Freelance Data Analyst R Programming Jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA

The Financial Analyst plays a critical role in supporting the company’s financial health and strategic decision-making. This role is responsible for assisting with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and providing actionable insights to business leaders. The Financial Analyst will be responsible for developing financial models, conducting market research, streamlining data processes, and creating executive-level dashboards and visualizations that enable department leaders to make informed, data-driven decisions. This individual will be responsible for turning large volumes of data into practical, easy-to-understand information that supports organizational growth, efficiency, and strategic planning.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design, construct, and maintain comprehensive financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term strategic planning. These models should incorporate historical data, assumptions, scenario analysis, and sensitivity testing to ensure accuracy and flexibility.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial results, identifying variances from budget and forecast, and investigating underlying causes. Prepare clear explanations and recommendations for corrective actions where needed.
• Prepare, review, and deliver management reports, dashboards, and presentations that visualize financial performance, trends, and outlook. Ensure data integrity and provide insightful commentary for stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Specific to project-level financial reporting; expand use of underlying sales and project data sources to create useful management reports and dashboards for project profitability and budget performance analysis.
• Collaborate closely with business units, department heads, and operational teams to support strategic initiatives, assess cost-saving measures, evaluate investment opportunities, and facilitate resource allocation decisions.
• Assist with ad hoc financial analysis, special projects, and business cases, such as new product launches, market expansion, pricing strategies, and mergers or acquisitions. Provide data-driven insights and support cross-functional project teams as needed.
• Identify opportunities using emerging technologies, AI capabilities, and automation opportunities to improve financial operation processes.
• Other special projects as requested by senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience developing financial, operational, and predictive models to support business planning and decision making.
• Experience in data analysis and demonstrated understanding of database structures.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency with financial modeling / planning tools, including advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Proven experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar applications. Experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, 4castplus) and Salesforce is preferred.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Experience with AI applicable to confidential financial analytics, modeling and reporting.

Fluid Quip Technologies® offers competitive pay: a generous benefit package including business casual work environment, health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid holidays, Paid Time Off (PTO) and a 401(k)-retirement plan with immediate vesting and company safe harbor matching. All potential employees of Green Plains Inc. will be required to successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check prior to employment. 

Green Plains and Fluid Quip do not provide immigration-related employment sponsorship for new hires (for example, H-1B, F-1 OPT, TN, or other work visas). Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and be able to maintain ongoing work authorization without employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.  

Company Description  

Fluid Quip Technologies® (Fluid Quip) provides custom technologies and engineering services to the biofuel and biochemical industries worldwide. Fluid Quip has commercialized multiple technologies to enhance the base corn-to-ethanol dry grind process, create new and novel alternative feed products, and supply the growing need for carbohydrate feedstocks into the biochemical market. Green Plains Inc., Ospraie Management, and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock hold a majority interest in Fluid Quip.