Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Operations Manager

About Empowerly

Empowerly (www.empowerly.com) is an education technology company with a mission to empower students to become the most successful version of themselves. We personalize college and career counseling, offering data-driven education technology, startup and research internship programs, and personalized counseling led by former college Admission Officers and experienced college counselors. We are a rapidly growing, mission-driven, and venture-backed company that values collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and empowerment.

Empowerly has raised $12 million from investors, including Goodwater Capital, FJ Labs, Scrum Ventures, Translink Capital, Azure Capital Partners, and Spero Ventures. Our leadership team brings experience from Teach for America, Goldman Sachs, Facebook, Google, Lucky Strike, Microsoft, and various Seed, A, B, C, Private, and Publicly Traded companies. In 2022, Empowerly's co-founders were named in Forbes 30 Under 30, and the company was recognized as one of Inc. 5000's fastest-growing companies in America.

About the Role

As a Financial Business Analyst and Operations Manager, you will play a key role in driving the financial strategy and operational efficiency of our fast-growing startup. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, providing data-driven insights and analysis to support decision-making, optimize financial performance, and ensure the scalability of our operations. This role is ideal for someone passionate about both finance and technology, and eager to make an impact in the education sector.

You will be responsible for supporting both the financial planning and operational management of Empowerly’s marketplace of counselors (contractors, 1099s, etc.), assessing their capability and capacity, and ensuring that compensation aligns with results. Additionally, you will partner with the data science and analytics team to set and track monthly, quarterly, and annual targets. Your work demands strong quantitative skills, advanced proficiency in data manipulation and analysis, and familiarity with data transformation tools. With a background in business or financial analysis, you will bridge the gap between data and decision-making, providing critical insights that drive business strategy and operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Marketplace Operations Management: Oversee the financial and operational performance of Empowerly’s marketplace of counselors. Ensure effective compensation structures and benefits support that align with market benchmarks and business objectives.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Develop and maintain financial models to forecast revenue, expenses, and profitability. Conduct variance analysis and track performance against business plans. Provide insights on the financial health of the marketplace.
• Target Setting & Performance Management: Partner with the data science and analytics team to establish and track monthly, quarterly, and annual targets for the marketplace. Assess the capability and capacity of counselors to meet these targets and provide recommendations for optimization.
• Sales Compensation Plan Design: Develop and refine sales compensation plans for marketplace counselors that are aligned with both revenue goals and individual performance metrics. Ensure competitiveness and effectiveness of compensation strategies.
• Operational Efficiency: Identify and implement strategies to optimize marketplace operations, including counselor utilization, onboarding, and engagement. Monitor and improve processes to enhance scalability and efficiency.
• Data-Driven Insights: Leverage business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) to analyze key financial and operational metrics. Provide actionable insights to improve operational efficiency and profitability.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare and present financial reports for leadership, including performance summaries, profitability analyses, and forecasting updates. Ensure accuracy and transparency in financial documentation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with teams across finance, data science, product, and operations to ensure alignment with financial goals and operational strategies.
• Capability & Capacity Assessment: Regularly evaluate the capability and capacity of the marketplace counselors to deliver results. Make data-driven recommendations to support scaling efforts and improve overall marketplace performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance; and an MBA from a Top 25 University
• 5+ years of experience in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), operations management, or a similar role, preferably in a marketplace or a Series B to C environment
• Knowledge in building models related to fundraising and/or Venture Debt
• Experience in budgeting and forecasting.
• Strong understanding of GAAP accounting principles
• Strong working knowledge of Empowerly Tech Stack: QuickBooks, Tableau, SaaS, Hubspot, etc. 
• Proven experience in marketplace operations management, with a track record of optimizing financial performance and operational efficiency for contractors, freelancers, or 1099 models.
• Strong experience with financial modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Experience in sales compensation plan design and implementation, ideally with a focus on aligning incentives with business outcomes and market benchmarks.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with data science and analytics teams to set and track performance targets and deliver actionable insights.
• Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools, such as Excel and Google Sheets.
• Proficiency in business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) and data manipulation tools
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong strategic and operational mindset, with the ability to balance long-term planning with short-term execution.
• High degree of comfort with ambiguity and change, able to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Experience working with outsourced accounting teams to ensure alignment and integration of financial data and reporting.
• Knowledge of financial planning and budgeting platforms and experience integrating them with operational systems.
• Understanding of industry-specific challenges in EdTech or technology-driven marketplaces is a plus.
• Preferred Experience: Balance Sheet forecasting experience

Empowerly’s Recent Achievements

• In February 2024, Empowerly raised $17 million in a funding round led by Conductive Ventures, bringing our total funding to $30+ million.
• Empowerly’s proprietary technology, The Empowerly Score, sets us apart by using predictive machine-learning models to evaluate and improve student outcomes, guiding students on how to strengthen their college applications.
• Joined the Sequoia marketplace in July 2023, providing services as an employee benefit to working parents.