Financial Analyst Lead

American Electric Power•New Albany, OH

About The Position

The Financial Analyst Lead prepares financial forecasts, variance analyses, regulatory filings, and ad hoc analyses of strategic opportunities. The role analyzes and recommends regulatory and general business strategies and may develop and manage staff. It requires extensive coordination across corporate finance, corporate planning and budgeting, accounting and tax, transmission, regulatory, and operating companies. The position develops financial forecast assumptions with operating company and business segment personnel, using corporate financial models to identify significant strategic issues and alternative or contingency plans. It performs monthly and quarterly budget-to-actual and actual-to-prior-year variance reporting and analysis to improve forecasts, help operating companies understand financial results, and support SEC reporting. The role also prepares reports for executive management and the Board of Directors, identifies process improvements and opportunities for cost savings or revenue enhancement, and develops and improves sophisticated financial models and analytical processes. The successful candidate brings deep utility finance and regulatory expertise, including knowledge of FERC formula rates and ratemaking, O&M budgeting, cost allocation, and the financial effects of operational and investment decisions. The role calls for independent judgment, problem-solving, effective communication, and the ability to translate complex financial and operational data into actionable insights.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
Eight or more years of work experience in the energy and/or utility sector.
Effective leadership and presentation skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, UI Financial Model Programming, PeopleSoft, and Business Objects.
Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and comfortably with all levels of the organization.
Strategic thinking, relationship-building, adaptability and flexibility, customer focus, and planning and organizing skills.
Ability to work across functional boundaries and operating companies.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CMA, CIA, PE, CFP, or another professional certification.
Familiarity with AEP accounting.
Deep utility finance and regulatory expertise, including a strong understanding of FERC formula rates and ratemaking, O&M budgeting, cost allocation, and the financial impacts of operational and investment decisions.

Responsibilities

Initiate, formulate, and develop financial forecast assumptions with operating company and business segment personnel using corporate financial models.
Identify significant strategic issues and develop alternative and contingency plans.
Perform monthly and quarterly analysis of budget versus actual results and actual versus prior-year results at consolidated or segment level.
Use variance analysis to improve future forecasts, help operating companies understand financial results, and assist Financial Reporting with SEC reporting.
Develop and manage staff where applicable, serving as an example, advisor, and mentor to departmental analysts.
Prepare and present reports to executive management and the Board of Directors as assigned or required.
Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, cost savings, and revenue enhancement.
Develop, maintain, and enhance financial models, including pro forma income statements, scenario modeling, and sensitivity analyses.
Improve financial analysis processes through greater automation, consistency, accuracy, and efficiency.
Translate complex financial and operational data into actionable business insights.
Apply utility finance and regulatory expertise to analyses of rates, budgets, cost allocation, and operational and investment decisions.
Coordinate extensively across corporate finance, corporate planning and budgeting, accounting and tax, transmission, regulatory, and operating companies.