What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Planning and Analysis Specialist position at Applus+ Laboratories?
FP & A Specialist
Job Description
About Applus Laboratories
Applus is a leading global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services. We work across a wide range of industries to ensure the safety, quality, and performance of our clients' products and operations.
About the Role:
The FP&A Specialist plays a critical role in driving the financial planning and analysis functions within a professional, scientific, and technical services environment. This position is responsible for delivering accurate financial forecasts, budgeting, and variance analysis to support strategic decision-making and operational efficiency. The specialist collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to gather data, analyze trends, and provide actionable insights that influence business growth and profitability. By maintaining robust financial models and reporting tools, the FP&A Specialist ensures that leadership has timely and relevant information to guide resource allocation and investment decisions. Ultimately, this role contributes to the organization's financial health by enabling proactive management of financial performance and risk.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
- 5 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, preferably within professional services or a related industry.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling techniques.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively present financial information.
- Must have SAP experience and involvement in system implementations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with financial planning software and ERP systems (e.g., Hyperion, SAP, Oracle).
- Knowledge of data visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders.
- Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline a plus.
Responsibilities:
- Develop, maintain, and improve financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning processes.
- Analyze financial results, identify trends, and provide variance explanations to management.
- Collaborate with department heads and project managers to gather relevant financial data and assumptions.
- Prepare detailed reports and presentations for senior leadership to facilitate informed decision-making.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and recommend corrective actions to optimize financial outcomes.
- Support the annual budgeting process and periodic reforecasting activities.
- Assist in the preparation of financial analyses for new business initiatives, investments, and cost-saving opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls and corporate financial policies.
- Lead the SAP implementation with the project stakeholders.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.