Financial Analyst II

Orlando, FL

Darden’s family of restaurants features some of the most recognizable and successful brands in full-service dining — Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. We own and operate more than 1,900 restaurants and are proud to employ over 190,000 team members, making us one of the 50 largest private employers in America.

Darden’s finance team encompasses both corporate and brand-specific roles that focus on FP&A as well as providing direct decision-making support for our operations, marketing, human resources, and technology teams. We nurture career development with a pro-active rotation program focused on developing well-rounded future leaders.

The Financial Analyst II – Planning & Operations Analysis is responsible for forecasting, analyzing, and financial modeling in support of business objectives. In this role, the Financial Analyst is also responsible for developing proactive solutions and communicating potential impact on the overall business.

Flexible work arrangements offered such as flexible start & end times and remote work options 1-2 days each week as business needs allow.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs routine to complex financial analysis according to established procedures, departmental guidelines, and regulatory requirements applicable to the work
Performs financial oversight for assigned area(s)brand
Maintains active communications with key business partners and presents findings to operations, brand cross functional team, and relevant finance and accounting departments
Provides analytical support in the conversion of brand strategies into innovative action plans
Leverages data analysis to determine the financial impact of proposed business initiatives
Proactively identifies discrepancies in data, determine cause and communicate questions/ adjustments to appropriate accounting departments
Prepares and coordinates various weekly, monthly and/or year-end analyses, reports scorecards and financial reports for management review
Participates in meetings providing analysis that recognizes both successes and opportunities in the area business
Identifies and communicates emerging trends and their impact so action is prioritized appropriately

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS:

2+ years of experience with progressing responsibility in moderate to highly complex financial analysis and reporting functions
Strong knowledge of Excel
Excellent analytical skills, strong initiative, and flexibility in analyzing results

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s Degree (Finance, Accounting or related field)

OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

Proven experience with analyzing, prioritizing, and solving problems effectively
Strong verbal and written communications skills
Solid teamwork and interpersonal skills
Strong organizational skills and excellent follow through
Professional curiosity and initiative
Ability to carry out projects with minimal supervision

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

MBA, CPA or related advanced degree
Understand analytical tools: R, Alteryx, robotic process automation
Knowledge of statistics, corporate finance and/or accounting
Knowledge of HFM, Oracle, MicroStrategy BI, OneStream or similar financial systems
Self-starter willing to promote change when necessary
Restaurant experience is a plus!