Financial Operations Consultant / Financial Analyst

Summary

Blue Star Partners is a professional services organization seeking a Financial Operations Consultant / Financial Analyst to support financial management and business operations. The role involves financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, client billing, accounts receivable, reconciliations, contract administration, consultant administration, and process improvement while working closely with company leadership.

Responsibilities

• Execute day-to-day financial operations, including invoice processing, expense tracking, account reconciliation, and financial record management
• Monitor organizational cash flow and participate in cash flow discussions with company leadership
• Prepare for and participate in monthly financial meetings focused on revenue projections, expense forecasts, cash flow, and monthly reconciliation
• Develop and maintain operating budgets and financial forecasts
• Analyze revenue and expense trends and identify potential cost-saving or financial improvement opportunities
• Monitor outstanding client balances and support collection of client payments
• Accurately record payments and maintain appropriate supporting documentation
• Generate monthly financial statements, reports, and analyses for internal stakeholders
• Support month-end reconciliation and close activities
• Coordinate end-of-year financial closeout activities
• Support the annual tax process through reconciliation, documentation, record preparation, and coordination with external accounting partners
• Develop and maintain financial forecasts based on expected revenue, consultant costs, operating expenses, and business activity
• Compare actual financial performance against budgets and forecasts
• Identify and explain material financial variances
• Provide financial analysis to support leadership decision-making
• Prepare financial summaries, reports, and presentations for leadership discussions
• Support scenario analysis and financial modeling as business needs evolve
• Identify trends and provide recommendations based on financial performance
• Collect and review consultant timesheets for completeness and accuracy
• Prepare client invoices based on approved hours, contractual rates, and billing requirements
• Maintain accurate records of invoices, payments, and outstanding balances
• Track accounts receivable and follow up on outstanding client payments
• Coordinate with clients and internal stakeholders to resolve billing discrepancies
• Reconcile consultant timesheets with client billing and project records
• Maintain organized supporting documentation for all billing activity
• Support leadership across financial and general business operations
• Help organize client, consultant, financial, operational, and project records
• Support the preparation of client deliverables and internal reporting
• Maintain accurate and organized business files and documentation
• Assist with operational activities outside of finance as business needs arise
• Develop and maintain trackers, templates, procedures, and standardized workflows
• Identify opportunities to improve financial and operational efficiency
• Take ownership of recurring operational processes as experience and responsibilities grow
• Assist with the development and administration of Statements of Work (SOWs)
• Prepare amendments when project scope, timing, staffing, pricing, or other commercial terms change
• Maintain organized records of contracts, SOWs, and amendments
• Help ensure consultant activity and client invoicing align with applicable agreements
• Coordinate with leadership to maintain accurate project and contractual information
• Support tracking of client commitments, contract terms, and project financials
• Collaborate with leadership to support strong relationships with clients and consultants
• Coordinate financial and operational information related to active consulting engagements
• Maintain consultant timesheet, billing, project, and contract records
• Assist with consultant-related administrative processes
• Participate in regular meetings with company leadership to review consulting engagements, financial activity, operational priorities, and upcoming needs
• Create and maintain action plans resulting from leadership discussions
• Support additional client and consultant activities as the business grows
• Evaluate recurring financial and operational processes for opportunities to improve accuracy and efficiency
• Develop more effective trackers, templates, reports, and workflows
• Help document standard operating procedures and financial processes
• Recommend improvements to billing, reconciliation, forecasting, reporting, and record management
• Support implementation of new financial or operational tools as needed
• Take increasing ownership of process improvements as knowledge of the business grows
• Process and track invoices, expenses, payments, and financial transactions
• Reconcile accounts and investigate discrepancies
• Update cash flow reports, budgets, forecasts, and financial trackers
• Prepare financial reports and analyses for leadership
• Collect consultant timesheets and prepare client invoices
• Track outstanding accounts receivable and client payments
• Maintain client, consultant, financial, and contract documentation
• Prepare and update SOWs and amendments
• Support monthly financial meetings and leadership discussions
• Assist with month-end and year-end close activities
• Coordinate documentation for the annual tax process
• Support broader business operations and special projects
• Identify opportunities to improve financial and administrative processes

Skills

• Bachelor's degree in **Finance, Accounting, Business Administration**, or a related field, or current enrollment in a related degree program for internship candidates
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Proficiency with **Microsoft Excel**
• Ability to work effectively with financial data, spreadsheets, reports, and reconciliations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with leadership and other team members
• Professional judgment when handling confidential financial and business information
• Initiative and willingness to take ownership of responsibilities
• Willingness to work in the Chicago area upon transition to a full-time position
• Prior experience in financial operations, financial analysis, accounting support, business operations, or a related area is preferred but not required for all candidates
• Experience with invoicing, account reconciliation, accounts receivable, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, or business operations is beneficial
• Internship candidates should demonstrate strong academic performance, relevant coursework, internship experience, extracurricular leadership, or other evidence of financial and analytical ability
• Experience with **QuickBooks** or similar accounting software
• Strong Excel capabilities, including formulas, PivotTables, lookups, reconciliations, and data analysis
• Experience within professional services, consulting, staffing, or another project-based organization
• Exposure to client billing, consultant timesheets, contracts, or Statements of Work
• Experience preparing financial reports, forecasts, or management presentations
• Experience supporting accounts receivable or client collections
• Familiarity with financial close or tax preparation processes
• Interest in developing broader experience across finance, business operations, and company management

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree in **Finance, Accounting, Business Administration**, or a related field, or current enrollment in a related degree program for internship candidates
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Proficiency with **Microsoft Excel**
• Ability to work effectively with financial data, spreadsheets, reports, and reconciliations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with leadership and other team members
• Professional judgment when handling confidential financial and business information
• Initiative and willingness to take ownership of responsibilities
• Willingness to work in the Chicago area upon transition to a full-time position

Nice to Haves

• Prior experience in financial operations, financial analysis, accounting support, business operations, or a related area is preferred but not required for all candidates
• Experience with invoicing, account reconciliation, accounts receivable, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, or business operations is beneficial
• Internship candidates should demonstrate strong academic performance, relevant coursework, internship experience, extracurricular leadership, or other evidence of financial and analytical ability
• Experience with **QuickBooks** or similar accounting software
• Strong Excel capabilities, including formulas, PivotTables, lookups, reconciliations, and data analysis
• Experience within professional services, consulting, staffing, or another project-based organization
• Exposure to client billing, consultant timesheets, contracts, or Statements of Work
• Experience preparing financial reports, forecasts, or management presentations
• Experience supporting accounts receivable or client collections
• Familiarity with financial close or tax preparation processes
• Interest in developing broader experience across finance, business operations, and company management

Benefits

• Ongoing compensation growth opportunity, with periodic wage reviews and the potential for hourly rate increases based on performance, skill development, expanded responsibilities, and demonstrated business impact.
• Eligibility for performance-based bonuses tied to individual and company results.
• Eligibility for spot bonuses for designated accomplishments, exceptional performance, process improvements, or other meaningful contributions.
• 401(k) plan available for eligible employees.
• ICHRA healthcare benefit available for eligible employees.
• Relocation package available for candidates relocating to the Chicago area.
• Potential for a hybrid work arrangement based on role responsibilities and business needs.
• Opportunity for full-time candidates to convert following the initial six-month period.
• Part-time internship pathway available for current students, with the opportunity to transition to full-time employment upon graduation.
• Continued opportunities for increased responsibility, professional development, compensation growth, and long-term career progression.