BioWare Austin seeks Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
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BioWare is searching for a Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis for our Austin, Texas studio. The mission of this position is to affect profitable business strategy and increase shareowner value by designing and leading effective financial and business processes and by providing timely insight into risk and opportunity with respect to future earnings and cash flow. The Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis is responsible for creating and maintaining our business plan which translates into an operational budget and performance measurements for the organization to meet both internal and external expectations. In this newly created role, the Manager of FP&A will act as a business advisor/Financial leader to the business relating to improving returns on investments and supporting the revenue and profitability growth trends. Candidate will be responsible for budgeting, forecasting and strategy review, and long range planning, reporting & analysis for the Business Unit, . Responsibilities and projects range from complex to highly complex and require considerable independent judgment and initiative as well as the use of analytical modeling, data analysis and business problem solving skills.
BioWare, the newest member of the incredible family of EA studios, has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™, Neverwinter Nights™ series, and Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™. Original BioWare-created IPs include Jade Empire™ and the critically acclaimed, Mass Effect. BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy RPG Dragon Age™; Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood™ for the Nintendo DS™; and unannounced projects including a highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game.
BioWare’s games have continually achieved critical and commercial success. All of our published titles are in the top 5% highest rated at www.gamerankings.com; in fact we have 6 games in the top 1% highest rated games of all time! Today BioWare has more than 400 staff at its two locations and continues to grow. We have sold over 20 million games (including engine licenses) in the past ten years! Our games have received many top industry awards, and we are proud that our Edmonton studio location has been recognized as a top employer in Canada, awarded the following for 2008:
- Canada’s Top 100 Employers
- Financial Post Canada’s Top 10 Best Companies to Work For
- Alberta’s Top 35 Employers
Key Responsibilities
- Responsible for all FP&A functions.
- Drives the financial reporting process, including the integration of the strategy planning process into the operation budget process.
- Assists with the identification of key business drivers and measurements and integrates these into the management reporting and ensuring common language across the organization.
- Prepares financial and business related analyses and research.
- Performs analysis of external developer budgets and finances.
- Develops and maintain highly complex financial models and reports to support business unit requirements.
- Reviews studio project commitment summary reports and prepares monthly flash for studio and projects.
- Works directly with all department/studio managers, external business partners and corporate finance to develop, prepare and analyze all required reporting in a timely manner.
- Performs analysis of Actual to Plan, Variance Explanations and Trending.
- Provides impactful management reporting and presentations for the Austin studio for executive, Board and investor review.
- Conducts Expense Planning and Analysis.
- Monitors monthly expenses against budget and produces reports for producers and directors.
- Prepares Weekly Production reports.
- Prepares and presents business cases for key purchases.
- Prepares Sales Analysis of studio titles and other industry games.
- Recommends changes in business product profitability and assist with the evolution of business strategies.
- Drives continuous improvement in all processes including reporting, planning and forecasting.
- Acts as Corporate Finance’s expert for assigned units. Learns and understands the various segments’ business models. Works with units at leadership level.
- Proactively provides updates, guidance and recommendations to senior management regarding financial issues.
- Acts as key liaison between Corporate and assigned units; integrates with Corporate counterparts to provide seamless support.
- Maintains close partnership with studio leaders reporting on pulse and business performance issues that include 1) risks against quarterly forecasts and/or earning estimates and 2) opportunities within the studio,
- Supports and drives business and financial processes aimed at maintaining stewardship control within the studio.
- Prepare other ad hoc reporting and analysis as required to support decision making.
- Function as expert for all financial systems and the ‘value add’ resource for all business analysis.
Skills/ Requirements
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
- 7+ years experience in a divisional or corporate FP&A organization from a global perspective.
- Extensive experience with budgeting, forecasting, reporting and analysis.
- Advanced knowledge of the principles, processes, and standards for integrated financial analysis and reporting.
- The ability to compile, analyze, interpret, and present complex financial reports, statements, and/or projections.
- High proficiency in financial modeling (P/L, cash flows, and balance sheet).
- Highly proficient with MS Office products including Word, Excel, & PowerPoint(Pivot Tables, V Lookups, and Macros Required).
- Experience and proficiency with financial programs like Oracle, COGNOS and Hyperion Essbase
- Advanced financial analysis methods and innate mathematical skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex and sometimes competing projects simultaneously.
- Detailed, complex time and task management skills.
- Exceptional analytical and critical thinking/creative problem-solving skills.
- Strong business acumen and understanding of functional linkages.
- Strong drive for data integrity, process definition, and organizational alignment.
- Effective when working independently and as a team player who can work collaboratively within a group and across divisions/functions.
- Exemplary oral communication and interpersonal skills (cross-functional team environments).
- Strong initiative and desire to drive change and enhance processes. Ability to proactively identify business risks and opportunities.
- Ability to make appropriate and actionable recommendations.
- Ability to travel up to10% domestic and international
Reporting Structure
Position reports directly to the Austin studio general managers and the BioWare Edmonton Director of Finance. Indirectly reports into Electronic Arts Finance
Location
- Austin, Texas, USA
- Standard office hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
How to apply
Please quote the following competition number in the subject line of your electronic application, or include in the cover letter of your (e)mailed application:
08-FIN-MNGR-BWA-41
To apply by e-mail, send your resume to:
AdminJobsAustin -AT- bioware.com
Due to the volume of applications we receive for our job postings, we are unable to respond personally to telephone inquiries regarding the status of an application. Only candidates being considered for interview will be contacted at this time.
Posted by AlexMarquez on February 8, 2008 12:26 AM
