Finance Business Partner (Chicago)

The role

This person will act as a strategic business partner to leadership and department heads. They will deliver financial and data-driven analyses, track KPIs, and lead forecasting and budget planning processes.

What you will do

• Act as a strategic business partner to Leadership and department heads
• Deliver financial and data-driven analyses with impactful insights and recommendations
• Track, analyse, and forecast key business and financial KPIs
• Lead quarterly forecasting and budget planning processes
• Support commercial decisions including pricing, deal reviews, and investment cases
• Drive process improvements across forecasting, reporting, and business partnering activities
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, Ops and Product teams

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic finance, FP&A, private equity, venture capital, investment banking, management consulting, public markets investing, or equity research
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of how finance enables strategic growth
• Exceptional analytical and modelling skills
• Advanced Excel user
• Comfortable working with SQL, large data models, and performance frameworks
• Confident in managing P&Ls, forecasts, and headcount plans
• Strong communicator able to engage and influence senior stakeholders
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of building relationships across teams, regions, and functions
• Self-starter who is curious, adaptable, and motivated by impact

Nice to have

• SaaS or Agency experience

Benefits

• Five weeks paid time off (PTO)
• 11 company paid holidays
• unlimited sick days
• Generous healthcare packages
• mental health benefits
• 401K plus matching
• equity grants
• Wellness benefit
• learning reimbursement opportunities
• Volunteer time off days
• company donation matching opportunities
• stock options, medical/dental/vision insurances, retirement savings benefits, parental leave, life insurance, and disability benefits

About the company

Smartly is a global leader in digital advertising automation and an AI-powered advertising technology company. They partner with large advertisers to scale paid social and digital campaigns.