Transaction & Strategy Analyst

Financial & Strategic Analyst

Position Overview

JLL is seeking a Financial & Strategic Analyst to support our team for a major client portfolio. This role will work in our Pittsburg or Chicago office location with a minimum of three days in-office presence required.

About The Role

As a Financial & Strategic Analyst, you will serve dual functions: leading analytical support for Transaction Managers in executing lease transactions while simultaneously driving strategic initiatives for C-suite client stakeholders. You will report directly to the Hiring Manager while managing operational, administrative, and strategic planning processes.

This role serves as a subject matter expert who independently manages sophisticated analytical processes, provides strategic insights across both transactional and portfolio-level initiatives, and delivers high-value support that connects real estate decisions to broader business outcomes. You will translate complex cross-functional inputs into compelling executive narratives and visual presentations.

To excel in this position, you will need expertise in commercial real estate transactions, superior analytical capabilities, advanced presentation design skills, and the ability to work with minimal supervision while interfacing directly with clients, tenants, landlords, and C-suite executives. Your expertise in creating comprehensive market analyses, integrated financial models, strategic frameworks, and executive-ready materials will be essential to the team's success.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Advisory (50%+)

• Develop and design compelling PowerPoint presentations outlining strategic initiatives for C-suite audiences
• Create executive-ready materials that translate complex analysis into clear strategic narratives and visual stories
• Lead program management for ongoing strategic initiatives including timeline tracking, milestone management, and stakeholder coordination
• Conduct integrated strategic analysis connecting transaction economics with deferred maintenance, CapEx planning, portfolio optimization, and capital avoidance strategies
• Develop new analytical frameworks and methodologies for novel strategic challenges
• Synthesize inputs from cross-functional teams (Capital Markets, Project Management, Valuation) into cohesive strategic recommendations
• Support both short-term tactical planning and long-term strategic portfolio initiatives
• Conduct advanced scenario planning across multiple variables (disposition strategies, acquisition modeling, portfolio rebalancing)
• Create dynamic dashboards and data visualizations using PowerBI and/or Tableau for executive reporting
• Facilitate strategic planning meetings and manage deliverable timelines across concurrent initiatives

Transaction Support & Financial Analysis (50%)

• Support development of requests for proposals, letters of intent, and other transaction materials
• Advanced financial analysis including NPV, cash flow modeling, and lease rate optimization
• Development and execution of financial modeling for various scenario planning and strategic plans
• Resolve financial model issues, address improvement concepts, and ensure models operate accurately
• Lead lease versus buy analysis with integrated capital planning considerations
• In-depth market research, competitive analysis, market survey development, analysis, and quality assurance
• Detailed and consistent proposal comparisons and recommendations
• Implementation of quality assurance protocols for transaction materials
• Support implementation and execution of process improvement initiatives
• Strategic data management and oversight across client and internal systems
• Budgeting and forecast support via internal JLL tools
• Support for closing out transactions in JLL systems and tracking of payments

Client & Team Leadership

• Understand the client's key business drivers and align team deliverables with C-suite priorities
• Help ensure that the account team is high performing and efficient
• Improve team performance by being a self-starter and presenting innovative ideas and frameworks
• Learn and understand the clients' processes and strategic objectives
• Coordinate with JLL service lines to deliver integrated solutions

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required (business, finance, economics, or related field preferred)
• MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
• 1-3+ years of relevant experience in financial analysis, strategic planning, or commercial real estate

Technical Skills

• Expert proficiency with MS Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Advanced presentation design skills with ability to create executive-grade visual materials
• Proficiency or strong aptitude with PowerBI and/or Tableau for data visualization and dashboard creation
• Proven analytical expertise with both qualitative and quantitative information
• Advanced financial modeling capabilities across multiple scenarios and strategic frameworks
• Proficiency with CoStar and other specialized real estate databases
• Strong capability managing and analyzing large datasets

Strategic & Analytical Competencies

• Ability to develop new analytical frameworks and methodologies
• Integrated thinking that connects real estate decisions to broader capital planning and business strategy
• Experience conducting complex strategic analysis with multiple variables (CapEx, deferred maintenance, portfolio optimization)
• Knowledge of real estate terminology, transaction processes, financial modeling, and strategic planning initiatives
• Familiarity with corporate real estate strategy concepts and workplace strategy principles (helpful but not required)

Communication & Leadership

• Superior verbal and written communication skills with ability to craft executive narratives
• Exceptional presentation skills and visual storytelling for C-suite audiences
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategic recommendations
• Demonstrated leadership and initiative in creative problem-solving
• Ability to translate cross-functional technical inputs into polished strategic materials

Project & Program Management

• Exceptional organizational and program management abilities
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent strategic initiatives with long time horizons
• Strong timeline management, meeting facilitation, and stakeholder coordination skills
• Advanced ability to prioritize competing demands in a dynamic environment
• Meticulous attention to detail while maintaining strategic perspective

Professional Attributes

• Proven ability to work both independently and lead team initiatives
• Willingness to take on new challenges, responsibilities, and assignments
• Self-starter mentality with ability to innovate and drive continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to manage both operational execution and strategic thinking
• Active real estate licensure demonstrating professional commitment to industry standards and regulatory compliance (preferred)