IUI - Tea's Me Finance & Business Analytics Fellow

Description

Tea's Me Café is a mission-driven small business committed to serving, inspiring, and connecting the community through exceptional hospitality, community engagement, and leadership development. Through the Rise & Lead Fellowship, Tea's Me provides college students with paid experiential learning opportunities that combine classroom knowledge with hands-on business experience. Fellows are treated as emerging professionals and are given meaningful responsibilities that contribute to the organization's daily operations and long-term success.

The Finance & Business Analytics Fellow will receive ongoing supervision and mentorship from Tea's Me's owner, leadership team, and financial advisors. Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions, leadership meetings, project reviews, and financial planning discussions provide opportunities for continuous learning, feedback, and professional development. Throughout the fellowship, the student will work alongside leadership to understand how financial information supports operational decision-making, strategic planning, and organizational sustainability.

The Fellow will receive training in:

1. Financial reporting and business analytics
2. Budget development and forecasting
3. Sales, labor, and inventory analysis
4. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) tracking
5. Financial dashboard creation
6. Business planning and strategic decision-making
7. Professional communication and presentation skills
8. Project management and organizational leadership

Rather than completing routine administrative tasks, the Fellow will lead meaningful financial projects that support Tea's Me's operational goals. Students will analyze business data, identify trends, develop recommendations, and present insights that help improve business performance. The fellowship emphasizes ownership, critical thinking, and practical application of financial concepts within a real business environment.

Responsibilities

As a Finance & Business Analytics Fellow, the learner will participate in project-based financial analysis and strategic business initiatives that contribute to the operational success of Tea's Me Café. Rather than performing routine administrative duties, the Fellow will work alongside organizational leadership to analyze business performance, develop financial insights, and support data-driven decision-making.

Throughout the fellowship, the learner will:

1. Analyze weekly and monthly sales, labor, inventory, and operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
2. Develop and maintain business dashboards that track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including sales performance, labor percentages, inventory turnover, catering revenue, and event profitability.
3. Assist in preparing financial summaries and reports that support leadership planning and business decision-making.
4. Participate in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning projects while learning how financial data supports organizational growth.
5. Conduct research and comparative analyses to identify cost-saving opportunities, operational efficiencies, and revenue-generating strategies.
6. Collaborate with the Business Management, Marketing, and Events Fellows to evaluate the financial impact of promotional campaigns, community events, and operational initiatives.
7. Lead at least one independent business improvement project from concept through implementation, using financial analysis to make recommendations to Tea's Me leadership.
8. Present project findings, financial insights, and recommendations during leadership meetings, strengthening professional communication and presentation skills.
9. Participate in weekly leadership coaching sessions focused on strategic thinking, project management, and business leadership.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is eager to learn, enjoys solving problems, and has an interest in understanding how financial information supports business decision-making. Previous finance or accounting experience is not required.

Preferred qualifications include:

1. Currently enrolled in a college or university pursuing a degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Economics, Mathematics, or a related field.
2. Interest in financial analysis, business strategy, or organizational leadership.
3. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with attention to detail.
4. Willingness to learn new software, financial tools, and business systems.
5. Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or similar spreadsheet applications (or a willingness to learn).
6. Effective written and verbal communication skills.
7. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
8. Strong organizational and time-management skills.
9. Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, curiosity, and a positive attitude.
10. Commitment to learning through feedback, mentorship, and hands-on experience.

No previous professional finance, accounting, or management experience is required. The Rise & Lead Fellowship is designed to provide meaningful experiential learning, professional mentorship, and career development for emerging professionals.

We are looking for students with the desire to learn, the initiative to ask questions, and the willingness to grow. We believe potential, curiosity, and commitment are stronger indicators of future success than previous experience.

Learning Objectives

By the completion of the fellowship, the Fellow will be able to: