Assistant Financial Analyst Jobs in Elgin, IL (NOW HIRING)

Who We Are
Nova Clean Energy is a renewable energy company focused on developing and constructing utility-scale projects across the United States. We have the patience, creativity, and capital to take a long-term view of the evolution of US energy markets. We are investing in the large-scale projects needed to advance the energy transition.

About the Role
Reporting to the Commercial Finance Manager, the Financial Analyst will serve as a key analytical and operational resource across Nova's finance function. This person will own day-to-day FP&A support, maintain long-range cash forecasting models, track development budgets and project spend, and build the BI visualizations that keep project managers informed. The role also extends into transaction and diligence work as Nova evaluates new development opportunities and capital partnerships. This is a high-visibility, hands-on position for someone who wants to grow alongside a fast-moving clean energy platform.

Key Responsibilities
Financial Planning & Analysis
Prepare and analyze forecasts on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis; report on variances against budget and prior actuals
Assist with monthly cash reporting and work closely with accounting to ensure accurate reporting across operating entities
Spearhead the annual budgeting process and manage report distribution to stakeholders
Cash Forecasting
Build and maintain long-range cash forecasting models across Nova's project portfolio, incorporating development spend, financing milestones, and funding requirements
Enhance internal cash basis and accrual forecasts to improve taxable income forecasts and tax planning
Development Budgets & Actuals Tracking
Maintain project-level development budgets; track actuals vs. approved spend across all active projects
Produce regular variance reports and work with project managers to explain budget-to-actual differences
Build and manage budget templates to standardize tracking across the portfolio
Identify spend trends and flag potential overruns early
Business Intelligence & Reporting
Develop dashboards and data visualizations to communicate financial and operational performance to leadership
Build automated reporting tools that reduce manual effort and improve data accuracy
Maintain and enhance the long-term strategic forecast model at a consolidated, entity, and project level
Transaction & Diligence Support
Support financial diligence on divestments, acquisitions, partnerships, and capital raise processes
Research and analyze wholesale electricity markets, offtake structures, incentive programs, and policy developments relevant to Nova's portfolio
Prepare investment memos and presentation materials for internal and external audiences
Coordinate with legal, development, and external advisors to support deal execution
About You
You're analytically sharp and detail-oriented, with a bias for building things that work the first time. Excel comes as second nature, and you enjoy building complex financial models and automating reports. You're comfortable working in an unstructured, fast-paced environment and are curious enough to pick up new domains quickly. You communicate clearly - able to translate a dense model into a one-page summary a board member can act on.

This is an in-office role. Candidates must be able to work out of the Chicago office 5 days a week
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Engineering
2+ years experience in corporate finance, FP&A, investment banking, or a related analytical role
Demonstrable advanced Excel skills, including: index/match, lookups, pivot tables, SUMIF, and comfort building multi-tab models from scratch
Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) preferred
Excellent PowerPoint skills; able to build and present materials to senior stakeholders
Strong written and verbal communication - concise, clear, and accurate
Renewable energy or project finance experience a plus
The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $90,000, with a performance-based bonus. This range is an estimate; the offered salary will be based on experience, location, and qualifications.
A diverse and inclusive team is critical to innovation. Please get in touch even if you don't match these qualifications 100%.

Benefits
Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance, including HSA & FSA accounts
Paid parental leave for all new parents
401(k) plan with discretionary company match
Generous professional development and/or degree program reimbursement
Unlimited PTO policy and encouragement to take PTO with a pre-tax vacation stipend