Senior Financial Analyst

Cognex is the world’s leading provider of vision systems, software, sensors, and industrial barcode readers used in manufacturing automation. Cognex vision helps companies improve product quality, eliminate production errors, lower manufacturing costs, and exceed consumer expectations for high-quality products at an affordable price. Typical applications for machine vision include detecting defects, monitoring production lines, guiding assembly robots, and tracking, sorting, and identifying parts.

Cognex serves an international customer base from offices located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and through a global network of integration and distribution partners. The company is headquartered close to Boston in Natick, Massachusetts, USA.

Cognex is a financially strong international company with a culture that maintains the fast-paced, creative environment of a startup. Its employees, proudly called “Cognoids,” take their work seriously, but don't take themselves seriously. Their ‘Work Hard, Play Hard, Move Fast’ culture recognizes employees for their innovation, perseverance & hard work in a fun & rewarding environment.

This is a hybrid schedule role.

The Team:

Our Finance organization oversees financial planning and reporting, as well as ensures processes meet the needs of our business. Cognex is a global, publicly traded manufacturer and marketer of advanced integrated technology products whose 2020 annual revenue was over $800 million.  We have an excellent team with members who have gained diversified experience during their tenure in the company.

The Role:

This Senior Financial Analyst position will be a critical partner to Cognex Logistics senior management by providing financial planning and analysis of revenue as well as expenses for the Logistics Sales function. This position provides insightful, trustworthy data that helps senior management make strategic and tactical decisions for our company.

Essential Functions:

• Partner with functional leaders to prepare the annual budget and quarterly expense forecasts for Logistics Sales

• Analyze month end department expense results for the Logistics Sales global team and prepare appropriate journal entries to ensure expenses are recorded properly

• Manage the revenue and margin planning process for the Logistics P&L on a quarterly basis

• Provide objective analytical support to influence and reinforce expense decisions

• Present monthly deviation analysis to explain bookings, revenue, and margin variances.

• Prepare month end variance explanations and balance sheet account reconciliations for the Management Financial Package and Responsibility P&Ls

• Monitor and provide insightful analysis around business key performance indicators (KPI)

• Continuously look for opportunities to improve existing processes and procedures to support the team

• Perform ad-hoc analysis as needed

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong qualitative and quantitative skills, with demonstrated experience using data to drive decision making

• Prior experience working with tight deadlines and demonstrated responsibility for accuracy and timeliness for work performed

• A team player with the ability to work independently as well as cross-functionally

• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Must be able to convey information to all levels of the organization in a clear, focused, and concise manner

• Excellent Microsoft Excel experience required; SAC & SAP experience is a plus

• Process improvement focus

Minimum education and work experience required:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in either Finance or Accounting is required

• 5-7 years of financial planning and analysis preferred

• Experience supporting global expense planning preferred

• Excellent presentation skills preferred

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cognex is an equal opportunity employer. Cognex evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.