Reporting & Analytics Project Manager - Nelnet Financial Services

Nelnet · United States

Nelnet is a diversified and innovative company committed to enriching lives through the power of service as a student loan servicer, professional services company, consumer loan originator and servicer, payments processor, renewable energy solutions, and K-12 and higher education expert. For over 40 years, Nelnet has been serving its customers, associates, and communities. The perks of working at Nelnet go beyond our benefits package. When you join the Nelnet team, you're part of a community invested in the success of each individual. That support comes through in our work, as we are united by our mission of creating opportunities for people where they live, learn, and work. The Reporting & Analytics Project Manager independently drives projects that deliver measurable value across reporting, analytics, and business intelligence for our investment operations, working closely with a Senior Project Manager, analysts, and cross-functional partners. The ideal candidate is a confident communicator who can build strong stakeholder relationships, stays genuinely curious beyond the day-to-day ask, and can translate complex information into insight that resonates with executive audiences. Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Independently lead reporting and analytics projects, proactively identifying risks, gaps, and next steps rather than waiting for direction.
• Project Planning & Execution: Plan, sequence, and track projects, timelines, and cross-functional workstreams in a role where structure and process are still being established.
• Cross-Functional Initiatives: Contribute to larger, cross-functional initiatives, taking ownership of specific workstreams and driving them to closure.
• Deal Onboarding: Assist with onboarding new deals, ensuring data, reporting templates, and performance metrics are properly established and clearly documented.
• Process and Documentation: Establish and refine processes and documentation to bring consistency and structure to a team whose practices are still taking shape.
• Stakeholder Partnership: Partner with Finance, IT/Data Engineering, and Investment teams; ask clarifying questions, surface risks early, and advocate for what a project needs to stay on track.
• Status Communication: Communicate project status, decisions needed, and business value clearly to stakeholders at all levels, including senior and executive leadership.

• Minimum 4-6 years years of project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to structure and manage work independently in ambiguous or evolving environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build trust across Finance, IT/Data Engineering, and Investment teams and translate detail into decision-ready insight for stakeholders at every level, including senior leadership.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Demonstrated self-starter: able to operate with minimal structure and define next steps independently.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Working familiarity with tools such as Excel, SQL, Snowflake, Power BI, or similar data tools, along with proficiency in AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude to accelerate documentation, status reporting, and process drafting.
• Ability to work independently or collaborate effectively as part of a team.

• Prior experience in structured finance, capital markets, reporting/analytics, or project management within financial services.
• Genuinely curious mindset, with a habit of asking questions and exploring ideas beyond what's strictly required for the task.
• Eagerness to learn structured finance concepts, asset-backed securities, and investment performance metrics.
• Desire to continually grow and develop project management and data analytics expertise.