Senior Analyst - Innovation
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is a national, professional association of CPAs, with more than 412,000 members from all areas of practice and over 144 countries (for more about who we are and what we do, check out our About page). The AICPA Team is comprised of more than 800 dynamic professionals across a variety of service areas. Whether you like to be out in front connecting with members, prefer to work behind the scenes, or fall somewhere in between, the AICPA has the perfect fit for you. The AICPA family embraces integrity, passion, innovation and collaboration. If that sounds like you, we want to get to know you better! Browse our job listings and submit an application today.
SUMMARY
In collaboration with the Institute’s membership, products and services business units, drive revenue growth and enhance member value by fostering “sustaining” innovation in the core and identifying and developing opportunities in adjacent and new areas in the US and internationally. Convert those opportunities into new products, services, and delivery models. As a member of the core Innovation team, this individual’s responsibilities include identifying, evaluating and advancing proposals for new products, services, business and innovations for AICPA, creating a culture to foster “sustaining” innovation in the businesses and supporting the product ideation process, development lifecycle, and go to market efforts of proposals selected to move forward.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Drive New Product/Service Development in Adjacent and Transformational Areas (50%)
· Provide strategic support to senior leadership on high visibility, cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives
· Create and execute project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
· Mentor, coach and lead junior team members on projects and assignments.
· Support the development of new product/services and business models in adjacent and transformational areas with the creation of business plans, operating models, and proof of concepts
· Coordinate with marketing, communications and brand, and technology partner(s) including CPA.com, internal and external development resources, and key business units on the development and launch of new products and services.
· Support the development of go-to-market plans.
· Coordinate transition of acquired products and concepts into existing product/services family
Identify and Screen New Ideas (20%)
· Identify unmet user needs via lead user analysis, market and competitor analysis, direct and indirect customer wants/needs research, and other techniques. Share observations and insights and broader opportunities with other parts of the Institute.
· Support internal and external ideation sessions, focus groups and other idea generation processes. Develop mechanisms to embed a culture of continuous innovation into the Institute.
· Continuously scan competitive landscape for emerging trends, opportunities, and threats.
· Support evaluation of proposals through gathering of research to support go/no go decision making
· Coordinate efforts to develop appropriate terms and conditions for research conducted with outside partners and groups.
· Manage project coordination and tracking including innovation pipeline.
Enhance the Innovation Culture (15%)
· Work with the business units to establish and foster a culture of sustaining innovation throughout the organization.
· Support growth of Innovation culture at the institute through management of internal messaging, creation of collateral, & newsletter, innovation contests and creation and execution of other programs to build awareness that sustaining innovation is every employee’s responsibility.
Develop New Business Opportunities (15%)
· Monitor the industry to assist with the identification of products, services, models, concepts, organizations to acquire or partner with, as well as new channels and new opportunities for existing products/services.
· Work with other business departments to shape and influence and provide strategic guidance to ideas and opportunities they are evaluating and ensure alignment with the innovation agenda for the Institute
Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
· None
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
· Creativity and innovation
· Strategic thinking
· Member/customer orientation
· Problem solving and analysis
· Ability to extrapolate consumer insights and interpret into requirements
· Knowledge and/or in depth understanding of technology concepts
· Familiarity with research methodologies
· Knowledge of and interest in project management methodologies and tools.
· Ability to scan landscape for idea & opportunity generation
· Strong multi-tasking skills with the ability to effectively balance the needs of multiple initiatives in parallel
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills
· Ability to work across multiple constituencies, including third parties, at multiple levels of the organization. Ability to collaborate with diverse group in a cross functional organization
· Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, and Visio), web-based applications and database capabilities
· Experience developing products and services for a membership-based professional association and for global audiences
- Ability to excel in a sometimes ambiguous work environment, where specific tasks may not be well defined
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
· 3-5 years of related experience (1-2 years with MBA) including identifying customer needs and translating into new products and services and product development lifecycle management or experience in strategy and innovation in a top tier consulting firm
EDUCATION REQUIRED
· Bachelor's degree
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION PREFERRED
· MBA
Equal Employment Opportunity
AICPA is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
