Project Cost Analyst (Mid – Sr) – TELECOM (Construction Accounting/Project Finance)

American Electric Power•Tulsa, OK

About The Position

The Project Cost Analyst coordinates project cost analysis and controls in support of Project Managers and project teams. The role oversees cost reporting across multiple projects and monitors budgets to ensure accurate cost reporting for intermediate projects, with some supervision. Work includes entering budgets in AEP corporate systems; maintaining forecasts and variance analyses at program and project levels; tracking key performance indicators; and applying project management best practices throughout the project lifecycle. The analyst supports project planning and documentation, cost and cash-flow forecasting, budget monitoring, estimate-versus-actual analysis, project breakdown structures, and baseline budgets aligned with scheduled dates. The position also coordinates work orders from creation through in-servicing and closeout, maintains project records, and may assist with contracting and bidding activities, SOX analysis, annual budgets, capital forecasts, and multi-year planning. The role communicates with internal and external stakeholders, vendors, and contractors, provides training and guidance, contributes to continuous improvement, and may coordinate routine work activities of others. The position is posted at multiple grade levels, with higher-level roles requiring increased education, skills, or experience. Some travel, including overnight travel, may be required. Depending on the business unit, overtime, call-out overtime, and shift work may be required. Nuclear-site work may involve hazardous areas and possible radiation exposure within applicable NRC limits. The role involves sedentary work, with occasional light physical duties at various work sites, including home and AEP locations.

Requirements

For a high school diploma or GED: four years of experience as an AEP Project Cost Analyst Associate (grade 005), or six years of total experience.
For a qualified associate degree: three years of qualified experience.
For a qualified bachelor's degree: one year of qualified experience.
Qualified degrees must be in a related field from an accredited college or university; examples include accounting, business, construction management, engineering, technology, or project management.
Qualified experience includes utility-specific operations knowledge and a good working knowledge of work processes and procedures; relevant experience may include design, operations, planning, project management, cost tracking and analysis, forecasting, project budgets, accounting principles, or construction or maintenance of systems or equipment.
Demonstrate effective time management, organizational and planning skills, accuracy, attention to detail, and the ability to achieve goals.
Demonstrate basic technical knowledge in written and verbal communication.
Be proficient with computers and Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Work collaboratively as a team player.
Demonstrate a willingness to listen to and satisfy internal and external customers.
Safely and effectively perform light physical duties at various work sites, including home and AEP locations, in varying conditions.
Understand and support AEP policies, values, principles, structure, and behavior.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to corporate accounting and project cost management systems, construction environments, earned value management, and scheduling systems.
A professional or trade certification such as CCMP, CETa, IQCP, PMP, or RMP is not required at this level; certification is required to progress to the Principal level for employees with a high school diploma/GED or a non-qualified higher education degree, and is otherwise preferred at the Principal level.
Some travel, including overnight travel, may be required.
Availability to work overtime, call-out overtime, and shift work may be required depending on the business unit.

Responsibilities

Coordinate project meetings and collaborate with project team members on project activities.
Support Project Managers with preparing and updating project documentation and plans.
Prepare project spending and cash-flow forecasts, monitor budget variances, and track and analyze costs.
Depending on business-unit needs, analyze and verify Sarbanes-Oxley activities and assist with annual budgets, capital forecasts, five-year plans, and improvement requisitions.
Perform estimate-versus-actual analysis.
Conduct variance reporting and establish original baseline budgets time-phased to dates in the system schedule.
Create project breakdown structures.
Perform departmental organizational tasks as assigned, including tracking and verifying unvouchered liabilities and keeping project-system records current and complete.
Coordinate project work orders from creation through in-servicing and closeout.
Depending on the assigned business unit, assist with contracting and bidding, cost analysis, and cost tracking.
Communicate budgetary information with project teams, resources, and internal and external stakeholders; provide information and seek assistance as needed.
Apply technical knowledge and analytical techniques to assignments, solve problems, and initiate solutions to technical issues.
Develop and compile measurable KPIs for scope, budgeting, schedule and cost performance, and forecasting.
Respond to customer and vendor inquiries, resolve work-order issues, and implement action plans in a fast-paced team environment.
Follow AEP project and work-management organizational standards and Project Management Governance Committee guidance.
Provide training and guidance to lower-level employees as appropriate.
Recommend improvements to the role, project performance, service and product delivery, and environmental and community stewardship.
Depending on the business unit, coordinate work activities of others, including contractors and vendors, to resolve routine technical tasks and field-work activities.
Make decisions and contribute to team decision-making and consensus building.