Finance & Banking
Michael Kirk is a Senior Financial Analyst at PNC Financial Services with a robust background in finance, strategic planning, and cross-functional leadership. His career at PNC began in 2020 as part of the bank’s first fully virtual internship class during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this early experience, he gained exposure to capital and liquidity reporting, regulatory frameworks like Basel III, and general ledger reconciliation. This culminated in a capstone presentation to executive leadership, including the CFO.
Following the internship, Michael was selected for PNC’s highly competitive Finance & Accounting Development Program (6% acceptance rate), completing four cross-functional rotations in financial systems, governance, broker-dealer accounting, capital markets, and project management. Notably, he contributed to the successful integration of PNC’s $11.6 billion acquisition of BBVA. As Career Development Chair for his analyst cohort, he organized peer-led training and engagement with senior executives, reflecting his early commitment to mentorship and team development.
In 2022, Michael advanced to the Finance Project Management Office, where he led monthly reporting for a $1.6 billion technology project portfolio spanning 14 lines of business. He produced and automated the Portfolio Management Dashboard, cutting delivery time by two weeks and improving data reliability. As Product Owner for a $30 million enterprise-wide ERP replacement, he coordinated across more than 100 stakeholders, drove completion of functional design documents, and shaped the future-state architecture for core finance systems. He also developed scalable solutions to streamline the funding request process for technology initiatives, training users and driving adoption across the enterprise.
Now serving in the Corporate Controller Group, Michael leads the annual budgeting and five-year strategic planning processes for a $48 million+ finance technology portfolio. He consolidates inputs from business leaders and project managers, resolves variances, and delivers monthly reporting and variance analysis to the CFO and senior leadership, directly informing high-level decision-making. He also partners with internal governance teams to ensure enterprise-wide compliance with data retention policies and supports talent development by mentoring analysts and leading intern initiatives focused on professional growth and AI innovation.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Spanish from Penn State University, graduating cum laude. He is certified in the American Bankers Association’s "Business of Banking" program and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society. His career reflects a deep commitment to process optimization, leadership development, and delivering clear, actionable insights that support executive strategy and long-term business success.