Sr Financial Analyst

Ulta Beauty, Inc. • Bolingbrook, IL

10h

About The Position

Live the experience. From professional empowerment to continual learning opportunities. From ongoing investment in new and emerging technologies to a career of self-determination. At Ulta Beauty, our tech team is critical to our scalability—and is recognized that way. We’ve been defined as a “mature start-up.” A place where interdepartmental exposure, open doors, and genuine collaboration is ubiquitous. Where challenges come fast and furious, requiring agility, mental dexterity, and creativity. Where our passion for better solutions drives us and is core to who we are.
We’re engineering for the future of retail, and it’s no-holds-barred. But for those motivated by continual change and ambiguity, by superior leadership, by whip smart colleagues who will press you daily for your very best, you’ll find that virtually nothing’s impossible at Ulta Beauty.
The Senior Financial Analyst - IT, will perform a wide variety of financial services for effective operation of the IT department. The Sr. Financial Analyst will work closely with the Sr. Manager & Director of IT Finance to handle complex financial responsibilities of the department. Key recurring areas of service include:
Financial Analysis, Reporting & Forecasting
Month-end close (accruals, journal entries, invoice support…etc.)
Annual Business Planning
Contracts Administration (SOW / CO Review)
Ad hoc financial analysis / reporting
Financial Analysis & Forecasting:
Lead the preparation, management, and ongoing monitoring of IT budgets and financial forecasts.
Partner with IT leaders to ensure accurate planning and tracking of capital and operating IT expenses.
Prepare and deliver financial reporting for management, including executive presentations, KPIs, and metrics.
Lead monthly financial forecast review meetings with Vice Presidents, Directors, and IT leadership; manage forecast changes and communicate updates.
Prepare monthly financial presentations and clearly explain actuals versus forecast variances to executive stakeholders.
Develop financial cost models (e.g., ROI, NPV) to support evaluation and prioritization of technology initiatives.
Accounting Close
Perform month end close activities including accruals, journal entries, reclasses as well as maintaining the prepaid schedules.
Analyze actual results versus plan and provide clear explanations for material variances.
Maintain detailed supporting analysis and respond to inquiries from Accounting and FP&A.
Coordinate with vendors to monitor aging items and resolve invoice discrepancies or escalations.
Support compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and financial policies and procedures.
Annual Planning:
Support the IT department with annual business planning including creating financial templates, communication plans, financial updates to corporate strategy, FP&A and IT leaders
Collaborate with IT leaders to identify areas of potential cost savings and optimization
Develop and track key changes through the annual planning cycle
Contract Administration:
Review IT contracts (SOWs & Change Orders) for legal compliance and accounting policy alignment (e.g. capital vs. expense).
Work collaboratively with IT, Project Management, Procurement, and accounting teams

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• 5 + years’ experience in financial analysis, with a focus on IT or technology related projects
• Strong understanding of IT systems, software, hardware, and IT infrastructure costs
• Strong working knowledge of general accounting concepts, monthly close process, financial reporting, and GAAP concepts.
• Ability to think strategically and understand the business impact of financial decisions in IT
• Experience in creating new processes and implementing across cross-functional partners.
• Maintains high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to present financial data in a concise and actionable manner.
• Advance in Excel and Word, SAP or Ariba knowledge is a plus.

Nice To Haves

• CPA preferred
• Knowledge of Fixed Assets is plus
• Advance in Excel and Word, SAP or Ariba knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, management, and ongoing monitoring of IT budgets and financial forecasts.
• Partner with IT leaders to ensure accurate planning and tracking of capital and operating IT expenses.
• Prepare and deliver financial reporting for management, including executive presentations, KPIs, and metrics.
• Lead monthly financial forecast review meetings with Vice Presidents, Directors, and IT leadership; manage forecast changes and communicate updates.
• Prepare monthly financial presentations and clearly explain actuals versus forecast variances to executive stakeholders.
• Develop financial cost models (e.g., ROI, NPV) to support evaluation and prioritization of technology initiatives.
• Perform month end close activities including accruals, journal entries, reclasses as well as maintaining the prepaid schedules.
• Analyze actual results versus plan and provide clear explanations for material variances.
• Maintain detailed supporting analysis and respond to inquiries from Accounting and FP&A.
• Coordinate with vendors to monitor aging items and resolve invoice discrepancies or escalations.
• Support compliance with internal controls, audit requirements, and financial policies and procedures.
• Support the IT department with annual business planning including creating financial templates, communication plans, financial updates to corporate strategy, FP&A and IT leaders
• Collaborate with IT leaders to identify areas of potential cost savings and optimization
• Develop and track key changes through the annual planning cycle
• Review IT contracts (SOWs & Change Orders) for legal compliance and accounting policy alignment (e.g. capital vs. expense).
• Work collaboratively with IT, Project Management, Procurement, and accounting teams

Benefits

• Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits.
• Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level