Finance Associate - job 1 of 2

As a Finance Associate at our company, your primary responsibilities will include managing payments to over 400 restaurant and retail merchants, overseeing corporate card expenses, preparing and vetting sales tax transactional data, and supporting essential accounting and bookkeeping functions. You will utilize your expertise in Google Sheets and Excel to ensure accurate financial data analysis and reporting.

To apply for the Finance Associate position, you should have at least 2 years of experience in finance, accounting, or a related field. A background in managing partner/vendor payments is preferred. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in spreadsheet management tools like Google Sheets and Excel are crucial, along with effective communication and analytical skills.

The Finance Associate plays a critical role in sales tax compliance by preparing and vetting transactional CSV uploads to be entered into TaxJar each month. You will ensure accurate reporting for each state where our merchants operate, minimizing errors and enabling timely filing of sales taxes to meet regulatory requirements.

Extensive experience and a high degree of proficiency in Google Sheets and Excel are required for the Finance Associate role. You will be utilizing advanced spreadsheet functions for financial tracking, data analysis, and reporting, ensuring both data integrity and accuracy in financial records.

Success in the Finance Associate position is characterized by timely and accurate partner payouts, efficient management of corporate expenses, compliance with tax regulations, insightful financial reporting, and improvements in financial processes. Your ability to deliver on these aspects will contribute positively to our business growth and partnerships.

When answering this question, be specific about your previous roles and the volume of transactions you handled. Highlight any software or processes you used that improved efficiency, and discuss how you ensured precision in adhering to deal terms.

Discuss the steps you take to double-check your work, such as cross-referencing multiple sources of data or using spreadsheet functions that minimize errors. Mention the importance of maintaining clear documentation and having a keen eye for details.

Talk about prioritizing tasks based on deadlines and complexity. You could mention using task management tools or calendars, as well as breaking down larger projects into manageable segments to stay on track.

Respond with your specific experiences related to tax compliance and any software like TaxJar you've used. Highlight your understanding of different state regulations and how you ensure compliance in your reporting.

Explain your systematic approach to identifying, documenting, and correcting errors. Also, mention how you communicate with relevant stakeholders to resolve discrepancies while preventing similar issues in the future.

Provide a specific example where you analyzed financial data to provide insights or recommendations. Discuss the tools you used and the impact of your findings on business decisions.

Discuss how effective communication is essential for collaborating with team members, addressing vendor queries, and clearly explaining financial concepts to non-finance stakeholders. Highlight real examples of how your communication helped resolve issues.

Mention the resources you utilize, such as online courses, webinars, and professional organizations, to keep your knowledge current. This shows your commitment to professional development in the finance field.

Share your preferred tools like Google Sheets or Excel and why they work for you. Talk about specific features that assist you in analyzing data effectively, such as pivot tables or advanced formulas.

Use this opportunity to discuss specific changes you made that led to increased efficiency or accuracy, supported by quantitative results if possible. This demonstrates your proactive nature and ability to enhance financial operations.