Business Analyst IV

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status – including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

We have a great opportunity for a Business Analyst at our corporate office in Bryn Mawr, PA! This person will focus on Financial & Operational Analytics initiatives to support our Executive Leadership Team.

While reporting to the VP of Financial Planning & Analysis, this person will support via our matrix organization including the internal leadership (including State Presidents) in the pursuit of achieving the strategic mission & vision of our organization by providing detailed data analysis, budget modeling and deep quantitative analysis around Operations & Maintenance [O&M] initiatives. The O&M initiatives would include deep understanding of our budget management process, driving continuous process improvements. This role also have an indirect reporting relationship to the VP of Aqua Operations to ensure alignment of responsibilities across our regulated water utility business.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Act as Finance Team Liaison to the Water Segment; this involves providing data, deep analysis as an individual contributor, and insights on an ongoing basis as well as traveling with Executive Leadership to our subsidiaries (across 8 states).
• Perform financial-operational analyses, develop metrics, develop financial/budget models at the direction of Executive Leadership to help optimize business performance including power costs.
• Create new data-driven approaches for the purpose of generating business insights through data analytics, information visualization, and addressing unanswered business issues in a proactive manner.
• Collect and analyze data to identify problems and opportunities for improvement
• Identify and prepare/scrub relevant data sources for analysis of operational costs across Corporate subsidiaries & functional areas.
• Lead high-level analytics discussions at the leadership level to inform strategic decision-making processes and create business cases for process improvements across the Aqua company.
• Take initiative in developing a training program meant for improving the Controllers\’ and Functional Heads\’ understanding of the use of data (in order to improve decision-making across the business).
• Work with State Controllers to improve evaluation process for all municipal acquisition opportunities as well as all legislative initiatives with ratemaking impact.
• Participate in capital markets activities (public debt & equity offerings, credit facilities, etc.).
• Play a leading role in development of Board materials and other presentations for the Finance organization.
• Perform ad-hoc analyses in support of the capital budget process monthly as well as long-term planning processes (e.g.: 5YP).
• Develop ad-hoc models to support the Finance organization (e.g., valuations, goodwill impairment, etc.).
• Support the \”Finance of the Future\” vision by sharing knowledge and providing thought leadership on analytical techniques that can be used by finance staff with business partners in driving data-driven decisions.
• Assists with other tasks or projects, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor\’s degree (preferably in Finance, Accounting, Engineering and/or a technical discipline); MBA and/or CFA is a plus!

5 -10 years of professional experience working in Finance, Accounting, Engineering or an Analyst-oriented role (preferably in a regulated utility environment).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Expert computer skills, especially with the ability to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) as well as other financial software applications.
• Proficiency with using ERP systems; experience with SAP as well as its SAC (SAP Analytics Cloud) and/or BW (Business Warehouse) modules is preferred.
• Demonstrate an intellectual curiosity to learn more about the business, a passion for driving decision-making based on data, and the willingness to think outside-the-box!
• Critical Thinking required. Using logic and reasoning to understand, problem-solve, analyze, and evaluate complex situations and research information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches.
• Strong investigative skills required to research issues, interpret facts, analytically determine a path forward, and provide explanations accordingly (verbally and in-writing).
• Strong work ethic with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written & verbal communications skills; this position will require the ability to communicate effectively (clearly, concisely, and professionally) with internal customers.
• Team Player demeanor with the ability to work effectively and multi-task in a team-fostered environment.
• Willingness to travel regularly (~2x per month) to work with subsidiaries across the Essential footprint.
• Deep commitment to conducting yourself with integrity, a positive attitude, and a good sense of humor!
• Interpersonal Relationships – Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments and organizations. * Judgment and Decision Making – Evaluates the best method of research and then exercises appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and resolving complex matters. Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Perform sedentary work – exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects (including the human body); sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• See, hear, talk, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Operate standard office equipment.
• Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable).
• Travel Requirements: up to 35%.

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.

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