Open To Work
Payal Halani
Hayward,CA
Summary
Analytical and results-driven Financial Analyst with 5+ years of progressive experience in Strategic Finance, FP&A, and consolidated reporting across technology, government, and telecom sectors. Proven success in building 3-statement models, budgeting, forecasts, and variance analyses that improve decision-making and profitability. Skilled in month-end close processes, cross-functional collaboration, and financial planning for large budgets. Adept at translating complex data into actionable insights that drive operational efficiency and business growth. CFA Level I candidate with advanced expertise in Excel and financial systems.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Analyst
Mercer Island Capital Management, LLC
Mercer Island, WA
06.2025 - Current
- Developed and maintained a comprehensive P&L and cash-flow model, consolidating revenue, expense, and capital data to improve forecasting accuracy and decision support.
- Partnered with leadership on financial planning, reporting, and regulatory compliance, enhancing consolidated reporting, and aligning with audit requirements.
- Built a three-year strategic financial plan with OKRs and KPIs, driving $50M AUM growth and a 40% reduction in expense ratio by 2027.
- Improved monthly forecasting processes and enhanced management reporting accuracy by automating variance tracking between actuals and the plan, ensuring data integrity, and faster close cycles.
- Strengthened inter-company billing, loan tracking, and management reporting, increasing transparency and operational efficiency.
Senior Financial Analyst
City of Seattle, Dept. of Education Early Learning
Seattle, WA
09.2024 - 06.2025
- Directed financial management for a $44M operating budget, overseeing forecasting, variance analysis, and consolidated reporting across 40+ external agencies.
- Led monthly close reporting and analysis of variances between actuals, forecasts, and plans; presented insights and corrective actions to cross-functional teams.
- Created dynamic, Excel-based forecasting tools that standardized reporting and improved budget accuracy by 20%.
- Advised leadership on scenario planning and cost projections, enhancing long-term strategic and capital planning processes.
- Collaborated with accounting and operations to streamline financial workflows, reducing reconciliation time by 15%.
Financial Reporting Analyst Intern
Ericsson
Bellevue, WA
06.2023 - 03.2024
- Supported OPEX forecasting, financial consolidation, and revenue recognition across business units, improving cost transparency by 5%.
- Partnered with accounting on month-end close and SOX compliance, ensuring accuracy in financial statements, and reducing audit findings by 10%.
- Optimized Salesforce-based financial tracking, increasing reporting efficiency by 15% through process automation.
- Enhanced cross-departmental communication by orchestrating channels between Sales Directors, operations, and contract management, fostering collaboration, and operational efficiency.
Client Account Manager
Seattle University - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Seattle, WA
10.2022 - 03.2024
- Conducted financial modeling, projections, and cash-flow analyses for early-stage businesses, helping secure over $970K in combined grants and loans.
- Delivered KPI-driven reporting dashboards that improved clients' financial planning and investment readiness.
Financial Analyst
Collective Artists Network India Pvt. Ltd
Mumbai, India
07.2018 - 10.2021
- Managed accounts receivables to optimize revenue tracking, collections, and margins through collaboration with business heads and third parties. Achieved a 10% decrease in Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and a 25% increase in collections, boosting cash flow.
- Led budgeting, forecasting, and variance reporting for a high-volume media business, improving forecast accuracy by 15%, and achieving budget precision within 2%.
- Created financial and profitability models for over 100 contracts, identifying margin opportunities that increased collections by 25%.
- Streamlined invoice processing through cross-functional collaboration, reducing turnaround time by 25%, and improving operational efficiency.
- Managed escalations through root cause analysis and compliance with norms, achieving a 30% reduction in escalations.
Senior Financial Assistant
Relcon Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd
Mumbai, India
07.2015 - 05.2017
- Managed statutory accounts to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely reporting by collaborating closely with senior management, and auditors. This enhanced transparency and supported strategic decision-making.
- Streamlined accounting processes, including financial statement preparation, oversight of VAT/corporate tax returns, and cash flow forecasts. Conducted meticulous accounting data entry, bank reconciliations, and thorough scrutiny of financial data, including auditing expense bills and bids.
- Oversaw the post-submission process for 15 government infrastructure bids, confirming receipt, and conducting a detailed financial impact analysis. Identified variances that led to a 5% improvement in budget forecasting accuracy.
Financial Assistant
Mehta Chokshi & Shah
Mumbai, India
03.2011 - 05.2014
Education
Master of Science - Finance
Seattle University
Seattle, WA03-2024
Master of Commerce - Finance And Accounting
University of Mumbai
Mumbai, India05-2018
Bachelor of Science - Finance And Accounting
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics
Mumbai, India03-2012
Skills
- Financial forecasting
- Financial modeling
- Financial reporting, planning, and analysis
- Cash-flow analysis
- Budget oversight
- Variance analysis
- KPI development
- Strategic planning
- GAAP and statutory reporting
- Expense control strategies
- SOX internal controls
- Excel and Google Sheets expertise
- ERP and QuickBooks knowledge
- Salesforce CRM expertise
- Data analytics tools (Tableau, Power BI)
- Foundational programming skills (Python, SQL, R)
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkLocation Preference
On-SiteHybridRemoteTimeline
Financial Analyst
Mercer Island Capital Management, LLC
06.2025 - Current
Senior Financial Analyst
City of Seattle, Dept. of Education Early Learning
09.2024 - 06.2025
Financial Reporting Analyst Intern
Ericsson
06.2023 - 03.2024
Client Account Manager
Seattle University - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
10.2022 - 03.2024
Financial Analyst
Collective Artists Network India Pvt. Ltd
07.2018 - 10.2021
Senior Financial Assistant
Relcon Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd
07.2015 - 05.2017
Financial Assistant
Mehta Chokshi & Shah
03.2011 - 05.2014
Master of Science - Finance
Seattle University
Master of Commerce - Finance And Accounting
University of Mumbai
Bachelor of Science - Finance And Accounting
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics