Finance & Strategy Associate

Job description

General Description of the Role

As Finance & Strategy Associate at Returnista, you will be a trusted partner to the Head of Finance & Strategy. You will play a pivotal role in shaping Returnista's future by supporting high-impact, cross-functional projects, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring the finance function operates seamlessly. This is a unique opportunity for a talented professional to gain experience in a dynamic, fast-growing environment and make a tangible impact on the business. The role is ideal for an early strategy consultant exit (1-2 years) eager to make an impact or a high-potential graduate with broad interests and ambition.

As Finance & Strategy Associate at Returnista, you will:

• Partner with the Head of Finance & Strategy to identify growth opportunities and business optimization opportunities
• Lead strategic initiatives by conducting research, analyzing data, and providing actionable insights
• Identify, manage and execute cross-functional projects that have a significant impact on business performance
• Collaborate with all teams to implement operational improvements and ensure alignment with company objectives
• Assist in the preparation of financial models, budgets, and forecasts to inform decision-making
• Develop dashboards and reports to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and communicate findings to stakeholders
• Push for improvements in (financial) processes, tools, and systems
• Contribute to Returnista’s thought leadership and industry positioning

What we do:

• Take on big projects head on and with enthusiasm
• Drive strategic projects until implementation is successful
• Deliver high-quality results and take pride in our work
• Challenge conventional thinking and innovate to deliver value

What we don't do:

• Make plans and strategize, without doing the execution
• Overcomplicate processes with unnecessary bureaucracy
• Stick rigidly to traditional methods or roles
• Work on topics that don’t deliver real impact on the business

Our Values and Culture

At Returnista, our working culture is guided by four core values:

• We’re on this journey together: We support each other in navigating the challenges of a growing startup, whether through collaboration or celebrating wins together.
• We do it right: Quality is paramount. We go the extra mile to solve problems thoroughly and produce work we’re proud of.
• We are empowered to act, challenge, and lead: Everyone has a voice. We encourage initiative, innovation, and a culture of constructive feedback.
• We are intrepid: We embrace challenges and proactively explore opportunities to improve our product, processes, and the way we work.

What we offer:

• The autonomy to shape and develop the role and to take on projects yourself
• A chance to be part of a fast-growing scale-up company
• A positive and supportive working environment with a young team
• A MacBook and €2k annual training budget
• Many other perks like a ClassPass gym membership, fun team activities throughout the year and afternoons off in the summer to enjoy the nice weather
• Focus on personal development and guiding you in your work

Job requirements

• Ambitious, eager to learn with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset
• Exceptional communication and collaboration abilities
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in tools like Excel, PowerPoint, and financial modeling software
• A desire to make an impact in a dynamic and fast-growing company
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus
• Prior experience in strategy consulting, finance, or a related role is a bonus but not mandatory