Senior Financial Analyst

About the role

Clearwater is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Analyst to join our global Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team in Chicago.

The Senior Financial Analyst will play a crucial role in providing strategic financial planning, analysis, and decision support within a fast-paced SaaS environment. This position involves collaborating cross-functionally to drive growth, optimize financial performance, and ensure sound financial health for the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain complex financial models for budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning, taking into account key SaaS metrics like ARR, MRR, churn, and GRR.
• Analyze financial data, business trends, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify risks, opportunities, and provide actionable insights to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Sales, Marketing, Product, Operations) to inform business strategy and provide financial guidance for initiatives like pricing models, product investments, and cost optimization.
• Prepare and present clear and concise financial reports and dashboards for senior management and stakeholders, explaining complex financial information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support monthly close processes and variance analysis, examining deviations from budget and forecast targets and identifying areas for improvement.
• Lead contributions to budgeting, forecasting, and margin analysis for SaaS products.
• Drive ongoing improvements in financial systems, tools, and processes to increase efficiency and optimize outputs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) or a related role, with demonstrated expertise in SaaS financial operations.
• Proven experience building complex financial models, with a strong understanding of SaaS metrics (ARR, NRR, GRR, churn).
• Advanced proficiency in Excel for financial modeling and analytics, with data visualization and BI skills (e.g., Power BI & Tableau).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey financial information to diverse audiences.
• Self-motivated and results-driven, with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Intacct & NetSuite) and planning tools (e.g., Adaptive Insights) is preferred.
• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CFA, CPA, MBA) are a plus.

Salary Range $85,000.00 - $120,000.00

This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, other job-related qualifications/skills, and geographic location (to account for comparative cost of living). The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. For this role, benefits include: health/vision/dental insurance, 401(k), PTO, parental leave, and medical leave, STD/LTD insurance benefits.