Director, FP&A

The Washington Spirit is seeking a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) who will lead the organization’s financial planning, forecasting, and analytical efforts to support strategic decision-making across the club. This role partners closely with executive leadership, department heads, and ownership to provide insights into financial performance, optimize resource allocation, and support long-term growth initiatives.The ideal candidate is a strategic finance leader with deep experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and performance analysis, ideally within a complex, fast-paced environment.Key Responsibilities:Financial Planning & ForecastingLead the annual budgeting process, including operating budgets and capital expenditure planningOversee rolling forecasts and long-range financial planning aligned with organizational strategyDevelop and maintain sophisticated financial models to support scenario planning and investment decisionsFinancial Analysis & Performance ManagementAnalyze actual financial results against budget, forecast, and historical performanceIdentify trends, risks, and opportunities across revenue streams (ticketing, sponsorships, media, league distributions) and operating costsProvide actionable insights and recommendations to improve financial performance and operational efficiencyReporting & Executive CommunicationManage the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for senior leadership and ownershipPresent financial results, forecasts, and strategic analyses to executive leadership and board-level stakeholdersTranslate complex financial data into clear, concise narratives to support decision-makingStrategic Partnership & Business SupportPartner with department leaders across Soccer Operations, Commercial, Marketing, and Operations to support strategic initiativesAdvise leadership on long-term business planning, growth opportunities, and financial implications of new initiativesSupport league-related financial reporting and compliance as requiredLeadership & Process ImprovementBuild, mentor, and lead FP&A team members as the organization growsImprove financial planning processes, tools, and systems to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalabilityEstablish best practices for financial governance and performance managementQualifications & Experience:RequiredBachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field8+ years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, with significant leadership responsibility, i.e. 3 years of Senior Manager level experienceDeep expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and variance analysisProven ability to partner with senior leadership and influence decision-makingPreferredMBA or other advanced degreeCPA, CMA, or similar professional certificationExperience in sports, entertainment, media, or consumer-facing organizationsAdvanced Excel and financial modeling skills; experience with financial planning systems preferredKey CompetenciesStrategic thinker with strong business acumenExceptional analytical and problem-solving skillsClear, confident communicator with executive presenceAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organizationCollaborative leader with a hands-on, solutions-oriented mindsetLocation:This role is primarily based at our Falls Church, VA office. Our front office team follows a hybrid arrangement.ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRITThe Washington Spirit is a founding club of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), proudly representing the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is the first franchise to have a minority woman hold a majority stake. A visionary entrepreneur, Michele Kang, is leading a new era for women’s sports with a vision to:Become the most preeminent sports organization in the worldBuild a high-performance culture of winning on and off the pitchTrain women as womenMotivate and inspire the next generation of girls and womenWe are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.