The Strategic Initiatives team builds internal software and financial models that run parts of GoodLeap's lending programs. This role is built for someone with a strong finance, analytical, or operations background who is genuinely curious about what AI coding tools can do. The Senior Associate learns to work directly with GoodLeap teams to understand a problem, then uses AI coding agents (Claude Code and similar tools) alongside a more senior teammate to turn that problem into a working model, tool, or feature. Over time, this role takes on more of the build independently. **Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:** **User Discovery & Problem Definition:** - Meet directly with business users to understand how they work today and where the process breaks down. - Document workflows clearly enough that a solution can be scoped and tested against a real problem. - Distinguish a real product problem from a training issue or a one-off complaint. **Building With AI Agents:** - Learn to direct AI coding agents to build financial models, internal tools, and product features under guidance from a Manager or Director. - Prototype quickly, put early versions in front of the requesting user, and adjust based on what actually happens when they use it. - Review AI-generated output for correctness before it reaches a user or a production system. - Take on increasing scope independently as judgment and technical fluency grow. **Financial & Analytical Work:** - Build and maintain financial models and analyses supporting GoodLeap's lending programs. - Flag assumptions, data issues, or edge cases that could change a model's output before they become someone else's problem. **Ownership & Follow-Through:** - Support and maintain tools after they ship: handle user questions, fix small issues, and add minor improvements. - Escalate anything that looks like an architecture, data, or infrastructure decision rather than working around it. **Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:** - Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Economics, or a related quantitative field. - 4+ years of experience in a finance, analytical, or operations role. - Curiosity: about how things work and what AI tools can do, evidenced by something you taught yourself rather than were assigned to do. - Perseverance: a track record of sticking with an ambiguous or frustrating problem, through failed attempts, until it actually works. - Critical thinking: the ability to break a messy business problem into clear logic before jumping to a solution. - Advanced Excel skills and general comfort working with data. - No prior coding or software engineering experience required. What matters is a demonstrated interest in AI tools and the willingness to learn to direct them. - Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting findings to non-technical stakeholders. - Experience with internal software, financial services, lending, or AI tools is a plus but not required. Compensation: $100,000-$130,000 annually, plus bonus **Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions:** Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other managers related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and other skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law.