Strategic Financial Analyst

FirstLight is seeking a Strategic Financial Analyst to support financial planning and analysis activities within a fiber telecommunications environment. This role will focus on financial analysis, debt compliance and covenant reporting, financial modeling, and ad hoc reporting to support operational and strategic decision-making across the business.

Summary:

The Strategic Financial Analyst will play a key role in supporting the finance function through detailed analysis, covenant compliance monitoring, debt reporting, and financial modeling. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with large data sets, building and maintaining models, preparing recurring and ad hoc analyses, and partnering with internal stakeholders to deliver actionable financial insights in a capital-intensive fiber telecom business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform financial analysis on revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and profitability trends across fiber telecom operations.
• Prepare recurring financial reports, variance analyses, and management reporting packages to support monthly and quarterly close processes.
• Monitor debt compliance requirements and support covenant calculations, lender reporting, and related documentation.
• Build, maintain, and enhance financial models for forecasting, budgeting, scenario analysis, and long-range planning.
• Support cash flow analysis and liquidity planning in partnership with finance leadership.
• Partner with accounting, operations, and leadership teams to analyze business performance and identify key drivers and risks.
• Assist with board, lender, and executive presentation materials by providing accurate financial data and analysis.
• Track and analyze KPIs relevant to a fiber telecom business, including subscriber, network, revenue, and capital metrics.
• Support ad hoc financial analyses, special projects, and data requests as business needs evolve.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting processes, model accuracy, and overall finance team efficiency.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, FP&A, or a similar finance role.
• Experience with financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Understanding of debt compliance, covenant reporting, or lender reporting processes is strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and comfort working with large data sets and financial systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and communicate insights clearly.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information to finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience in telecommunications, fiber infrastructure, or another capital-intensive industry is preferred.
• Ability to work independently, support ad hoc requests, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

About FirstLight:

FirstLight, headquartered in Albany, New York, provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast connecting more than 13,000 locations in service with more than 125,000 locations serviceable by our more than 25,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength, and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight's clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments.

FirstLight Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with state and federal laws, FirstLight's equal opportunity policy is that all applicants and employees are treated equally by the company with respect to employment opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status or veteran disability.