Lead Financial Analyst

Credit Acceptance is proud to be an award-winning company recognized both locally and nationally across multiple workplace categories. Our world-class culture is shaped by dedicated team members who are driven to succeed as professionals individually and together as a team. Backed by a strong product, exceptional people, and a stable financial foundation, we’ve grown into a leading provider of used and new car financing across the country.

Our Support teams work with multiple departments in a dynamic environment that promotes flexibility and autonomy, while offering the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals. We work to comply with our company standards, exceed customer expectations, and drive our Great Place to Work culture. We deliver high-quality services aligned to business needs, driving innovative improvements that support our company strategy and modern operating principles.

The Lead Financial Analyst serves as a senior individual contributor responsible for complex financial analysis, accounting research, internal financial reporting, and strategic business support. This role provides financial insights that influence business decisions, leads initiatives to improve financial processes and reporting, and serves as a trusted advisor to Finance leadership and business partners.

The Lead Financial Analyst independently manages high-impact projects, identifies emerging risks and opportunities, and drives enhancements to financial reporting, controls, and analytics. They will also serve as the functional lead for assigned accounting and financial reporting processes, helping prioritize and assign team workloads, reviewing complex key analyses and deliverables, providing mentorship and technical direction, and partnering with the Accounting Manager to ensure high-quality, timely results.

Outcomes and Activities:

• This position will work from home; occasional planned travel to our Southfield, Michigan office may be required. However, this position is permitted to work at our Southfield, Michigan office if requested by the team member.
• Journal Entries: Review monthly general ledger journal entries for accuracy by scheduled deadlines. Expectations include:

• • Ensuring that we maintain adequate supporting documentation for journal entries.
  • Researching, interpreting and implementing the appropriate accounting policies and procedures for new products and services or changes to existing products and services.
  • Evaluate accounting implications of strategic initiatives and business decisions, providing recommendations and guidance to stakeholders.

• Financial Statement Analytics: Review and/or prepare analytic explanations for general ledger account and financial statement line item variances by scheduled deadlines. Expectations include:
• Ensuring that explanations are clear, concise and accurate.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting and lead implementing modifications and enhancements as identified or directed.
• Develop clear, concise, and actionable financial analyses that communicate business performance and emerging trends to Finance leadership and executive stakeholders.

• General Ledger Account Reconciliations: Review complex monthly general ledger account reconciliations for accuracy and compliance by scheduled deadlines. Ensure that we maintain adequate supporting documentation for reconciling items.
• Internal Financial Reporting: Prepare and maintain accurate monthly internal financial reports and ensure they are prepared and distributed by scheduled deadlines. Expectations include:

• • Implementing modifications and enhancements as identified or directed.
  • Partner with business leaders to understand performance drivers and provide financial insights that support informed decision-making.

• Internal Controls: Ensure that internal controls in areas of responsibility are designed and operating effectively. Expectations include:

• • Maintaining accurate written policies, written procedures, flowcharts and internal controls.
  • Completing quarterly self-assessments by scheduled deadlines.
  • Lead initiatives to strengthen controls, reduce risk, improve efficiency, and automate manual processes.

• Supporting Schedules: Ensure that accurate financial statement supporting schedules are prepared by scheduled deadlines.

• Lead complex projects and cross-functional initiatives with Finance, Accounting, Engineering, and Operations partners.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and subject matter expertise to analysts and team members.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to create and communicate guidelines, processes, and control mechanisms in a logical and organized manner.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal that allow you to clearly communicate and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Continually seek efficiencies and process improvements in the day to day Accounts Payable activities.
• Be flexible in order to adapt to process changes and ad hoc requests.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Advanced analytical and modeling capabilities using Excel, Access, and other financial reporting tools.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and influence without direct authority.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• Minimum 8 years of related finance and accounting experience
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects, initiatives, or workstreams.
• Experience researching accounting issues and interpreting U.S. GAAP
• Experience writing financial analytics for executive-level users
• Experience designing and implementing process improvements
• Proficiency with MS Excel

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in Accounting or Finance
• Certified Public Accountant or equivalent (i.e. - Chartered Accountant)
• Experience influencing strategic decisions through financial modeling and business case development.
• Experience in the Insurance and/or Financial Services industries
• Accounting experience from a large national or regional CPA firm
• Proficiency with MS Access

Targeted Compensation: $112,873 - $131,685base salary + annual bonus plan.

This position is not currently open to individuals who require sponsorship now or in the future to work legally for Credit Acceptance, such as H-1b / H-4 or F-1 OPT visa holders.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package that includes 401(K) match, adoption assistance, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive medical/ dental/vision and many nonstandard benefits that make us a Great Place to Work

Our Company Values:

To be successful in this role, Team Members need to be:

• Positive by maintaining resiliency and focusing on solutions
• Respectful by collaborating and actively listening
• Insightful by cultivating innovation, accumulating business and role specific knowledge, demonstrating self-awareness and making quality decisions
• Direct by effectively communicating and conveying courage
• Earnest by taking accountability, applying feedback and effectively planning and priority setting

Expectations:

• Remain compliant with our policies processes and legal guidelines
• All other duties as assigned
• Attendance as required by department

Advice!

We understand that your career search may look different than others. Our hiring team wants to make sure that this would be a fit not just for us, but for you long term. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, send us your application!

P.S.

We have great details around our stats, success, history and more. We’re proud of our culture and are happy to share why - let’s talk!

Required degrees must have been earned at institutions of Higher Education which are accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or equivalent.

Credit Acceptance is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive working environment for all. As part of our Culture of Compliance, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and value our culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of the person’s age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, criminal history, or any other legally protected characteristic.

California Residents: Please click here for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) notice regarding the personal information Credit Acceptance may collect from you.

Play the video below to learn more about our Company culture.