Director Capital Portfolio Governance

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

About The Position

This director-level role provides enterprise leadership for AEP capital portfolio governance across operating companies, business units, and corporate functions. The position ensures capital investments are evaluated, authorized, documented, monitored, and reported in accordance with the AEP Authorization Policy, applicable Board resolutions, approved budgets and capital plans, internal controls, and related company requirements. It serves as a central corporate Finance leader for capital authorization, Board resolution preparation, capital spend oversight, capital-related SOX controls, and capital allocation recommendations. The role partners with senior leaders and Finance organizations to improve transparency, strengthen financial discipline, identify portfolio risks and opportunities, and support informed executive and Board decision-making. The Director leads and maintains the enterprise capital portfolio governance framework, establishes consistent governance expectations, and ensures proposed investments and changes to authorized investments are reviewed and routed under applicable policies, procedures, budgets, plans, and approval thresholds. The role leads preparation and review of Board and Board committee resolutions and supporting financial materials, monitors spending and forecasts against authorized amounts and plans, analyzes portfolio trends and variances, and develops capital allocation analyses and recommendations. The position also owns or coordinates assigned capital-related SOX controls, partnering with Accounting, Internal Audit, external auditors, and business control owners. It coordinates across corporate functions, operating companies, and business units; prepares and presents executive-ready analyses; leads assigned analysts and cross-functional teams; and escalates material compliance, control, funding, or portfolio concerns. Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Engineering, or a related field.
Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, FP&A, capital planning, project or portfolio controls, regulatory finance, or a related discipline.
Five years of leadership experience.
Demonstrated experience with capital budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, investment evaluation, financial controls, governance, and executive-level decision support.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex capital proposals, balance competing priorities, make sound recommendations, and influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
Strong understanding of financial authorization, capital planning, portfolio management, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and governance principles.
Ability to manage multiple high-priority matters, sensitive information, approval deadlines, and stakeholder expectations in a complex enterprise environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise financial planning, reporting, workflow, analytics, and visualization tools.
Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the regulated utility industry, including capital recovery, regulatory mechanisms, operating company structures, and the financial implications of large capital programs.
Familiarity with AEP capital authorization, planning, accounting, and reporting systems.
MBA, CPA, CMA, or another relevant advanced degree or professional certification.

Responsibilities

Lead and maintain the enterprise capital portfolio governance framework across AEP business functions.
Establish consistent expectations for capital authorization, documentation, monitoring, reporting, escalation, and decision support while accounting for applicable business, regulatory, and legal requirements.
Ensure proposed capital investments and changes to authorized investments are reviewed and routed in accordance with the AEP Authorization Policy, Improvement Requisition policies and procedures, approved budgets and capital plans, and applicable approval thresholds.
Identify exceptions, gaps, or emerging issues and coordinate timely resolution or escalation.
Lead the preparation, coordination, and quality review of Board and Board committee resolutions and supporting financial materials related to capital plans, investments, spending authority, and other assigned capital matters.
Maintain clear documentation of approvals, conditions, and follow-up requirements.
Monitor enterprise capital spending, commitments, and forecasts against approved budgets, authorized amounts, and longer-term capital plans.
Analyze material variances, timing shifts, funding needs, and execution trends, and provide concise, decision-oriented reporting to senior management.
Develop capital allocation analyses and recommendations considering strategic alignment, affordability, financial returns, customer and operational needs, regulatory and cost-recovery considerations, risk, timing, and available funding.
Frame tradeoffs and scenarios to support enterprise prioritization decisions.
Own or coordinate capital-related SOX controls assigned to the function, including control design, execution, documentation, evidence retention, issue remediation, and testing support.
Partner with Accounting, Internal Audit, external auditors, and business control owners to support effective and consistent control processes.
Coordinate across Corporate FP&A, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Regulatory, Legal, Supply Chain, operating companies, and business units to align capital governance processes and resolve complex or cross-functional matters.
Prepare and present executive-ready analyses and portfolio updates, communicating financial implications, policy requirements, risks, options, and recommended actions clearly.
Lead assigned analysts and cross-functional teams through clear priorities, quality expectations, coaching, and accountability.
Exercise sound judgment, confidentiality, integrity, and financial stewardship; escalate material compliance, control, funding, or portfolio concerns; and perform other assigned strategic finance and capital governance responsibilities.