Financial Analyst - Business Controlling (Arlington, Virginia (VA), US, 22202)

Job description

Summary Lidl US is looking for a Financial Analyst (Internal: Senior Analyst - Business Controlling) to join our Business Controlling team . The Financial Analyst plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between raw data and strategic decision-making. Operating within the FP&A pillar, the role takes ownership of specific commercial P&L lines, driving the month-end close process and conducting deep-dive variance analyses to uncover the root causes behind financial performance. From coordinating bi-annual planning cycles to developing rolling forecasts and supporting high-stakes meetings with key stakeholders, the Junior Business Partner acts as a key analytical engine for the business. What You’ll Do The Financial Analyst - Business Controlling will bridge the gap between raw data and strategic decision-making, owning the following responsibilities: Sub-P&L Ownership: Manage the specific commercial lines of the P&L, ensuring all month-end accruals are accurate and aligned with the department expectations. Plan Variance Analysis & Insights: Drive Plan vs. Actual analysis, go beyond the "what" and find the "why". You don’t just identify which products missed the plan, you are the one digging into the volume/price/mix drivers to provide the answer. You will be responsible for both recurring variance reporting and the delivery of ad-hoc analysis to support Business growth. Bi-Annual Financial Planning: Play a key role in the Bi-Annual Planning cycle, coordinating the development of the Annual Plan and the mid-year Forecast. Short Term Modeling / Forecasting: Maintain and develop the rolling forecasts, updating financial projections monthly to reflect real-time business performance. Commercial Business Partner Support: Assist the Commercial Business Partner in preparing for high-stakes meetings with Merchandising and Marketing leads, providing the data-backed evidence needed to influence decisions. What You’ll Need Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Quantitative Logic: Ability to break down complex business problems into clear, driver-based financial models. Proactive Problem-Solving: Someone who identifies trends or anomalies in commercial data and investigates the root cause independently. Technical Agility: You are faster and more proficient in systems (Excel/Sheets/BI) than anyone else, including: Advanced Productivity Suite Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) or Google Workspace (Sheets, Slides, Docs). BI Tool Experience: Proficiency in Dashboarding software, preferably MicroStrategy or Looker. Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with retail-specific metrics; Sales, Margin, Shrinkage, and productivity KPIs. Finance Knowledge: Proficiency in Management Accounting; familiarity with Budget Controlling, and the Month-End Financial Close cycle. Soft Skills: Strong communication skills: skilled at explaining complex analysis or financial findings to non-financial audiences. Quality Assurance: A "zero-error" mindset with the ability to build sanity checks into complex datasets to ensure 100% accuracy before reporting. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Language Skills: Proficiency in German is considered a strong asset, though not a requirement for the role. Required Education, Certifications/ Licenses, Related Experience Education: Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Accounting, Finance, Mathematics or Business Administration). We value logical thinking and mathematical proficiency above specific degree titles. Experience: 2–4 years of progressive experience in FP&A, Commercial Finance, or a similar analytical role. Equivalent Experience: In lieu of a formal degree, 5+ years of relevant professional experience in financial planning and analysis will be considered. Preferred Education, Certifications/ Licenses, Related Experience System Expertise: Prior experience with SAP (or similar Tier 1 ERP systems) is highly preferred. Physical Job Requirements Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. What You’ll Receive At Lidl, we know that in order for our people to do their best, they must be at their best. That’s why as a company, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in the industry. All our Lidl employees are eligible to receive the following benefits: Starting pay of $90,000 annual (with potential to earn $100,000 annual in the future) Medical & Prescription | Dental | Vision coverage Paid Holiday & Paid Time Off (PTO) to use for sickness or vacation Dedicated training plans to ensure you are set up for success 401K Plan (+ 5% company match) Voluntary Term Life & AD&D Insurance Total Well-Being Program DailyPay, a voluntary benefit to offer employees access to their pay on their own schedule Lidl US views our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through a lens of actions that are Good for the Environment, Good for People, and Good for You. #teamlidl #LI-AL1 #LI-Hybrid