Event Operations Jobs in Gilbert, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Arizona Athletic Grounds (AAG) is one of the largest youth-oriented sports and event facilities in the United States, located in Mesa, AZ. The campus features a 2,500+ seat outdoor stadium, 24 multi-purpose fields, 62 indoor/beach volleyball courts, 41 pickleball courts, 16 basketball courts, and 8 baseball/softball diamonds, hosting professional soccer, top-tier basketball and volleyball, professional boxing and MMA, baseball, national pickleball competitions, cheer and gymnastics showcases, concerts, festivals, and a wide range of special events - serving millions of visitors each year.

Fueled by rapid growth in operations, revenue, and event volume, AAG is investing in the systems, data, and talent needed to support its next phase of expansion. The Finance & Accounting team plays a central role in that growth, partnering with operations and leadership across Food & Beverage, Sponsorship & Partnerships, Event Operations, and Facilities to drive data-informed decisions and ensure the organization scales sustainably. Joining AAG means becoming part of an entrepreneurial, mission-driven team passionate about sports, community, and building something great.

Position Summary

The FP&A Analyst is a newly created role that will modernize how AAG captures, models, and reports on its financial and operational performance. Reporting to the VP of Accounting, this person will use AI-enabled tools to streamline the capture and delivery of key business metrics, own the monthly roll-forward of AAG's FP&A model, and lead the annual budget and reforecast process end-to-end. This role will business partner with every department at AAG — tracking progress against plan and functioning as a thought partner in front-end decision-making, not just a rearview reporter. The ideal candidate is analytically rigorous, comfortable building and automating tools from scratch, and able to translate financial data into clear, business-facing outputs for department leaders and executive leadership alike.

KEY Responsibilities

• Design and maintain AI-assisted workflows that automate the capture of key business metrics (revenue by stream, EBITDA, cash, department KPIs) from source systems — NetSuite, POS, ticketing, foot traffic, event/scheduling platforms, and sponsorship trackers — into a single, reliable reporting layer.
• Reduce manual, spreadsheet-based data pulls by building repeatable, automated processes for recurring reports and dashboards.
• Apply AI tools to draft variance commentary, flag anomalies, and accelerate month-end reporting turnaround.
• Maintain and enhance AAG's existing dashboards (company-wide financial dashboard, F&B trading dashboard, and similar views) and build new ones as business lines and revenue streams are added.

• Own the monthly roll-forward of AAG's FP&A model, integrating actuals each period and maintaining a rolling forecast across revenue, expense, and cash.
• Partner with Accounting during month-end close to ensure the model ties to the general ledger and reflects accurate accruals.
• Prepare monthly management reporting packages, including P&L analysis, KPI dashboards, and executive commentary.

• Own the annual budget process end-to-end — timeline, templates, department inputs, consolidation, and leadership review.
• Lead periodic reforecasts, consolidating inputs across business units and analyzing variances against prior periods and plan.
• Partner with department heads to build departmental budgets and provide ongoing financial guidance throughout the fiscal year.

• Produce monthly reporting packages tailored to each department (e.g., Food & Beverage, Sponsorship & Partnerships, Event Operations, Facilities) as well as consolidated, company-wide reporting for executive leadership and ownership.
• Respond to ad hoc financial requests, including scenario modeling, profitability analysis, and business case development for capital investments, new revenue streams, and operational changes.
• Conduct benchmarking analysis against industry peers and identify performance improvement opportunities.

• Act as the embedded finance business partner to every department at AAG — Food & Beverage, Sponsorship & Partnerships, Event Operations, Facilities, Marketing, and others — meeting regularly with department leaders to track progress against budget and forecast.
• Sit alongside department leaders early in the decision-making process (new initiatives, staffing changes, pricing, capital requests) to pressure-test the financial case before decisions are made, rather than only reporting results after the fact.
• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to business unit stakeholders across the Grounds, translating complex financial data into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Present findings and recommendations to finance leadership and cross-functional audiences in a clear, structured manner.
• Maintain data integrity across financial systems and reporting tools; identify and resolve discrepancies proactively.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required; MBA or CFA a plus.
• 2–4 years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, investment banking, or management consulting.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or owning budgeting, forecasting, and monthly management reporting processes.
• Experience building or maintaining financial models, dashboards, or automated reporting tools.
• Experience in sports, entertainment, hospitality, or multi-site operations a plus.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex financial modeling, pivot tables, and advanced formulas.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar) to automate reporting, analysis, or data workflows.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems, NetSuite preferred.
• Experience with financial planning software (e.g., Adaptive Insights, Anaplan, Hyperion, or similar) a plus.
• Strong PowerPoint skills for executive-level communication and presentation development.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with a high degree of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter who thrives in a high-growth, fast-changing environment and enjoys building processes from scratch.
• Curious and proactive about applying new tools, especially AI, to solve old problems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill complex data for non-financial audiences.
• Collaborative team player with strong business acumen and a passion for building scalable processes.

• Base salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Complimentary facility access and employee perks

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the role and is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may evolve as business needs change.

Any job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check. All qualified candidates for this position must be eligible to work in the United States.

AZ Athletic Associates LLC dba Arizona Athletic Grounds is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.