GENERAL DESCRIPTION / PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Financial Analyst role provides crucial financial support to key teams within the Dole Fresh Vegetable organization, helping drive profitable growth for both the company and its customers. This position is a key support for corporate planning functions, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and data analysis. The role also involves detailed analysis of variance (forecast/budget/close) related to Selling, Marketing, General & Administrative expenses. The work requires the ability to analyze complex data, often with incomplete information, and deliver insights with a focus on speed and accuracy. The Financial Analyst will provide in-depth financial analysis to help optimize decision-making, identify opportunities for cost control, and support the overall financial health of the organization.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS/DUTIES OF THE POSITION:

•    Forecasting and Budgeting – Assist in the preparation and maintenance of the annual budget as well as periodic forecasts. Provide variance analysis against budget and forecast to identify trends and areas for improvement.
•    Expense Tracking and Analysis - Analyze key variances between actual and forecasted expenses, identifying trends, and explaining deviations to senior management and business partners. Provide actionable recommendations to improve expense management.
•    Key financial resource to business partners for financial guidance, as well as in pursuit of Operational Excellence objectives.
•    Cost Control and Optimization – Partner with department heads to identify cost optimization and efficiency improvements in SMG&A expenses.
•    Reporting and Presentation - Prepare detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual SMG&A reports for senior management, highlighting key insights, trends, and variances. Provide presentations and recommendations to stakeholders regarding budget performance, cost trends, and opportunities for cost containment.
•    Management Reporting - Prepare and publish a periodic internal management reporting package (Tuesday Package) with key metrics to monitor the Company’s performance and future outlook.  If required and beneficial, develop and distribute a weekly flash report with simple key metrics.
•    Research and investigate variances, analyze balances, pinpoint drivers behind the variances, spot trends, find errors and discrepancies, question processes, find out the why’s and maintain focus on the company’s goals and objectives.  
•    Readily accepts new opportunities and takes appropriate actions to ensure the work is done; energizes team members to achieve timely results; sets expectations and empowers others to problem solve; demonstrates good judgment; facilitates successful and appropriate solutions 
•    Other - Work on special projects and provide ad hoc analysis and projects as directed