Lead Operations & Finance Analyst, Climate Advisory

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Job Summary:

The Lead Operations & Finance Analyst is a strategic dual-hatted role designed to bridge the gap between technical data engineering and financial performance. You will be a critical member of the Climate Advisory team, reporting to the Director of Operations and responsible for building the function’s data infrastructure from scratch—translating complex requirements into robust Power BI dashboards—while simultaneously supporting Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) activities. You will act as the primary liaison between Advisory Operations and the Corporate Finance department to ensure that operational data drives f inancial accuracy, budgeting, and long-term strategic planning.

Main Responsibilities

Advanced Data Management & Analytical Reporting

● Design, build, and maintain mission-critical reporting dashboards, primarily using Power BI, to visualise key performance indicators (KPIs), operational metrics, and individual team performance.

● Write and optimise complex SQL queries to extract, transform, and load data from various sources (e.g. Salesforce, project management tools, HR tool) for analytical use.

● Conduct ad-hoc data analysis and modelling to diagnose operational gaps, identify trends, and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.

● Execute rigorous data quality assurance checks and implement automated validation scripts to ensure the integrity of core platforms.

Financial Data Support & Coordination

● Assist the Director of Operations and the Finance team by compiling, cleaning, and organising the operational data required for annual budgeting and monthly forecasting.

● Prepare standardised financial data exports and reports to help Finance track project profitability, utilisation rates, and margin trends.

● Perform initial data reconciliations to identify discrepancies between actual results and forecasts, flagging issues for further review by the Director or Finance.

● Act as the technical point of contact for the Finance department to ensure that the data flowing from operational tools (like Salesforce, AQ) into financial models is accurate and complete.

Process Optimisation & Tool Management

● Identify, design, and implement scalable processes and tools that enhance team efficiency, consistency, and compliance across the Climate Advisory function.

Operational Support & Training

● Provide timely, day-to-day operational support, proactively resolving technical issues related to project tracking and data reporting.

● Conduct necessary administrative and operational tasks, including data compilation and analysis, to meet time-sensitive team objectives.

● Lead training sessions for the Advisory team on how to interpret dashboards.

Essential Profile Requirements

Educational Background & Experience

● Degree in Data Science, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.

● Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in data analytics or highly technical operational roles. ● Proven track record of building and maintaining complex Power BI dashboards and managing data pipelines.

Skills & Competencies

● Expert SQL Skills: Strong understanding of SQL for data extraction and manipulation.

● Power BI Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Power BI (including DAX and Power Query) with the ability to build sophisticated visualisations from scratch.

● Analytical Proficiency: Exceptional ability to work with large, disparate datasets and translate them into actionable insights.

● Financial Literacy & Data Awareness: Solid understanding of core financial concepts (e.g., budgeting, project profitability, and revenue recognition) and the ability to translate these into technical data requirements.

● Process & Detail Orientation: Demonstrated ability to identify bottlenecks, design automated solutions, and uphold exceptional attention to detail.

● Communication: Excellent English oral and written skills, with the ability to explain complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

● Proactive & Independent: Highly self-motivated with a proactive, ownership-driven approach and the adaptability to navigate a rapidly changing operational landscape.