Mediabistro logo
job logo

Senior Financial Analyst

CostQuest, Cincinnati, OH, United States

Duration: Full Time

Position:





Senior Financial Analyst










Location:


Cincinnati, OH or Seattle, WA


Remote Status: Hybrid

Job Id:



165

# of Openings:



1




Senior Financial Analyst



CostQuest Associates (CQA)






About This Role



The objective of this role is to modernize and extend financial models and analyses used to value broadband communication and other terrestrial-based networks. You will work to document and standardize analysis across a variety of data sources: engineering, geospatial, financial etc. You work to understand and update models and analyses in various programs (e.g. Excel, SQL, R, and KNIME); learning programs and software as required from your existing strong technical base. You will need to understand the financial and accounting theories behind the models to make updates under the guidance of senior consultants. As existing tools are updated, you will develop and extend analyses.


Our analyses inform the most important stakeholders in the broadband communications industry; our clients include government agencies, the largest ISPs, and major cable & mobile carriers, and state and federal agencies. We leverage our proprietary geospatial datasets, in-house network engineers, and a technical consulting team.


CostQuest is a specialized consulting firm that has operated in the broadband communications space for 25 years. We are not a large organization. That means you will have direct access to senior leadership, early client exposure, and the ability to take on progressively more responsibility as you grow. The firm supports professional development, including pursuing financial designations.


This is a mid-career role. We are looking for someone with a solid foundation who is ready to do the work, learn the domain, and grow into a larger role over time.


Position Description



The right mid-career Senior Financial Analyst has a solid and developing foundation in accounting and finance principles, some valuation experience, and the ability to translate technical analysis into clear, defensible conclusions for tax authorities, auditors, and clients. You understand that the financial analyst's role is changing as AI and large language models become part of the toolkit, and you are willing to use these tools to work more effectively rather than waiting for someone to tell you how.


This is not a role where you will be handed a playbook. There is a lot of existing work to learn and document, and there is new work to build. You need to be comfortable with both.


Position Responsibilities:



Tax Valuation and Advisory



  • Assist in the development, testing, and delivery of fair market value, ad-valorem, property tax, and other valuations related to broadband communications assets.

  • Develop and review financial and valuation analyses used for federal, state, and local tax reporting, including support for audits and appeals, along with support for business valuation for M&A efforts.

  • Support tax planning initiatives involving network expansions, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings.



Financial Modeling and Analysis



  • Build and review discounted cash flow (DCF) models, market approach analyses, and cost-based valuations tailored to broadband assets.

  • Apply strong accounting and finance principles, including revenue recognition, cost allocation, and capital structure analysis.




  • Operate, document, and audit/review existing Excel-based financial models, including legacy models that support ongoing client engagements. Evaluate legacy Excel models, SQL, and other analyses to determine migration strategy.

  • Support the documentation and digital transformation of existing financial models and analytical processes, including mapping workflows into project management and reporting platforms (e.g., JIRA) for better visibility and accountability.



Industry Research and Analysis



  • Use an AI-based approach to monitor and analyze public filings (10-Ks, 10-Qs, earnings releases) from major broadband and telecommunications providers to track industry trends, subscriber data, and financial performance.

  • Conduct industry and competitive research to support client engagements, valuation assumptions, and internal knowledge development.

  • Identify and evaluate new data sources that can improve existing financial models and analyses.



Client Engagement



  • Participate in client calls and take ownership of discrete components for presentation, progressively building trust and credibility with clients.

  • Respond to specific client requests via email and other communications with professionalism and attention to detail.




  • Begin to establish and develop direct client relationships under the guidance of senior leadership.



Education:




  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field preferred. Candidates with tangential but demonstrable financial skills will also be considered.



Required Skills:




  • Valuation experience or exposure, with a willingness to take on progressively complex valuation engagements.

  • Strong working knowledge of accounting and finance principles, including financial statement analysis and corporate finance concepts.

  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, including the ability to operate, document, and audit/review existing financial models.

  • Proficiency in structured analysis of large data sets using programming tools such as [R], Python, SQL, and KNIME.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing formal valuation reports.

  • Comfortable with data analysis and visualization. Demonstrates an understanding of data relationships, procedural logic, and structured analytical thinking.

  • Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and sound ethical judgment in professional settings.

  • Experience and willingness to use LLMs/AI to develop models and related work product.



Preferred Skills:




  • Professional certification such as CVA, ABV, ASA, CFA, or CPA, or actively working toward certification.

  • Prior experience in the valuation of broadband, telecommunications, utility, or infrastructure assets.

  • Experience supporting tax audits, appeals, or regulatory reviews.

  • Familiarity with valuation software, industry databases, and market research tools.

  • Experience with Capital IQ or similar software platforms.

  • Knowledge of geospatial concepts and/or computer vision.



Other Requirements:




  • Occasional travel to client locations.

  • To meet the U.S. Government clearance requirements for this opportunity, candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

  • Ability to pass a U.S. Public Trust background investigation for access to the client site and computing systems. You must have lived in the U.S. for the past three (3) years.

  • All candidates will be subject to a background check and pre-employment drug screening.



Compensation & Benefits:




  • Competitive Salary and Benefits

  • Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

  • Bonus Pay and Profit Sharing

  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

  • 401(k) matching

  • Health insurance

  • Company paid Dental, Vision, Life, and LTD insurance

  • Employee assistance program

  • Flexible schedule

  • Health savings account

  • Vacation (15 days - increasing with years of service), Sick (5 days)

  • 10 Paid Holidays

  • Parental leave

  • Professional development assistance

  • Tuition reimbursement



Schedule:




  • Monday to Friday. The role involves collaboration across multiple U.S. time zones and flexibility in working hours is expected in both directions.



Ability to commute/relocate:




  • Reliably commute or planning to relocate to Seattle, WA (Fremont) or Cincinnati, OH.



Work Location:




  • Hybrid schedule. Seattle, WA (Fremont) or Cincinnati, OH.




Who We Are



CostQuest Associates is a broadband consulting firm offering a variety of specialized consulting services, GIS data, and application products. Our team utilizes GIS (Geographic Information System) solutions to design, develop, and implement economic models, applications, and geographic data to support the broadband telecommunications ecosystem.



We are a small company with a large profile, in constant pursuit of new challenges to expand our competencies. Our customers range from Fortune 100 companies to government departments at the Federal and State levels.

CostQuest Associates is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, with an office in Seattle, Washington, a presence in Washington, D.C., and a network of experts across the US.


What We Do



CostQuest Associates services government clients and the broadband industry with services related to valuation, appraisal, public policy, engineering cost, and business planning. We excel in custom broadband telecommunication economics work and the creation of niche datasets and applications that enable companies and regulators to make effective, informed decisions, and allocate their capital more efficiently.



Clients such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the US Department of Commerce have relied on our expertise to inform policy and regulatory decisions. In addition, our valuation and appraisal services support the tax and merger and acquisition initiatives for large services providers and other providers of broadband services.



Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability



CostQuest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on any protected basis.


If you have a disability and need assistance during the application and selection process as a result, please let us know. Arrangements can be made to provide an accommodation to assist you in applying for an open position using our online system or completing any other related paperwork, interviewing, or any portion of the employment process. Please contact Betsy Thrush at bthrush@costquest.com if you need an accommodation or other assistance.


Visit our website and LinkedIn page to learn more about CostQuest:



Apply for this Position