Finance

Financial Operations Specialist job description

A Financial Operations Specialist manages treasury workflows, financial reporting, and ERP reconciliations to optimize cash flow and ensure regulatory rigor.

Published July 4, 2024Updated May 16, 20262211 likes

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Job brief

We are seeking a detail-oriented Financial Operations Specialist to join our finance team and take ownership of our core operational processes. In this role, you will be instrumental in modernizing our treasury management and financial reporting, ensuring that our data infrastructure supports rapid business scalability. You will collaborate with stakeholders across procurement, tax, and accounting departments to enhance cash management efficiency and improve overall financial transparency. If you are passionate about process optimization and thrive in an environment where precision drives organizational growth, we invite you to apply.

Key highlights

Perform complex general ledger reconciliations to resolve discrepancies and ensure absolute integrity of monthly financial statements.
Monitor daily cash flow and liquidity positions across multiple bank accounts to optimize working capital and treasury efficiency.
Execute month-end and year-end close processes according to GAAP or IFRS requirements within our enterprise ERP system.
Coordinate with internal and external audit teams to provide documentation and verify adherence to SOX or local financial regulations.

What is a Financial Operations Specialist?

A Financial Operations Specialist is a critical finance professional tasked with streamlining the lifecycle of transactional data and financial reporting processes. By leveraging advanced ERP systems like SAP, Oracle NetSuite, or Workday, they ensure the accuracy of general ledgers, oversee treasury management, and maintain compliance with IFRS or GAAP standards. A Financial Operations Specialist serves as a vital bridge between high-level fiscal strategy and daily operational execution, ensuring that an organization’s monetary resources are deployed efficiently and securely.

What does a Financial Operations Specialist do?

On a typical day, a Financial Operations Specialist performs complex bank reconciliations, monitors multi-currency cash positions, and executes month-end close procedures to ensure precise financial records. They collaborate with internal audit teams to investigate ledger discrepancies, manage accounts payable/receivable workflows, and generate performance dashboards using tools like Tableau or Power BI. By providing real-time data analysis to department heads, a Financial Operations Specialist directly influences strategic planning and helps the firm mitigate financial risk while maintaining strict adherence to internal controls.

Key responsibilities

Perform complex general ledger reconciliations to resolve discrepancies and ensure absolute integrity of monthly financial statements.
Monitor daily cash flow and liquidity positions across multiple bank accounts to optimize working capital and treasury efficiency.
Execute month-end and year-end close processes according to GAAP or IFRS requirements within our enterprise ERP system.
Streamline accounts payable and receivable workflows to reduce processing latency and improve vendor payment cycle times.
Coordinate with internal and external audit teams to provide documentation and verify adherence to SOX or local financial regulations.
Design and maintain automated financial dashboards in Power BI or Tableau to track KPIs and provide actionable insights for leadership.
Analyze foreign exchange exposure and implement hedging strategies to mitigate risks associated with international operational transactions.
Document and update internal financial standard operating procedures to enhance process efficiency and departmental compliance standards.

Requirements and skills

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Economics with at least 3 years of hands-on experience in financial operations.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex financial modeling, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP/Index-Match functions.
Technical expertise in managing enterprise-grade ERP platforms such as Oracle NetSuite, SAP S/4HANA, or Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Deep understanding of GAAP, IFRS, and internal control frameworks like COSO to ensure rigorous financial reporting standards.
Professional certification such as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is highly preferred.
Ability to interpret complex financial datasets and present technical findings clearly to non-finance stakeholders or executive leadership.
Proven experience working with banking APIs, treasury management systems (TMS), or payment processing gateways.
Demonstrated expertise in project management tools like Jira or Asana to track progress on financial compliance and operational tasks.

FAQs

What does a Financial Operations Specialist do daily?

A Financial Operations Specialist handles the technical execution of financial tasks, including reconciling bank statements, managing accounts payable and receivable, and monitoring daily cash flows. They spend significant time within ERP systems to ensure transaction data is accurate and compliant with corporate accounting standards. Additionally, they often generate performance reports and support the finance team during month-end close procedures.

What skills are required for a Financial Operations Specialist?

Key skills include advanced proficiency in ERP software like NetSuite or SAP, deep knowledge of GAAP or IFRS, and high-level analytical capabilities in Microsoft Excel. A Financial Operations Specialist must also possess strong organizational skills to manage audit documentation and cross-functional project timelines. Understanding financial risk management and treasury operations is essential for success in this role.

Who does a Financial Operations Specialist work with?

They work closely with the broader finance and accounting departments, including Controllers and CFOs, to provide the data necessary for strategic decision-making. Furthermore, a Financial Operations Specialist interacts with external auditors, banking partners, and internal procurement teams to maintain operational compliance and facilitate smooth transaction flows across the organization.

Why is the Financial Operations Specialist role critical to a business?

This role is vital because a Financial Operations Specialist ensures the accuracy of the company's financial health, which is foundational to regulatory compliance and investor trust. By optimizing cash flow management and streamlining operational expenses, they directly contribute to the organization's profitability. Without these experts, companies would struggle with ledger errors, audit failures, and inefficient capital allocation.