Data Analyst

Contract Data Analyst

Shoreview, MN (3 days/wk onsite). We are seeking a contract data analyst with strong business intelligence (BI) expertise to support our Finance organization on a 3‑to‑6‑month engagement.

This role will focus on building, enhancing, and—most importantly—teaching BI capabilities to Finance Managers and stakeholders. The ideal candidate is both technically strong and an effective trainer, capable of translating data and BI concepts into practical, finance‑focused insights. Success in this role means Finance leaders leave the engagement more self‑sufficient, confident, and data‑driven.

• Design, build, and enhance BI dashboards and reports tailored to Finance use cases (e.g., budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, KPIs).
• Partner with Finance stakeholders to understand reporting needs and translate them into scalable BI solutions.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and clarity across financial dashboards and reports.
• Document data models, metrics definitions, and reporting logic.

• Train and coach Finance Managers on how to use BI tools effectively for decision‑making.
• Develop and deliver hands‑on training sessions, workshops, and office hours.
• Create clear training materials (guides, walkthroughs, videos, FAQs).
• Help Finance users move from static reports (e.g., spreadsheets) to self‑service analytics.
• Act as a trusted advisor, improving overall data literacy within the Finance team.

• Work closely with Finance leadership to align BI capabilities using Power
  
  BI with business goals.
• Collaborate with Data, IT, or Engineering teams as needed on data sources and governance.
• Promote best practices in BI usage, dashboard design, and financial storytelling.

• 5+ years of experience as a Data Analyst or BI Analyst, preferably supporting Finance teams.
• Strong hands‑on experience with one or more BI tools (e.g., Power BI (preferred), Tableau, Looker, Qlik).
• Solid understanding of financial concepts (budgeting, forecasting, P&L, variance analysis).
• Strong SQL skills; experience working with data warehouses and financial data sources.
• Proven ability to teach, train, and explain technical concepts to non‑technical users.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Prior experience in a Finance, FP&A, or Accounting environment.
• Experience leading BI enablement or data literacy initiatives.
• Familiarity with ERP or financial systems (e.g., Net Suite, SAP, Oracle, Workday).
• Experience designing KPI frameworks and executive‑level dashboards.

• Finance Managers independently using BI tools for analysis and decision‑making.
• Reduction in ad‑hoc reporting requests due to improved self‑service capabilities.
• High adoption and satisfaction with Finance dashboards and reports.
• Clear, reusable documentation and training materials left behind at project completion.