Senior Financial Analyst

THE ROLE: Senior Financial Analyst  

American Student Assistance™ (ASA) is national nonprofit that is changing the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures through access to career-readiness information and experiences.

ASA fulfills its mission through free digital-first direct experiences, philanthropy, advocacy, thought leadership, groundbreaking research, and impact investing. We believe that exploring career possibilities, as early as middle school, and providing access to education-to-career pathways aligned with one’s passions and goals will result in greater confidence and long-term success for all students.

We are looking for a Senior Financial Analyst. You will play a critical role in driving ASA’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A), borrower services, and operational compliance, ensuring that our organization continues to meet its financial and strategic goals while safeguarding the interests of our borrowers. 

This Associate will serve as a subject matter expert in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL). While the FFEL program officially ended in 2010, ASA continues to manage a significant FFELP portfolio, ensuring its financial sustainability and borrower satisfaction. 

What You’ll Do: 

Financial Planning & Analysis: 

• Lead the modeling and analysis of FFEL revenue projections, ensuring accuracy and timely updates in the FP&A system. 
  Assist with the development of financial budgets and forecasts for operating and programmatic expenses by business area.
• Partner with teams across ASA to understand operational and programmatic initiatives, providing insights to inform future forecasts.
• Maintain financial budgets and forecasts for operating and programmatic expenses by business area.
• Act as a shared resource to communicate key financial data and analysis to stakeholders and assist with compiling Board materials, as needed.
• Build and maintain financial models that support strategic decision-making at the Senior Leadership level.
• Compare and analyze actuals versus budget monthly; prepare variance analysis, identify trends, and collaborate with business partners to adjust forecasts as needed.
• Assist with multi-year expense budgeting and forecasting efforts.
• Tracks and reports on contracted, committed, actual, and capitalized expenditures.
• Reviews contractual financial terms to ensure accurate accounting and recordkeeping.
• Assists with sources and uses forecasting for corporate liquidity
• Evaluate existing policies and procedures and make recommendations which help drive adoption, efficiency, and effectiveness throughout the organization. 

Guarantor FFEL Operations: 

• Serve as the primary liaison to ASA’s guarantor services provider, ECMC (Education Credit Management Corp), to ensure high-quality service for ASA’s borrower population, in line with the Guaranty Services Agreement.
• Actively engage in regular update and discussion forums between ASA and ECMC.
• Monitor the ECMC QuickBase Compliant Management Portal to ensure effective management of borrower complaints and disputes.
• Advocate for ASA borrowers by researching and resolving disputes, ensuring fair treatment and positive outcomes.
• Review and approve borrower settlement offers in accordance with established guidelines; escalate matters beyond personal approval authority to senior management.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to improve ASA’s FFELP operations, identifying potential risks and process improvements.
• Assist with the compilation, analysis, and submission of required financial reports to the Department of Education.
• Ensure claims are processed and paid accurately and efficiently 

 
About You:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, or related field
• 5-10 years of financial analysis and budgeting/forecasting/financial operations, with a strong preference for candidates with Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) experience.
• Experience working in a multi-channel service delivery environment.
• Familiar with various accounting/finance functions (i.e. Accounts Payable, payroll, General Ledger, Purchasing, etc.)
• Experience managing and tracking complex projects.
• Proven track record of managing third-party outsourced partnerships.
• Expertise in dispute resolution and negotiation, with a history of successfully managing complex borrower-related issues.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare customized business and customer communications in both written and verbal formats.
• Strong knowledge and demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office Suite and other financial technologies.
• Strong business acumen and ability to work cross-functionally
• An entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to take the initiative and solve problems proactively.
• A solid understanding of student loan regulations and industry best practices is strongly desired. 

Why ASA?

ASA offers a wide range of perks and benefits to Associates, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision healthcare plans, a retirement plan (plus match), weekly lunches, commuter benefits, and tuition reimbursement.

We also heavily prioritize a healthy work/life balance, which is why we offer all full-time associates generous PTO options, Summer Fridays (every Friday off between Memorial Day and Labor Day), a company holiday break between December 25th and January 1st, and even a paid sabbatical after five years of employment.

ASA works in a Hybrid schedule (2) two days a week in our Boston HQ. We prioritize strategic thinkers, collaborators, and work/life pros who are looking to help make a difference in kid's education and career goals.

#LI-Hybrid