Senior Associate, Financial Planning & Analysis

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Senior Associate, Financial Planning and Analysis will support the FP&A efforts to manage financial and other data, produce month end reporting, variance analysis, and work on the long-range plan / budgets and monthly forecasts. The role will involve the preparation and analysis of management reporting, including regular monthly management reports, forecasts, annual budgets, long range plans and other ad-hoc reports as well as working on periodic commentaries and presentations. this position will play an integral role in providing relevant and timely fiscal information to senior management. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills, demonstrate broad knowledge of finance and accounting concepts, have strong attention to detail , and excellent communication skills.

What You'll Do

• Assist in the maintenance of financial results data repositories to be utilized as the primary source for financial reporting.

• Utilize a SAS-based loan profitability model to report on the profitability of various loan pricing and credit scenarios.

• Use funds transfer pricing concepts to calculate and report cost of funds.

• Prepare monthly reporting package including commentary on data variances, for internal stakeholders, with oversight from FP&A leadership.

• Provide monthly profitability reporting by line of business, cohort and other sub-categories within the organization to assist with business unit reviews.

• Build and maintain financial models/statements with guidance from FP&A leadership team.

• Perform variance analysis for actual results against financial models/statements and continually refine process to improve forecasting accuracy.

• Conduct academic vintage studies to back-test profitability on modeled forecasts.

• Assist with the preparation of annual operating budgets and subsidiary business plans.

• Maintain models and adjust for new products and funding sources.

• Help maintain SQL and SAS automated monthly reporting.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.
 

What you have

Minimum education, skills and experience required.

• Strong analytical skills and experience with financial modeling.

• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

• Proficiency in Excel and some familiarity with Databases.

Preferred education, skills, and experience.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field.

• 3+ years of experience in financial planning and analysis.

• Proficiency with financial analysis tools including Power BI, SQL and SAS