Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement, based in our Evanston, Illinois, office. The Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager leads strategic financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting to support organizational objectives. This role delivers insight-driven recommendations on operational efficiency and resource allocation, enabling informed decision-making and effective execution of the financial strategy.

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI) and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk, created new safety standards and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Lead the financial and budgeting processes including annual budget projections, analysis, and development of financial metrics to inform and align strategy across the organization.

• Attract, retain, motivate, and lead a proactive and collaborative financial and budgeting team.

• Collaborate with various stakeholders to support their budget and forecast process to improve financial outcomes.

• Identify areas for potential cost savings and improve efficiency and effectiveness.

• Evaluate the financial impact of business opportunities in a thorough and concise manner; compile and prepare reports, graphs, and charts of financial data. 

• Support the development of robust projection systems, order visibility, resource allocations, sourcing decisions and business KPI’s.

• Work with leadership on long-range planning, budgeting, forecasting, compliance with accounting and internal controls, and other related financial activities.

• Coordinate with other functions on special projects including system implementations and process improvements.

• Perform other duties as directed.

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You’ll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today’s global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what’s on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are eligible for bonus compensation based on the level of the position. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Strong technical skills in finance, accounting, budgeting and cost control, and variance analysis within a complex matrix organization.

• Extensive knowledge of financial modeling, planning, reporting, and analysis, acquired through increasingly complex roles.

• Superior quantitative and analytical capabilities with Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills.

• Strong financial systems capabilities for e.g. HFM, CMR, SAP or similar.

• Ability to consult with leadership on financial and budget issues.

• Ability to combine quantitative and qualitative analysis and recognize connections between disparate actions to guide decision making process.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Adapts to changing circumstances, accepts new ideas and change initiatives, and deals effectively with ambiguity. Comfortable with large business projects and system initiatives.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• University Degree in Accounting, Finance, or equivalent with a minimum of 8 years of direct work experience in a global matrixed organization.

• Professional qualification such as CPA, CMA or CA preferred.        

• Experience with Workday Financials and Adaptive Planning is strongly preferred.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement 

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.  

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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