Financial Analyst Python Remote Jobs in Chicago, IL

• $90,000 - $105,000 base salary range + annual bonus potential!
• 100% remote in the United States, however, due to state-specific regulatory requirements, Potbelly does not currently support remote work from the following states: Alaska, California, and Hawaii. To be considered for this position, you must be able to perform the role from a state not listed above at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Come build the Potbelly Nation with us! Our legendary hot and toasty sandwiches, irresistible shakes and cookies satisfy Potbelly fans every day.

Potbelly started as a small antique store that turned into a lines-out-the-door neighborhood sandwich shop. Today, there are more than 460 Potbelly Sandwich Shops across the U.S. Our leaders build and inspire teams to bring our customers a unique Potbelly experience.

Who you are:

You are a highly analytical and strategic finance professional who is passionate about turning data into insights that drive business performance. You thrive in fast-paced environments where you can balance recurring reporting responsibilities with forward-looking analysis and strategic initiatives.

You enjoy digging into the details behind business performance, identifying trends and opportunities, and partnering cross-functionally to help leaders make better decisions. You are equally comfortable owning routine reporting processes and tackling complex ad hoc analysis.

For you, financial analysis and business analytics are both a skill and a passion (in addition to sandwiches).

You'll be a phenomenal candidate for this role if you:

• Are analytical, detail-oriented, and intellectually curious
• Drive toward outcomes and continuous improvement
• Enjoy finding patterns in large and sometimes ambiguous data sets
• Thrive in both structured reporting and ad hoc problem solving
• Feel comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas in a fast-paced environment
• Can independently manage projects while maintaining high-quality work
• Have strong communication skills and can clearly explain financial performance and business trends
• Are energized by partnering cross-functionally with Accounting, Operations, Marketing, and other business teams

You can expect:

This role sits at the center of Potbelly's financial planning and business performance processes. You will play a key role in helping leadership understand company performance through recurring reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and strategic analysis.

Every day is going to be a little different, with opportunities to work across financial reporting, sales analytics, operational performance, strategic initiatives, and executive-level presentations.

You'll encounter:

• Respect and candor; the quality of the idea wins the day
• Casual, focused, and agile environment operating under our Potbelly values
• Significant exposure to Finance leadership and cross-functional business partners
• Opportunities to influence decision making through meaningful analysis and insights
• A collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and innovation

What you will do:

• Support monthly and quarterly close reporting processes, including preparation and analysis of financial results, variance reporting, and executive-level reporting materials
• Assist with preparation of annual operating plans, cash flow projections, and multiple forecast cycles throughout the year
• Prepare weekly sales reporting for the total company, shops, districts, and regions, including analysis of results against budget, comparable shops and short and long-term projections for Senior Leadership Team meetings
• Analyze P&L performance and investigate key variances versus budget, forecast, and prior year results through deep-dive analyses on sales, margins, labor, operating expenses, and other key business drivers
• Assist with scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to evaluate strategic initiatives, operational changes, sales trends, and potential business risks/opportunities across the organization
• Perform competitive benchmarking and external market analysis to support strategic decision making
• Partner closely with Accounting during month-end and quarter-end close processes to ensure accurate reporting and alignment
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Marketing, IT, and other business partners to support strategic initiatives and performance improvement efforts
• Build and maintain financial models, dashboards, and reporting tools to improve visibility and decision-making capabilities
• Support automation and process improvement initiatives across FP&A reporting and analytics workflows
• Perform ad hoc financial analysis and support strategic projects as needed
• Report to Senior Director, FP&A

Why this role matters:

This role plays a critical part in helping Potbelly understand and improve business performance. Through strong financial analysis, reporting, forecasting, and business partnership, this role helps leadership make informed decisions that drive profitable growth and operational excellence across the organization.

What you will need:

• Minimum of 4-6 years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, business analytics, or related fields
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
• Experience in retail, restaurant, multi-unit, or consumer-facing industries preferred
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and variance analysis
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial systems and reporting tools such as Power BI, Planful, Workday Adaptive Planning, or similar platforms
• Proven ability to manage and analyze large data sets to identify trends and actionable insights
• Experience building financial models and performing ad hoc analysis
• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Proven experience leveraging AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, generative AI platforms) to enhance financial analysis, automate reporting workflows, and support strategic decision-making
• SQL, Python, or other analytical programming experience is a plus

Here's what's in it for you:

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Account - We care about you and your family
• 401(K) - We want to help secure your financial future
• Time Off - We all need some time to relax, right?
• Employee Assistance Program - Things out of our control happen, we will help you get through it
• Domestic Partner Benefits - We love who you love
• Potbelly Meal Discounts - Hungry? We'll feed you
• Work Life Balance - You have a life outside of work, we want you to enjoy it