Sr Financial Analyst

At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Cengage's portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.

Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/

We are looking for a Senior Financial Analyst that will play a key role in the Finance group providing the financial and related operational support for the Cengage Work and ELT teams. This role offers significant exposure to business leaders and the opportunity to influence key decisions through insight, not just reporting. Responsibilities include forecasting and variance analysis; update and maintain key financial metrics; and financial and operational support in pursuit of strategic drivers of value.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, meticulous, and motivated by continuous learning. They are comfortable working with large datasets, interested in using technology and AI to improve workflows, and excited to grow into a broader finance leadership role over time.

The candidate has extraordinary interpersonal and communication skills effective to work with all levels of management and staff.

This role will report to the Senior FP&A Business Manager

• Own core FP&A processes including monthly reporting, quarterly forecasting, and annual planning, with a focus on accuracy, insight, and continuous improvement
• Partner closely with product and business unit leaders to analyze product performance, profitability, and customer adoption trends
• Translate financial and operational data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for senior leadership
• Develop a deep understanding of business drivers and proactively identify risks and opportunities
• Perform detailed variance analysis, identifying root causes and communicating key drivers of performance
• Support strategic decision-making through ad hoc analysis, scenario modeling, and business case development
• Improve and automate reporting processes using modern tools (e.g., BI platforms, data models, AI-assisted workflows)
• Act as a key liaison between the Business Unit, FP&A, and Accounting to ensure alignment and consistency
• Assist in the preparation of internal and external reporting materials
• Support product setup, financial tracking, and new initiative analysis
• Investigate data discrepancies and drive resolution with cross-functional partners

• Undergraduate or Graduate degree in Accounting/Finance, or Quantitative subject areas required
• 2+ years related experience in FP&A, finance, accounting, or a related analytical role
• Strong analytical foundation with the ability to move from data to insight to recommendation
• Adapts well to fast-paced environment and constantly evolving priorities and activities
• Advanced Excel skills; comfort handling extensive data collections and building models
• Experience with or strong interest in data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) and financial systems (SAP, Hyperion, etc.)
• Demonstrated curiosity and interest in employing technology, automation, and AI for improving financial processes and analysis
• Solid understanding of accounting principles (GAAP) and financial statements
• High attention to detail with the capacity to manage several priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication skills, capable of clearly presenting complex information to non-finance collaborators
• Growth mindset: proactive, coachable, and motivated to tackle increasing responsibility

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.

Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [email protected]

Cengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation

At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.  Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.