Vice President, Data & Analytics (AI)

Vice President, Data & Analytics 

About Palm Tree 

Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree partners with private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events including acquisitions, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, integrations, and performance improvement initiatives. 

Palm Tree's Data & Analytics practice helps private equity portfolio companies and middle-market businesses build modern, insight-driven data capabilities. Our team works alongside executive leadership to design, implement, and optimize data infrastructure, AI solutions, and analytics that provide real-time visibility into operational and financial performance. 

The Vice President Position 

The Vice President is a senior management role within Palm Tree's Data & Analytics practice and a hands-on execution leader. This role manages analytics engagements and the teams that deliver them, designs data models and architecture that other team members build on, develops advanced AI solutions, and strengthens the practice's delivery quality and capacity. 

The VP works directly with private equity sponsors, operators, and executive stakeholders to translate financial and operational questions into scalable data and AI solutions. The role combines deep technical capability in business intelligence, data modeling, and AI with a firm foundation in finance and accounting. The ideal candidate speaks the financial language expected of private equity operators, can analyze financial statements and forecasts as well as build the solutions that support them, receives direction while independently driving execution, and helps build the team's capabilities over time. 

Core Responsibilities 

Data Architecture & Modeling 

• Design scalable, interconnected data models (including dimensional and relational structures) that go well beyond single-table solutions 

• Establish database-style design standards, modeling conventions, and analytics architecture best practices across engagements 

• Serve as a second technical reviewer for data models and transformation logic, ensuring quality and consistency across project delivery 

• Document data structures, business rules, and pipeline logic for client and internal use 

Financial Data & Accounting Foundation 

• Model, validate, and reconcile financial data from ERP and accounting systems, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements 

• Build and maintain forecasting, budgeting, and budget-versus-actual models that reflect how finance teams plan and track performance 

• Define financial metrics precisely, including EBITDA, working capital, net debt, margins, and covenant calculations, so that data outputs align with the accounting record 

• Support month-end close, reporting, and financial data quality processes in partnership with client finance teams 

Business Intelligence & Financial Analytics 

• Lead the development of Power BI semantic models, reports, and dashboards using Power Query, DAX, and sound data modeling practices 

• Build finance-informed KPI frameworks that connect financial requirements to technical solutions 

• Apply advanced Excel-based analysis to validate results, support financial modeling, and communicate with finance stakeholders 

• Implement row-level security and governance controls within BI environments, and support data quality assurance 

Financial Analysis & Advisory 

• Analyze historical performance, forecasts, and variances to identify the drivers behind results and inform operational and financial decisions 

• Interpret financial statements and forecasts for private equity sponsors, operators, and management teams, translating findings into clear recommendations 

• Prepare board, lender, and investment committee reporting materials that present financial performance and value creation progress 

AI Solutions Development 

• Lead the development of AI agents, custom GPTs, and Copilot-based solutions that support analytics delivery and firm-wide initiatives 

• Provide architectural guidance to ensure AI solutions are scalable, efficient, secure, and integrated with data models and BI environments 

• Identify and implement AI-related tools and workflows that accelerate analysis, forecasting, modeling, and reporting 

• Maintain and optimize the firm's AI agent library so that it remains current and relevant 

• Evaluate where AI capabilities add practical value to client deliverables and internal processes 

AI Enablement, Training & Collaboration 

• Train internal and external users on the development and use of AI tools, including Copilot 

• Work closely with third-party vendors to onboard and train users on AI technologies 

• Collaborate with departments across the firm and with clients to identify AI-driven opportunities and implement tailored solutions 

• Stay current on AI technologies, trends, and best practices, and act as a thought leader driving AI adoption across business units 

Client & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Work directly with executive and business stakeholders to translate business questions into analytical and AI-enabled frameworks 

• Lead working sessions, status meetings, and presentations with business and technical stakeholders 

• Partner with clients to define metrics, reporting needs, and data requirements that support operational and financial decisions 

Delivery & Engagement Management 

• Own complex analytics and AI workstreams from scoping through delivery, including timelines, resourcing, and quality 

• Scope projects, estimate level of effort, and manage delivery timelines across one or more teams 

• Manage budget, revenue, and gross margin for assigned engagements, in line with firm performance goals 

• Synthesize insights from structured and unstructured data and deliver actionable recommendations that support operational and financial decision-making 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead and support junior team members across analytics and AI engagements, helping balance workload and project volume 

• Provide structured feedback and guidance on modeling, analytics architecture, financial analysis, and best practices 

• Mentor and develop team members, contributing to training efforts and succession planning 

• Reduce the practice's dependence on any single technical reviewer for models and solution quality 

• Contribute to internal methodologies, delivery frameworks, and practice standards, and support firm initiatives and a collaborative culture 

Qualifications 

Education & Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a similar field 

• 7+ years of relevant professional experience in financial transaction advisory, private equity, consulting, investment banking, restructuring, corporate or portfolio company finance, FP&A, or business intelligence, with progressive responsibility 

• Proven ability to lead junior staff and produce quality client results 

• Prior experience managing, leading, or supporting a team 

Finance & Accounting 

• Strong foundation in finance and accounting, with fluency in financial statements, forecasts, budgets, and the financial language used by private equity operators 

• Ability to analyze financial statements and forecasts, identify performance drivers, and communicate conclusions to sponsors and management 

• Understanding of accounting principles and close processes, and the ability to work with financial data at the detail level required for accurate reporting 

• Experience combining data and analytics skills with finance-related knowledge; finance or accounting background highly desirable 

• Familiarity with finance concepts and business processes, with the ability to bridge financial requirements and technical solutions 

Data, BI & Technical 

• Strong BI background with hands-on expertise in Power BI, Power Query, DAX, and data modeling 

• Demonstrated experience building scalable, multi-table data structures and interconnected models, with a working understanding of database design principles 

• Strong SQL proficiency, including CTEs, window functions, subqueries, and complex joins 

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint 

AI 

• Demonstrated experience developing AI solutions, including AI agents, custom GPTs, or Copilot-based tools 

• Experience with AI-related tools and workflows, and the judgment to determine where AI adds practical value 

Professional Attributes 

• Experience working directly with private equity sponsors, business stakeholders, and senior leaders in client-facing environments 

• Strong analytical thinking and problem decomposition skills, with the ability to work independently, receive direction, and iterate on solutions with limited supervision 

• Initiative-taking, motivated, and self-starter attitude 

• Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to thrive under pressure in fast-paced settings 

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage decision makers across functions 

• Demonstrated business-partner mindset 

Preferred Experience 

• CPA or CFA designation 

• Experience with cloud data platforms such as Azure or Snowflake 

• Familiarity with ETL/ELT tools including Azure Data Factory or dbt 

• Experience using Python for data transformation or automation 

• Exposure to private equity or portfolio company environments 

• Familiarity with ERP systems such as AS/400, NetSuite, or similar 

Compensation and Benefits 

• Base salary range of $150,000 - $200,000, with competitive performance-based bonus incentive 

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance 

• Competitive 401(k) program with employer matching contributions 

• Hybrid work environment with access to offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York 

• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) 

• Opportunities for career advancement within a merit-based, entrepreneurial culture