Senior Financial Analyst

Job Description

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About the role:

Sun Life Canada’s Operations Expense Management function provides first line of defense support to its business partners as well as consolidation, analytics and reporting of the business’ expenses on a monthly and quarterly basis.

As part of a dynamic team of Finance professionals, the Senior Financial Analyst will assist in furthering the financial planning and analysis agenda with a strong focus on detailed planning and variance analysis, creating and maintaining financial models, understanding key cost drivers and influencing people in the organization to optimize operational expenditures. This role will be part of the critical transformation of Finance from purely a reporting and planning function to a Trusted Financial Advisor to the business.

What will you do?

Reporting & Analysis

• Hands on role that builds and improves financial models/processes to support monthly and quarterly reporting
• Analyze expense trends to drive management action to optimize operating expenses
• Utilize data driven models to report outcomes for financial and non-financial metrics including value added commentary and insights

Planning

• Support the expense budgeting, forecasting, strategic plan and annual plan process
• Demonstrated ability to develop expense roll forwards from cycle to cycle

Finance Transformation

• Ability to recognize and implement continuous improvements
• Ability to document financial models and processes to enable repeatable and sustainable processes

Other

• Build strong partnerships with business leaders and become a trusted financial advisor
• Lead/support ad hoc financial analysis/consulting as required (e.g. expense studies, cost benefit analysis etc.)
• Understand, and be able to explain to business partners, common charges and Sun Life expense management process

What do you need to succeed?

• 5+ years of financial planning, reporting and analysis experience (budgeting, expense management and variance analysis); preferably in Financial Services
• Financial designation with strong preference for CPA or MBA with commensurate experience
• Proficient in MS Office Suite – Excel (pivot tables, V-looks up), Word, PowerPoint
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience building executive-level presentation and content
• Analytical thinking - designs/orchestrates use of financial and business analytics for decision making
• Strong relationship management skills with a focus on client orientation; including excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written)
• Strong prioritization and organization skills -- capable of meeting deadlines in a fast paced, high-performance environment

Preferred Skills:

• Experience of various data management tools (i.e. Tableau, Python, Hyperion, etc.)
• Results oriented and critical thinking – high sense of ownership
• Capable of distilling complex concepts into simple key messages and insights
• Curious mindset and comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Problem solving skills with curiosity for root cause analysis to identify key levers of financial and operational performance

Unique Requirements:

• Some overtime will be required during peak reporting periods

What's in it for you?

• Hybrid work environment
• A friendly, collaborative, and inclusive culture
• 20 vacation days per year
• Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family
• Pension, stock and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security
• The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential
• Access to our Global Learning Centre, available 24/7 for your learning needs
• Wellness programs that support the three pillars of your health – mental, physical and financial

Recent Awards:

• We are honoured to be recognized as a 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best Workplaces in Canada by Great Place to Work® Canada
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces for #HybridWork 2022
• Great Place to Work® list for Best Workplaces for Professional Development in Canada 2022
• Named “Best Places to Work” by Glassdoor, 2021 and 2023