Senior Finance Analyst, Central Services

Title: Senior Finance Analyst, Central Services - PlayStation Studio Business Group

Location: United States and Canada candidates preferred, position open to full remote.

About the Role:

PlayStation Studios Finance team is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to join the team. You will be part of the Central Studio Business Finance group, reporting to the Strategic Finance Manager. This role is responsible for Forecasting, Reporting and Analysis for global service groups.

This role will support Central Services departments, focusing on financial planning and analysis, cost allocations, and pivotal initiatives. In this role, you'll work closely with finance teams across regions, live services leadership, and other internal partners to drive data-driven decision-making, financial strategy, and support for complex financial modeling and forecasting.

You must not be afraid to question current practices and seek business improvement(s) where possible. You must face challenges with optimism and are always looking for ways to be helpful and improve the team.

This role offers flexible location options. For candidates based in Canada, the role will be fully remote. All candidates will report to PlayStation Studios' Strategic Finance Manager, who is based out of Montreal, QC, Canada.

Main Responsibilities:

• Business partnering: Partner with department heads to understand strategic priorities, resource needs, and financial goals, supporting financial planning, budgeting, and reporting processes.
• Financial Analysis & Reporting: Prepare and present monthly financial reviews, with variance analysis on forecasts, plans, and prior year figures, focusing on operational improvementslive services and central initiatives.
• Complex Modeling & Scenario Analysis: Perform detailed sensitivity, scenario, and what-if analyses to assess potential financial impacts of strategic decisions within the live services environment.
• Cost Allocation & Optimization: Monitor and improve cost allocation reporting, collaborating on initiatives to streamline allocation rates and enhance efficiency.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with finance colleagues and department representatives in Asia, the UK, and the US to ensure consistency across regional financial practices.
• Month-End Close Support: Facilitate month-end and quarter-end close activities, including accruals and intercompany transactions.
• Strategic Initiatives: Contribute to group-wide strategic and financial initiatives, supporting project execution and identifying opportunities for process improvements.
• Data Analysis & Synthesis: Gather and synthesize data from several sources to provide actionable business insights and drive informed decision-making.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field; CPA preferred. An MBA or advanced degree in finance or business is a plus.
• Experience: MUST HAVE recent experience in game development. Minimum 5 years in a financial analysis role with substantial experience in FP&A, budgeting, and management reporting, ideally within a live services, technology, or entertainment environment.
• Technical Skills: Strong MS Excel skills (pivot tables, complex formulas), with experience in SAP, Oracle, or other accounting systems. Experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Cognos, SAP BW) is an advantage.
• Analytical Abilities: Proficient in complex financial modeling and able to analyze large volumes of data for strategic insights.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data to non-financial audiences.
• Personal Skills: Meticulous, self-starter, able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively across functions and regions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry Knowledge: Previous experience in the gaming, media, or entertainment industry.
• Advanced Tools Familiarity:
  
  
  
  • Familiarity with OLAP planning applications such as Planning Analytics is beneficial.
  • Previous experience in report building with Tableau, Cognos Analytics or a similar Business Intelligence tool (e.g. SAP BW, Business Objects, PowerBI, Domo).
  
  
  
  

Why Join Us?

This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to PlayStation's success within the growing Central PlayStation Studios Finance group. You'll work alongside dedicated professionals in a dynamic industry, developing insights that drive PlayStation's financial strategy and growth.