Analyst II, Financial Planning and Analysis

Purpose

The Financial Analyst (FP&A) will play a key role in the financial consolidation, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting for Liberty Utilities. This position provides essential insights to support strategic decision-making, financial modeling, and scenario analysis for the regulated utility business (Water, Gas, Electric). The Analyst will collaborate with cross-functional teams, support business analysis, and drive continuous process improvements to enhance financial accuracy and efficiency.

Accountabilities

Financial Reporting, Budgeting, and Forecasting:
• Support the consolidation of financial data, ensuring accuracy and completeness for reporting across Liberty Utilities.
• Develop financial models, budgets, and forecasts, conducting variance analysis against prior year, budget, and forecast.
• Support the production of monthly reporting packages with variance analysis and projections to guide key business decisions, ensuring that financial information is recorded accurately and completely.
• Prepare and analyze financial performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights for management and stakeholders.
• Conduct detailed cost allocation analysis and track changes and trends in key performance indicators (KPIs), expenses, returns, and capital expenditures.
 

Strategic Financial Analysis and Scenario Modeling:
• Support the development of strategic plans, performance indicators, and target benchmarks in line with business objectives.
• Perform detailed research on historical financial data to identify trends and support strategic decisions.
• Conduct special financial studies such as cost of service analysis, return on equity, capital structure, depreciation, and feasibility studies for capital investments.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Process Improvement
• Partner with operations and corporate functions to collect data for financial reports.
• Collaborate with Treasury, Tax, and business unit FP&A teams to align planning assumptions and ensure consistent financial reporting.
 

Process Improvement and Systems Support:
• Ensure all processes are well-documented with proper controls in place.
• Support the implementation of financial systems and tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial planning and analysis.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement in financial reporting and analysis, leveraging tools such as Excel, SAP, SAC, and S&P Capital IQ.
 

Ad-Hoc Projects and Reporting:
• Prepare financial presentations for the Board of Directors, Senior Management, and regulatory bodies, translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insights.
• Assist management with special projects, including financial studies related to capital investments, rate cases, and strategic initiatives.
 

Success Attributes:
• Analytical Mindset: A strong ability to analyze data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights to guide business decisions.
• Proactive Problem-Solver: Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of developing innovative solutions to complex financial challenges.
• Cross-Functional Collaborator: Ability to work effectively with different departments and stakeholders to gather information and drive financial alignment.
• Detail-Oriented: High attention to detail, with a focus on ensuring accuracy and completeness in all financial reporting.
• Efficient Communicator: Able to communicate complex financial data clearly and concisely to various audiences, including senior management.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• 4+ years of progressive experience in a highly analytical environment, with relevant experience in a corporate finance setting.
• Robust understanding of corporate finance and accounting concepts and principles through education and work experience.
• CPA/CFA/MBA or other relevant financial designations are strong assets.
• Prior experience in FP&A preferred, or experience with analyzing budgets, forecast and understanding variances.
• Experience managing multiple initiatives in a fast-paced corporate environment.
• Strong financial modeling skills, including developing driver-based three-statement models is an asset.
• Passion for analytics and leveraging information systems to distill complexity into clear, actionable insights. Comfort with or willingness to learn financial systems (SAP, HFM, SAC).
• Willingness to roll up sleeves and problem solve.
• High attention to detail and a desire to learn.
• Comfort with ambiguity and an approach to problems based on first principles.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.