently pursue the career they’ve always wanted.

Course development schedule

Work on this course will begin in spring 2027. We will be recruiting for SME roles on a rolling basis from now until the course enters development, so if you think you're a fit for the role, please fill out an application and we'll be in touch.

More about this AI for Financial Planning & Analysis course

Finance professionals are under more pressure than ever before. Teams are shrinking, reporting cycles are accelerating, and leadership expects faster, more strategic insight from fewer people. AI is rapidly transforming how financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, and scenario modeling are done, but most finance professionals were never trained to use these tools safely inside corporate environments.

This 5-week program teaches learners how to use generative AI, automation, and modern analytics tools to accelerate core finance workflows, including variance analysis, financial reporting, budget forecasting, and executive summaries. Learners apply AI to their actual work from Week 1, starting with a Corporate AI Policy Navigator that ensures every tool and technique meets compliance and audit requirements.

By the end, learners leave with automated reporting workflows, AI-assisted forecasting models, and the confidence to implement AI across their finance function with no coding required. They earn a university-branded certificate signaling AI fluency in one of the most credential-sensitive professions in the market.

About you 

You bring at least 7 years of FP&A experience, with at least 2 years of experience using AI for reporting, analysis, forecasting, or modeling. You have been a financial analysis professional in private industry, in government, or in consulting. You have a point of view on how established and emerging AI tools can help finance professionals automate or accelerate core workflows, and you’re able to break concepts down and make them accessible to beginners. As a SME for our online course, you'll have the opportunity to shape our AI for FP&A curriculum, ensure we’re teaching what matters most, share your expertise with career advancers, and guide them toward achieving their goals. 

SME role objectives

- Create compelling, relevant, industry-aligned courses that give learners what they need to advance in their field

- Record authentic, engaging videos illustrating AI for FP&A concepts and concretely showing learners how to use AI tools to support and execute core FP&A workflows.  

- Inspire learners, build confidence in their capabilities, and help them understand how to responsibly integrate AI into their practice.

- Optimize learner engagement, learner retention, and learner success 

Our learners

Our learners are driven professionals from diverse fields. Some are just beginning to explore new career opportunities, while others are looking to deepen their expertise. What they all share is a strong desire to acquire new skills that will help them advance their careers—whether that’s stepping into a new role, earning a promotion, or excelling in their current position.

Our courses

Each week, learners:

- Complete on-demand online content created by industry experts (that’s you!) featuring scenario-based learning, industry context, expert videos, and best practices (6-7 hours)

- Apply their skills via a hands-on “Playbook” project that you help create (1-2 hours)

- Attend a live session to learn from a different industry expert alongside their classmates (2 hours)

- Get extra support by connecting with classmates on Slack or reaching out to our Learner Success team for support 

As a SME, you’ll collaborate with our Learning Experience Design team to shape the on-demand content and the Playbook, ensuring that the topical coverage, scenarios, videos, and applied skills are relevant and industry-aligned. Our designers will also ask for your input and review on the live session agenda. Most importantly, you’ll record authentic, engaging videos that make learners feel like they have a supportive, savvy guide to AI for FP&A.

Your duties and time commitment

- Overall Time Commitment: 35 - 40 hours over 6 weeks.

- Week 1: Kickoff meeting with learning experience designer, review and refine module outline, clarify schedule. 

- Weeks 2 through 4: 1-2 working sessions with learning experience designer. These sessions will focus on mapping out lessons, exer