Business Analyst II

Naperville, Illinois, United States Sourcebooks Sourcebooks is seeking a Business Analyst II to partner with Sales, E-commerce, Finance, Marketing and Publishing teams on the business questions that shape our publishing performance. You will translate those questions into useful reporting, forecasts, and analytical tools, working collaboratively with colleagues across Sourcebooks to interpret results and put insights to use.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Analytics, you will take ownership of select analytical products from development through ongoing operation. Initial work will include forecasting, retailer reporting and advertising analytics, supported by collaboration with Power BI and data engineering colleagues. This hands-on role also offers the opportunity to apply AI-assisted and programmatic approaches to make analytical work more useful, reliable, and efficient.

The location for this position can be hybrid or remote in New York or Naperville, Illinois or remote based in any of the following states: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin.

This an exempt salaried position with a range of $72,000 – $78,000/annually. We determine starting pay based on a thorough evaluation of job-related factors, including geographic location, market conditions, relevant experience, training, and education. This process ensures a fair and competitive salary that aligns with both the company and the candidate’s qualifications. What you’ll do:

Reporting and analytical tools

Build, improve and maintain Power BI reports, HTML dashboards and data models that turn business requirements into clear, usable information.

Develop reliable measures and reusable reporting components, working with data colleagues on modeling, performance, and development standards.

Help develop programmatic, version-controlled reporting approaches, with opportunities to learn and apply Power BI Project and PBIR workflows.

Forecasting and business partnership

Build out, improve and maintain forecasting models and workflows.

Monitor forecast outputs and accuracy, investigate unexpected results and explain meaningful changes, assumptions, and limitations.

Work closely with the business teams that use forecasts to understand their needs, gather feedback, and refine outputs for planning and decision-making.

Retailer and advertising analytics

Develop and maintain reporting on retailer sales, inventory, and ordering, including Amazon dashboards, and help users interpret performance and identify opportunities.

Analyze advertising performance across platforms such as Amazon and Target, connecting campaign results with relevant sales and business measures.

Translate findings into clear recommendations and explanations that support business partners' commercial and campaign decisions.

AI-assisted development and reliable delivery

Use AI tools to support coding, analysis, documentation and troubleshooting, validating generated work and handling data responsibly.

Test and reconcile outputs, document methods, and run instructions, and maintain the quality and reliability of assigned reports and recurring workflows.

Troubleshoot issues with business users and technical partners, escalate source or platform problems appropriately, and support adoption through practical guidance.

What you bring:

A proactive approach, a can-do spirit, and a willingness and ability to grow and learn.

Demonstrated experience building reports and analytical tools in Power BI, Tableau, or a comparable business intelligence platform.

Experience working with forecasting models and communicating results to business stakeholders in clear, practical terms, including what has changed and what it means for their planning.

SQL skills for querying, combining, and validating data, and familiarity with data preparation and transformation.

Comfort working with code and analytical scripts, including the ability to understand, troubleshoot and improve existing workflows.

Practical experience using AI tools for analytical or technical work, with the judgment to test outputs, identify errors and protect sensitive information.

Analytical judgment and attention to detail, including the ability to investigate discrepancies and explain what data does and does not show.

Clear communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work with business users, manage agreed deliverables and document work so others can use and maintain it.

Preferred experience

2-5 years of analytics experience in book publishing, or in comparable entertainment or content businesses where demand varies by title, release cycle, catalog age, seasonality, and promotion.

Deeper Power BI experience, including DAX, data modeling, and report performance.

Experience with Python or another analytical scripting language, Git, Microsoft Fabric, or programmatic Power BI development using PBIP and PBIR.

Familiarity with retailer sales and inventory data or digital advertising measurement, particularly Amazon or Target.

Note: You do not need experience with every preferred tool or business area. We are interested in strong analytical and development foundations, sound judgment, and the ability to learn innovative approaches. Why Sourcebooks? At Sourcebooks, we believe books change lives. As the fifth-largest U.S. publisher by print units sold, we connect authors and readers through an entrepreneurial approach informed by data and reader insights. Our work has earned recognition from Fast Company, Newsweek, Inc., and Publishers Weekly. Our books have reached more than 300 million lives, and we’re working to reach 300 million more. Ready to apply: Send your resume, salary requirements, and a cover letter sharing your relevant experience and why this role interests you. A cover letter is required for consideration.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, & generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.