Financial Data Analyst

Michael Best is seeking a Financial Data Analyst to work in any of our Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee or Waukesha offices! The Financial Data Analyst supports the Firm’s financial reporting, budgeting, and analytical functions while helping develop and maintain the technical reporting solutions used by Finance & Accounting. Reporting to the Financial Reporting & Analysis Supervisor, this role prepares recurring and ad hoc financial reports, assists with the annual budget, analyzes financial and operational data, writes SQL queries, supports Power BI and other reporting tools, validates data, and helps improve reporting processes.

The position combines foundational accounting and financial analysis with hands-on data and reporting work and is suited for an early-career professional with practical experience who wants to grow both financial and technical expertise.

Core responsibilities:

Prepare and distribute monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages used to evaluate Firm, practice group, client, department, and individual performance.

Produce recurring and customized financial and operational reports for internal stakeholders and external requests.

Support development of the annual budget by gathering assumptions, building and maintaining budget schedules and models, consolidating submissions, and analyzing proposed results.

Assist with forecasts, budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, and follow-up with budget owners.

Analyze general ledger, revenue, expense, productivity, and other financial data; investigate variances and reconcile reporting results to source systems.

Write and execute SQL queries to extract, combine, validate, troubleshoot, and analyze financial data. SQL knowledge is required for this role.

Gather and summarize information for surveys, RFP responses, client reporting requests, peer benchmarking, and ad hoc business questions.

Stakeholder partnership:

Collaborate with Accounting, Billing, Financial Applications, Legal Operations, IT, and business stakeholders to clarify requirements and deliver accurate reporting solutions.

Work with department leaders and budget owners to collect budget information, explain report results, and resolve data or reporting questions.

Maintain a responsive, service-oriented approach and communicate financial and technical information clearly to non-technical users.

Programs/initiatives:

Participate in testing, data validation, documentation, and implementation of reporting enhancements, system changes, and integrations.

Process, tools, and reporting:

Use SQL, Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, and financial systems to develop, maintain, and improve reports, dashboards, budget models, and analytical tools.

Create and maintain SQL queries, data extracts, reporting datasets, and recurring processes with appropriate validation and documentation.

Support data imports, exports, interfaces, reconciliations, reporting structures, account and expense coding, and other data-quality processes.

Troubleshoot reporting issues, identify root causes, test corrections, and help users understand results.

Continuous improvement / strategy:

Identify opportunities to automate manual reporting, budgeting, reconciliation, and data-preparation activities.

Recommend improvements to reports, dashboards, financial models, and reporting processes that increase accuracy, efficiency, and usability.

Build knowledge of the Firm’s financial systems, data structures, accounting processes, and business intelligence tools.

Job Requirements:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Analytics, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a comparable business or applied sciences discipline required.

Experience:

One to three years of experience in financial analysis, accounting, budgeting, reporting, data analysis, or financial systems work preferred. Relevant internships combined with post-graduate professional experience may be considered.

Working knowledge of accounting concepts, financial statements, general ledger data, reconciliations, and budget development.

Required experience writing and executing SQL queries against relational databases. Candidates must be able to use SQL to retrieve, join, filter, validate, and analyze data.

Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions, formulas, charts, and analysis of large data sets.

Experience with Power BI, SSRS, or a similar reporting or business intelligence platform preferred.

Experience with Aderant Expert or another financial, accounting, billing, or ERP system preferred.

Law firm or professional services experience preferred but not required.

Skills & Competencies:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to connect financial results to underlying data.

High attention to detail and commitment to accurate, well-documented work.

Ability to manage recurring deadlines while responding to ad hoc requests and changing priorities.

Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain data and financial information to varied audiences.

Curiosity and willingness to develop deeper expertise in accounting, budgeting, SQL, reporting tools, and financial systems.

Collaborative, service-oriented approach and sound judgment about when to resolve an issue independently or escalate it.

Required: Use approved AI-enabled tools responsibly and effectively to improve quality, efficiency, and decision-making, consistent with organizational policies, confidentiality, and applicable laws.

The Company

This is an opportunity to work with the Best . We are Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP . We are a full-service law firm with more than 350 lawyers and technical professionals who work in collaborative, interdisciplinary practices to serve clients around the world.

We work with companies in all kinds of industries, as well as trade associations, nonprofits, educational institutions, governments, family trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. Since our firm’s founding in 1848, we’ve continuously evolved to meet our clients’ changing needs and expectations. One thing remains the same: For generations, clients have relied on Michael Best for exceptional legal service and business acumen.

The Location

We have offices in Wisconsin (Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha); Illinois (Chicago); Utah (Salt Lake City); Colorado (Denver, Broomfield); Texas (Austin); North Carolina (Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Wilmington); California (Los Angeles); Nebraska (Lincoln); New York (New York City); and Washington DC . Our contemporary office spaces are ideal for concentration and collaboration; supporting our culture of working together to make great things happen for our Clients. This position can be based in any of our Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, or Waukesha offices.

Why You Should Apply

At Michael Best, we are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that provides a variety of resources designed to enhance its employees’ overall well-being, both at work and at home. Competitive base pay, outstanding benefits, opportunities for learning and growth, programs designed to help you plan for the future, and perks that inspire your downtime are all part of our total compensation package.

Learning and Growth

Challenging and Dynamic Role

Career Development Planning

Professional Growth Opportunities

Performance Management and Coaching

Specialized Training Programs

Health & Wellness

Medical

Dental

Vision Care

Health Savings Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts

Wellness Program

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Total Compensation

Competitive Base Pay

Annual Merit Review/Incentive Pay

Outstanding Benefits

Generous PTO Plus 10 Paid Holidays

Planning for the Future

401(k) with Company Contribution

Short Term Disability Plan

Long Term Disability Plan

Life Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance

Parental/Family Leave

Culture and Workplace

Respected organization with Collaborative Culture

Growing Firm with an Exciting Future

Contemporary Work Environment

Positive and Respectful Work Climate

Performance Recognition

To be considered for this position, please submit an application via our online portal.

Recruitment Agencies: Michael Best is not accepting unsolicited agency resumes for this position. Please do not forward resumes to our careers email address or any Firm employees.

Michael Best is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

For California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York applicants only: The annual compensation range for a Financial Data Analyst in our California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York offices is between $60,000 - $85,000 . The salary range reflects our good ‑ faith expectation for this role at the time of posting. Final compensation will depend on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Financial Data Analysts are eligible to participate in Michael Best’s bonus program, subject to the program’s conditions and restrictions. This position is considered full-time and is therefore eligible to participate in employer-sponsored benefits, including medical, dental, vision, as well as elective/voluntary life, disability, accident coverage, paid holidays, paid time off, and eligible reimbursements.

All full-time employees are eligible to participate in the firm's 401k plan. Application review will begin on 10/07/2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Submit your application by clicking apply now.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Michael Best Strategies LLC (collectively known as "Michael Best") are steadfastly committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination based upon age, race, religion, color, disability, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact our Recruiting team at (414) 271-6560 or careers@michaelbest.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Seniority level: Associate

Employment type: Full-time

Industries: Law Practice