FP&A Sr Manager
Leawood, KS, US, 66211
We Impact Lives Through Purpose-Driven Work in A People First Culture
Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning. From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers.
Headquartered in Burlington, MA, with additional office locations and hybrid and remote workers in cities across the U.S., Ascend Learning was recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of America’s 2025 Greatest Workplaces as well as America’s Best Places to work for Mental Well-Being for 2025.
We're always looking for talented, passionate professionals to join us in our mission to help change lives. If this sounds like an environment where you'd thrive, read on to learn more.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Ascend Learning is hiring a hands-on finance professional with strong technical and operational reporting skills to lead financial reporting, analysis, and planning for Ascend Learning’s Information Technology Services (ITS) and Instructional Learning and Assessment Solutions (ILAS) organizations. This role ensures accurate, consistent, and timely reporting of headcount, spend, and capital activity supporting effective forecasting, disciplined financial management, and transparency across teams.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented while also seeing the big picture and takes pride in delivering precise financial outputs that drive accountability and execution.
This position provides the financial backbone for Ascend’s technology and content development functions. The work directly supports capital planning, headcount management, and spend efficiency. The right candidate will ensure financial reporting serves as a reliable operational system of record that supports better decision-making and disciplined execution.
WHERE YOU’LL WORK
- This position will work a hybrid schedule from our Leawood, KS office
HOW YOU’LL SPEND YOUR TIME
Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Own all financial reporting for ITS and ILAS, including monthly close support, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Prepare accurate, reconciled reporting packages showing actuals vs. Plan and drivers of variance.
- Partner with ITS and ILAS leaders to maintain alignment on controllable P&L, headcount, and spend tracking.
- Maintain detailed documentation and ensure reporting consistency across accounting and FP&A teams.
- Analyze drivers and trends to inform decision making by the Chief Technology Officer and technology leadership team
Capital Planning & Investment Tracking
- Track all technology and content capital investments in accordance with capitalization policy.
- Maintain dashboards to monitor capitalization rates, project spend, and early warning indicators.
- Support ROI and cost-efficiency analyses to inform resource allocation and project prioritization.
Headcount & Spend Forecasting
- Manage headcount and contractor forecasting in partnership with HR.
- Validate labor allocations and forecast models to ensure accurate view of total spend and productivity.
- Support reporting of spend by function, vendor, and cost type to identify efficiency opportunities.
Reporting Process & Automation
- Maintain and continuously improve financial models and reporting templates.
- Streamline recurring reporting processes; identify automation opportunities to improve accuracy and timeliness.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field required.
- 7+ years of progressive FP&A or financial reporting experience, preferably supporting technology or product orgs.
- Advanced Excel skills; familiarity with large-scale financial systems and data visualization tools (eg, PowerBI).
- Strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple deliverables under tight timelines, and comfort with ambiguity.
BENEFITS
- Flexible and generous paid time off
- Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
- 401(k) employer matching program
- Parental leave
- Wellness resources
- Charitable matching program
- On-site workout facilities (Leawood, Gilbert, Burlington)
- Community outreach groups
- Tuition reimbursement
Fostering A Sense of Belonging
Our values-driven culture unifies our teams and inspires a mindset of action, innovation, and collaboration, with a relentless focus on customers. We seek out and celebrate all people and perspectives and cultivate an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and be authentic. Our culture is firmly rooted in the belief that by embracing our differences and drawing on diverse perspectives, we are a stronger, more innovative, and more successful organization where employees experience a sense of belonging.
Ascend Learning, LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer (M/F/Vets/Disabled). No agency or search firm submissions will be accepted. Applications for U.S.-based positions with Ascend Learning, LLC must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Nearest Major Market: Kansas City
