Entry Level Budget Analyst Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Praytell is a creative communications agency made up of strategic minds, spirited hearts and people with a strong instinctive recoil from anything remotely boring. We create culture-driven, integrated work that earns attention, sparks conversation and makes people… well, give a shit. But more than that, we’re a team of curious builders, thoughtful challengers and collaborative problem-solvers who believe the best work starts with a simple question: what if we?

What if we pushed the idea further? Solved the problem differently? Built something better?

Our work moves fast, evolves constantly and rarely fits neatly inside a box - which is exactly how we like it. The people who thrive here ask questions, chase ideas, spot opportunities and care enough to go beyond the brief. They don’t wait for a perfect roadmap or a tap on the shoulder - they’re energized by figuring things out, making things better and helping shape what comes next.

We hold ourselves to a high bar, but we’re not pretending to be a perfect agency filled with perfect people doing perfect work 100% of the time. We’re humans. Sometimes the work runs late. Sometimes the process is still being built. Sometimes there isn’t a policy, playbook or perfect answer for every little thing. What we do have is a genuine commitment to getting better - evolving how we work, support our people and build the kind of agency we want to be, together.

So that’s our promise to you. If curiosity drives you, ownership excites you and “what if we?” feels more like a life mantra than a question - we’d love to hear from you.

As a Client Finance Analyst, you will:

• Support the client invoicing process by preparing, reviewing and processing invoices accurately and on time.
• Help manage client budgets by tracking fees, expenses and actuals against planned spend and identifying discrepancies or potential overages.
• Reconcile client budgets with internal financial data to help ensure accurate reporting and financial visibility.
• Partner with account teams and senior finance team members to support the day-to-day financial management of client accounts.
• Help ensure client billing aligns with scopes of work, billing schedules, purchase orders and other client specific requirements.
• Support accurate timekeeping and project management in Harvest, including project setup, job codes and troubleshooting.
• Generate and maintain reports from financial systems including Harvest, Cognos and JDE to support client teams and business needs.
• Review financial data across systems for accuracy and completeness and help resolve discrepancies when they arise.
• Support client finance inquiries, billing questions and invoice follow-up in partnership with senior finance team members.
• Assist with monthly financial processes, documentation, reconciliations and audit preparation.
• Help prepare clear summaries of client financial performance, budget pacing and other key financial information for internal stakeholders.
• Partner with senior finance team members on special projects, process improvements and ad hoc financial analyses.

• We really mean it when we say entry level! We’re looking for someone with 6-12 months of client finance experience through an internship, co-op program or entry-level role who’s ready to take the next step in their finance career.
• A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy.
• Comfortable working with numbers and large sets of data, with an eye for spotting discrepancies and digging into the details to understand why something may not add up.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, including formulas, pivot tables and basic data analysis.
• Experience with financial, accounting or reporting systems is a plus. Familiarity with platforms like JDE, Cognos, Harvest or Tungsten is even better, but not required.
• Strong communication skills and an ability to partner with colleagues across teams to solve problems, ask questions and keep work moving. This is a client-facing role, so you’re comfortable participating in meetings and communicating directly with both clients and internal teams.
• Exposure to client finance, an agency or professional services environment is a plus, but we’re equally interested in someone excited to learn how finance supports client-facing businesses.
• Curious, proactive and eager to learn, with an interest in understanding both the numbers and the business behind them.
• An interest in building your career in finance, whether that's financial planning and analysis, accounting or client finance.

Beyond the role itself, we’ve built a place that genuinely shows up for its people - and that comes through in how we think about benefits and the overall employee experience. We offer a robust package designed to support your health, wellbeing, growth, future self and life outside of work.

Salary: $55,000 - $65,000 (This range reflects the minimum and maximum compensation for the role. We typically make offers within the 25th to 75th percentiles of the range and do not exceed the listed maximum. Final offers are based on experience, skills and qualifications.)

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive health care coverage
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• 18 company holidays
• Flex Fridays
• PrayCare wellness stipend and Rebalance Day
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid parental leave and fertility support
• Training, learning and professional development programs
• Camp Praytell
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• And more!

Please note: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we're unfortunately not able to respond to every applicant individually. While we review every application, we'll only be in touch with candidates we're moving forward with.

We know how tough it can be to wait and wonder, especially in today's job market, so in the spirit of transparency: if you haven't heard from us within 10 business days of applying, it means we've decided to move forward with other candidates for this particular role. We truly appreciate the time, energy and care that goes into every application, and we'll keep your information on file for future opportunities that may be a fit.

Our interview process typically takes 4-6 weeks and includes:

1. Application Review: Before applying, please review the location requirements for this role. Unfortunately, candidates who do not meet the location requirement will not be considered.
2. Phone Screen (30 minutes)
3. Team Interview (30-60 minutes)
4. Leadership Interview (30 minutes)
5. Take-Home Exercise (TBD): A short, client-agnostic assignment designed to help us better understand how you think, approach challenges and tackle the work. Candidates who complete the exercise will receive a stipend via electronic gift card.
6. Offer
7. Target Start Date: September 2026

We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all people and do not discriminate - period. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with federal, state and local laws. We prohibit workplace harassment and discrimination of any kind and are committed to building an inclusive workplace in every location where we operate.