Manager Budgets

FirstEnergy at a Glance 
We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger. 
 
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts. 
 
About the Opportunity 

This is an open position within FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. 

The reporting location for this onsite position will be FirstEnergy's corporate headquarters campus, located at 341 White Pond Drive, Akron, OH 44320. 

This Manager Budgets position reports to the Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and leads a team of analysts and is responsible for overseeing the Company’s forecasting software, UI Planner, including process and technical updates.  

The position is also responsible for supporting the Business Units as they utilize UI Planner for developing budgets and long-range plans.  The position is also responsible for leading the development of frequent updates to the Company’s current year forecast (a.k.a., the Pencil List).  This position works across the FirstEnergy organization, including the Business Unit finance and regulatory teams, for the planning and execution of budget and forecast inputs as well as development and communication of the overall financial assumptions and targets.

Additionally, this position oversees the forecasting software UI Planner, including project management, user interaction, governance, controls and external consultant support. 

Responsibilities include:

• Strategically coordinate budgets and forecasts with State/Transmission Finance VPs, assist with coordination and consolidation of information for senior leadership.
• Be a proactive, strategic thinker, providing advice, recommendations and observations to enhance the financial plans and collaborate with state/transmission finance VPs for inclusion and planning.
• Respectfully challenge the business and demonstrate a questioning attitude in order to drive the organization towards performance excellence and results.
• Strong ability to articulate complex financial modeling into concise and meaningful reports and updates to key stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Demonstrates a spirit of continuous improvement that is shown throughout their organization.
• Engaging with numerous groups across FE to ensure the accuracy and rigor associated with the key financial inputs that will be utilized in preparing the budget and forecast, and related analysis (e.g. State/Transmission Finance, portfolio management, rates/regulatory affairs, treasury, controllers, etc.).
• Leading a team of analysts responsible for the company’s budgeting, forecasting, as well as the administration and maintenance of the UIPlanner financial software.
• Demonstrating and leading a solid commitment to all aspects of FirstEnergy’s core values and behaviors.
• Supporting and working closely with management on significant, ongoing, and recurring projects such as development of board strategy retreat themes and financial materials; periodic public financial disclosures to investment community (e.g. Fact Book, Strategic & Financial Highlights); and ad hoc requests for information or analysis from the Board and/or executive management.
• Partnering with HR on the establishment, tracking and communication of the financial KPIs.
• Ensuring that the communication materials that accompany financial forecast results are cogent, concise, accurate, relevant and appropriate for the intended audience.
• Reviewing work products of the team of analysts for accuracy, transparency and clarity and advising, developing, and training staff. Monitoring and coaching to achieve and maintain a high level of productivity and performance.
• Developing, recommending, and implementing process design improvements that would reduce duplicative or unnecessary work and make the overall budgeting and forecasting production process more streamlined.
• Researching, considering, and vetting alternative processes, new work products or process improvements that could make the financial planning function more accurate, efficient, or streamlined.
• Ensuring the UI Planner system is maintained, and necessary upgrades / improvements are executed in a manner that moves the function forward - minimizing workflow as well as ensuring data integrity & accuracy.
• Demonstrate exceptional customer service skills, responsiveness, and diligence during interactions with senior management, operations, and all customers of the Forecast team.
   

 Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, mathematics business management or related field required.
• Minimum of 7 years related work experience is required. Related work experience includes experience with corporate budgets, financial analyses, production of financial communications for internal and external consumers, and experience with UI Planner software.
• Working familiarity with the general principles and application of utility accounting practices and economics, financial statements, treasury capital markets, regulatory ratemaking and corporate taxation.
• Able to perform supervisory responsibilities, maintain an efficient working organization and create and maintain favorable and productive relationships within the group and across the organization that is focused on continuous improvement.
• Willingness to periodically work non-standard hours to support critical work efforts as required.
• Advanced proficiency in SAP, Excel, PowerPoint, Qlikview and UI Planner.
• Strong organizational skills in planning and coordinating multiple activities and projects.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and produce excellent work products under time pressure or other constraints.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to build relationships through collaboration and teamwork, across all levels and departments of the company.
• Acts in an ethical and professional manner, with the highest level of integrity, and in compliance with the code of business conduct and all relevant policies and procedures.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time. 

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.