As a Marketing Analytics Specialist at Sunflower Bank, your day-to-day work is dynamic and highly collaborative, combining deep analytical deep-dives with active project management.

You will take ownership of tracking, analyzing, and reporting on all marketing initiatives across the bank's footprint. This includes monitoring digital campaigns (search, social, display, email) as well as traditional channels (direct mail, print, local events, and branch-specific promotions). You will collaborate closely with the digital marketing team to ensure that proper tracking codes and conversion pixels are in place before any campaign launches, establishing a reliable foundation for your subsequent analyses.

Another major component of the role is data visualization and reporting. You will design, build, and maintain automated dashboards that provide real-time visibility into marketing performance for both regional marketing managers and executive leadership. By synthesizing data from various sources—including Google Analytics, CRM systems, core banking databases, and third-party advertising platforms—you will identify key trends, highlight successes, and pinpoint areas that require optimization or budget reallocation.

Additionally, you will serve as a key advisor during the annual budgeting and planning cycles. Using historical campaign data and predictive modeling, you will help estimate the acquisition volume and deposit growth that can be achieved at various funding levels, helping Sunflower Bank maximize the efficiency of its overall marketing investment.

To be competitive for the Marketing Analytics Specialist position, candidates must demonstrate a strong blend of analytical skills, marketing experience, and professional soft skills.

• Must-have skills

  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced data analysis functions, pivot tables, and data modeling.
  • Solid working knowledge of SQL for data extraction, querying, and database segmentation.
  • Hands-on experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Google Looker Studio.
  • Experience analyzing multi-channel marketing campaigns, including digital (SEO, SEM, Paid Social, Email) and traditional media.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to present data-driven insights to non-technical stakeholders.

• Nice-to-have skills

  • Prior marketing or analytical experience within the financial services, banking, or credit union industries.
  • Familiarity with CRM platforms (such as Salesforce) and marketing automation systems (such as Marketo or HubSpot).
  • Understanding of financial compliance regulations, such as CAN-SPAM, TCPA, and fair lending advertising guidelines.
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Analytics, Finance, Statistics, or a related field.

Q: What is the typical interview difficulty for this role? A: The interview process is moderately challenging. It is less about solving abstract, theoretical puzzles and more about demonstrating practical, real-world application of your skills. The panel will focus heavily on how you approach problem-solving, manage budgets, and communicate data to non-technical colleagues.

Q: Is prior banking experience required to be hired? A: While prior experience in financial services is a significant advantage, it is not an absolute requirement. Candidates with strong analytical backgrounds in other regulated industries (such as healthcare, insurance, or telecom) or high-growth B2C/B2B sectors often transition successfully by demonstrating strong transferable skills.

Q: What tools does the marketing team at Sunflower Bank use most frequently? A: The team relies heavily on Microsoft Excel for ad-hoc analysis, SQL for database queries, Power BI for executive and regional dashboards, and Google Analytics for digital tracking. Familiarity with Salesforce is also highly beneficial.

Q: How does the location of the role affect the position? A: Sunflower Bank operates across several major regional hubs, including Irvine, Denver, Dallas, Plano, Wichita, and Overland Park. The role is typically aligned with one of these key corporate offices, and local market knowledge of these specific regional economies is highly valued.

To maximize your chances of success during the Sunflower Bank hiring process, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Use the STAR Method: When answering behavioral questions, structure your responses using the Situation, Task, Action, and Result framework. Ensure that your "Result" always includes specific, quantifiable metrics (e.g., "...which resulted in a 15% reduction in CAC and a 12% increase in account openings").
• Demonstrate Local Market Awareness: Sunflower Bank prides itself on being a premier regional community bank. Show that you understand the unique economic drivers of their key markets (such as the rapid growth in Texas or the community-oriented business landscape in Kansas and Colorado).
• Focus on Actionable Insights: When discussing your past projects, don't just explain what you analyzed; emphasize what happened as a result of your analysis. Highlight how your insights led to a change in strategy, a budget reallocation, or an optimized campaign.

• Ask Thoughtful Questions: At the end of your interviews, ask questions that show you are already thinking like a partner. Ask about their current marketing challenges, how they measure the impact of their community involvement, or how the marketing and product teams collaborate on new promotions.

The Marketing Analytics Specialist (often titled Marketing Manager) position is an exceptional opportunity to drive measurable business growth at a respected, expanding regional financial institution like Sunflower Bank. By combining your analytical rigor with strategic marketing insight, you will play a visible role in shaping how the bank connects with its customers and allocates its marketing investments.

To prepare effectively, focus on mastering your technical storytelling, refining your SQL and Excel capabilities, and practicing how you translate complex performance data into clear business recommendations. Demonstrating a strong understanding of regional banking dynamics and a collaborative, stakeholder-focused mindset will set you apart from other candidates.

The salary ranges for this position reflect the diverse geographical footprint of Sunflower Bank, with higher compensation ranges in major metropolitan markets like Irvine, Denver, and Dallas/Plano compared to regional hubs in Kansas. When preparing your compensation expectations, consider the specific cost-of-living standards of your target location and be ready to articulate the unique analytical value you bring to the regional marketing team. For more detailed company insights, interview reviews, and preparation resources, you can explore additional materials on Dataford. Good luck with your preparation—you have all the tools you need to succeed!