Forecast Analyst (Principal - Staff) | COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

1d•$99,000 - $151,000•Onsite

About The Position

Perform a variety of analyses to support system generation and financial forecasts for East and West systems, used for corporate financial and planning, budgeting and physical operations. Maintain and lead the development of these tools as required. Additionally, manage the execution of scenario and project specific work for tactical and strategic planning of investment and operational decisions. This individual must be able to integrate AEP's generating system and other physical market realities into the simulation tools used. The position is an integral interface for data and communication with key groups in AEP related to: PJM/SPP cost development, generation utilization forecasts/strategies, capacity position management, environmental compliance, regulatory filings, corporate budgeting, as well as with other commercial operations groups related to fuel procurement analysis and strategy development. Responsible for preparing coal and gas purchase forecast for each Operating Company. Preparing these forecasts involves gathering information from AEP data systems and other departments, performing calculations and data processing to align with AEP practices, preparing management reports and analysis, and transmitting the data and assumptions to relevant groups.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required in a mathematics, economics, accounting, finance, or engineering preferred.
Five plus (5+) years of experience that includes statistical data modeling and simulations.
Experience in power or dispatch operation is preferred.
Financial acumen is required.
Oral and written communication, organization and analytic/ problem-solving skills.
Expert skill level with Microsoft Office applications with significant work related experience with data analysis, process improvement and automation using SQL, VBA, and other programming languages.
Self-starter, requiring minimal supervision.
Physical demand level is Sedentary
The candidate needs to be self-motivated and able to work with little oversight on assigned areas of responsibility.
It is essential that the candidate have the ability and desire to communicate ideas and recommendations to key stakeholders to ensure coordinated solutions across commercial operations.
Recognized as an expert in performing economic and operational impact analyses.

Nice To Haves

MBA or graduate degree preferred.
Experience in power or dispatch operation is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage cross department coordination for obtaining and preparing input data used in the forecasting and analysis tools.
Responsible for intra-department database management.
Modify and enhance the existing generation and cost settlement forecasting tools to adjust to AEP's changing business environment.
Create ad hoc reports that concisely show the financial and operational impacts of changes in strategies and/or external conditions.
Manage timely responses to internal customer requests for specific scenarios as required.
Manage frequent forecast updates, and be able to guide the creation of variance explanations throughout the organization, reconciling and impact of actuals and forecasts with the various departments impacted.
Create and implement new processes to optimize physical operation, improving margin and continually improving forecast accuracy.
Implement and maintain systems, policies and procedures to properly control information related to the coal forecasts; represent commercial operation's interest with forecast related IT systems.
Lead structuring deals and auction offer analysis efforts through proper modelling and risk analysis.
Manage the intra-year PJM capacity performance tracking and capacity position forecasts, and maintain expert knowledge of the PJM capacity rules and provide valuable commentary in the stakeholder process.
Maintain current knowledge and understanding of fuel market and legislation and regulatory philosophies/ activities relating to fuel and related transportation and commodities.
Monitor existing RTO and regulatory market structures and provide valuable commentary in the stakeholder process.
Perform other duties as assigned.