Financial Analyst- Financial Analyst Staff

American Electric Power•Gahanna, OH

About The Position

The Financial Analyst assists with preparing financial forecasts, variance analyses, and regulatory filings. The role works with operating company and business-segment personnel to develop forecasts using corporate financial models, identify strategic issues, and consider alternative or contingency plans. It analyzes budget-to-actual and actual-to-prior-year results to improve forecasts, support operating companies’ understanding of financial results, and assist Financial Reporting with SEC reporting. The position identifies needed rate relief and recommends timing and amount, prepares pro forma rate-case data and testimony, and assists witnesses in preparing testimony. Depending on level, responsibilities may also include serving as a witness in fuel or tracker proceedings, evaluating strategic business opportunities such as acquisitions and divestitures, preparing reports for executive management and the Board of Directors, developing or mentoring staff, and identifying or implementing process improvements, cost savings, and revenue enhancements. The posting covers Financial Analyst, Senior Financial Analyst, and Staff Financial Analyst levels, with increased experience, responsibility, and leadership expectations at senior levels.

Requirements

Financial Analyst: Bachelor's degree; preferred majors include accounting, finance, economics, business administration, or engineering.
Financial Analyst Senior: Bachelor's degree; preferred majors include accounting, finance, economics, business administration, or engineering.
Financial Analyst Staff: Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or engineering required.
Financial Analyst: One or more years of work experience in disciplines related to the education requirement.
Financial Analyst Senior: Four or more years of work experience in disciplines related to the education requirement.
Financial Analyst Staff: Eight or more years of work experience in disciplines related to the education requirement.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and comfortably with all levels of the organization.
Strategic thinking, relationship building, teamwork, adaptability/flexibility, customer focus, and planning/organizing skills.
Financial Analyst Senior: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PeopleSoft, and Business Objects.
Financial Analyst Staff: Effective leadership and presentation skills, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, UI Financial Model Programming, PeopleSoft, and Business Objects.
Financial Analyst Staff: Extensive coordination across corporate finance, corporate planning and budgeting, accounting/tax, commercial operations, generation and transmission, and regulatory functions, working across functional boundaries and operating companies.

Nice To Haves

Financial Analyst Staff: Familiarity with AEP accounting.
MBA, CPA, CMA, CIA, PE, CFP, or another professional certification.

Responsibilities

Initiate and formulate financial forecasts with operating company personnel using corporate financial models, identifying significant strategic issues and alternative or contingency plans.
Develop assumptions for forecasts in conjunction with operating company or business-segment personnel.
Perform monthly or quarterly variance reporting and analyze budget-versus-actual and actual-versus-prior-year results to improve future forecasts.
Help operating companies understand financial results and assist Financial Reporting with SEC reporting.
Identify needed rate relief and recommend its timing and amount.
Develop and prepare pro forma rate-case data and testimony, and assist witnesses with testimony preparation.
Serve as a witness in certain fuel or tracker proceedings, as required, at the Staff Financial Analyst level.
Assist in or develop strategic evaluations of corporate business opportunities and make recommendations based on the evaluations.
Evaluate acquisition and divestiture opportunities at the Staff Financial Analyst level.
Develop and manage staff where applicable and serve 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 or implement opportunities for process improvement, cost savings, and revenue enhancement.