Vice President Financial Planning & Analysis

Department:

Our Company Promise

We are committed to provide our Employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, Employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.

Job Description:

Job Summary

• This position leads the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Department. FP&A exists to empower Southwest Airlines to make informed decisions that achieve targets, improve performance, and ensure Southwest's prosperity. The Department and, by extension it's Leader, does this by serving as unbiased Partners that create accurate forecasts, impart global context, and deliver insightful analysis. Reporting to the Vice President of Strategy & Planning, the ideal Candidate possesses strong financial planning and analysis experience, is able to breakdown complex analytical questions into simple stories, and enjoys the challenge of working with a large, complex, and dynamic organization.

Additional details:

• The culture of Southwest Airlines means we embrace a flexible workplace and value the camaraderie, collaboration, and innovation that occurs when we come together and interact face-to-face at our vibrant Corporate Campus. This role is a hybrid position based out of our Corporate Campus in Dallas, TX, which requires Employees to work onsite on our Corporate Campus at least three days a week. The Department designates the specific three days of the week Employees must work on-site.    

• U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S. is required, and no current or future work authorization sponsorship available.

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We continue to look for opportunities to reflect the communities we serve, and welcome applicants with diverse thoughts, backgrounds, and experiences. 

• Responsibilities
  • This role is responsible for leading a large Team in the following areas:
    • Forecasting and budgeting all aspects of the business, particularly the profit & loss and capital plans
    • Developing management reporting and commentary that provides senior leaders with timely insights into trends, operational results, and growth drivers. This includes weekly CEO updates, quarterly earnings calls and other investor relations events, and Board of Director updates
    • Providing analysis, models, and presentations to external stakeholders, such as lenders, as necessary
    • Preparing business reviews that highlight key risks, opportunities, and proposed action steps. Helping the company understand how all the pieces fit together and drive performance
    • Working with senior leadership to create annual and multi-year operating plans, including supporting the CFO in setting financial and other KPI objectives
    • Structuring and communicating unbiased analysis used for decision support on projects such as strategic growth opportunities, new product development, contract negotiations, and other corporate initiatives
    • Creating deep business partnerships to facilitate decision making for tradeoffs with senior management
    • Leading and inspiring a team of finance professionals; responsible for selection, development, mentoring, career-pathing, and performance
    • Strengthening the team's partnership and influencing and storytelling skills
    • Evaluating and improving current reporting, modeling, and business planning processes to ensure they are efficient and effective, particularly ensuring that all stakeholders contribute to the plan and assumptions are appropriately discussed and documented
  • May perform other job duties as directed by Employee's Leaders
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Growth mindset, sense of curiosity and dedication to the team's success
  • Outstanding business and financial acumen
  • Excellent verbal and written skills, including proven ability to communicate effectively at C-suite and, preferably Board of Director, level in order to drive decision making
  • Significant experience working and leading cross-functionally
  • Track record as a relationship builder who inspires trust and confidence
  • Bias towards action, with a reputation as a leader who can manage a very wide portfolio of responsibilities and get things done
  • Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills

• Education
  • Required: High School Diploma or GED
  • Required: Bachelor's Degree - Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Economics or equivalent experience
  • Preferred: Advanced Degree (i.e. MBA)
• Experience
  • Required: 15 years of increasing responsibility and leadership, with related experience
  • Required: 10 years of leading and developing FP&A teams
  • Preferred: Experience in aviation, the airline industry, and/or strategy experience
• Licensing/Certification
  • N/A
• Physical Abilities
  • Ability to perform work duties from [limited space work station/desk/office area] for extended periods of time
  • Ability to communicate and interact with others in the English language to meet the demands of the job
  • Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed and accuracy to meet the demands of the job
• Other Qualifications
  • Must maintain a well-groomed appearance per Company appearance standards as described in established guidelines
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be able to comply with Company attendance standards as described in established guidelines

Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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