Analyst, Financial Planning & Analysis

JOB TITLE: Analyst, Financial Planning & Analysis

Location: North Fort Myers, FL

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm

Our benefits include:

• Company-wide annual incentive plan
• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• 401(k) plan with a generous 6% company match
• Company funded Pension Plan
• On-site wellness/medical facility
• Company paid Short- & Long-Term Disability insurance
• Health Savings Account with an employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Wellness program with financial rewards
• Tuition reimbursement
• Group life insurance
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance

LCEC provides reliable, cost-competitive electricity to more than 240,000 customers throughout a five-county service territory located in Southwest Florida. We employ approximately 400 skilled employees and are one of more than 900 electric distribution cooperatives located throughout the United States. LCEC has been recognized locally and statewide as an industry leader and continually receives acknowledgment for the work that our employees do in the community along with other civic, environmental and professional honors.

Analyst, Financial Planning Position Summary: This position is responsible to assist the FP&A Supervisor with analyzing the financial position of the company by collecting, mining, monitoring, and studying data to include, but not limited to, consolidating budgets and forecasts. Duties include gathering, preparing, reporting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting financial and management information. Additional duties also include required regulatory filings, tax and fee filings. This position also includes administrative support for FEMA grant program activities.

Analyst, Financial Planning Responsibilities:

• Compile and report on annual operational and financial budget information, monthly financial forecast updates, cash forecasting projections, analysis of variances and long-range and short-range financial projections
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual regulatory filing, taxes, and fees
• Support functional areas (Divisions/ Departments) in their achievement of company financial performance and objectives and operate directly as their financial partner by providing support to include, but not limited to, explaining financial policy and procedures, providing financial reports, educating operational team members on matters of financial requirements and coaching team members to navigate financial systems, as needed
• Examine, analyze and interpret both financial and operational data to determine trends and gaps within the results. Utilize excel spreadsheets to draw charts and graphs to illustrate technical reports
• Perform data entry, verification, and provide back-up support and assistance for various financial activities
• Maintain databases supporting Finance & Accounting functions
• Attain operational understanding of the business to be able to identify and convey financial risks and opportunities
• Identify and support opportunities to enhance existing procedures within the functional areas (Divisions/ Departments) to improve controls, measurement and/or efficiencies
• Understand and communicate the company’s financial goals, directives and policies and assist functional areas in developing a clear vision of how they contribute to the achievement of the company’s goals and increased efficiencies
• Prepare or participate in preparing ad hoc reports, Board presentations and project summaries in support of business and management objectives
• Assist in ad hoc analysis and special projects as requested by management and business partners
• Actively participate in meetings with various levels within the operating teams, ask probing and insightful questions and follow issues/projects through to final resolution/completion
• Conduct research and industry analysis, stay current on industry trends, news and forecasts and the impacts these trends may have on the company’s decisions
• Coordinate and submit grant proposals, internal and external reporting, budgeting and general finance, business administration, claims filing and collection, and technical support related to grant administration
• Serve as the secondary point of contact between the agencies involved in providing the grants
• Serve on the company’s Emergency Operations Critical Financial Functions Sub-Committee and provide support in the event of a disaster. Direct activities to ensure that information and record-keeping is sufficient to optimize the company’s ability to collect on grant claims
• Maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels within LCEC to ensure smooth operations, productive communications, and effective understanding during all interpersonal contacts
• Provide accurate information to internal and external customers in a timely and professional manner, using the most appropriate format and means of transmission
• Maintain confidentiality of financial information and exercise utmost discretion at all times
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field 
• Minimum of 3-5 years’ combined experience in various areas to include: financial analysis, operations finance, forecasting, budgeting, data analysis, cost analysis, and financial report experience
• Demonstrated ability to meet communicated schedules and manage competing deadlines 
• Self-starter, capable of working through challenges and escalating issues as they arise to meet goals 
• Ability to make quick decisions using critical thinking skills and good judgment to ask relevant questions and determine appropriate and efficient next steps and/ or resolve issues 
• Strong knowledge of financial and accounting concepts, analytical skills as well as attention to detail 
• Ability to implement lateral thinking to analyze scenarios and draw meaningful and actionable conclusions
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook 
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with various levels of the organization 
• Possess utmost professional integrity and discretion in handling confidential information

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or related field
• Accounting certification like CPA or CMA
• Five or more years’ combined experience in various areas to include: financial analysis, operations finance, forecasting, budgeting, data analysis, cost analysis, and financial report experience
• Prior utility industry finance and/ or accounting experience
• Experience working in any of these specific applications: NISC, Oracle BI, Crystal, any financial modeling applications
• Project management experience
• Experience working with and administering grant program activities

Physical Demands and Work Environment:  The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Physical Demands: May be required to lift up to 25 pounds. Should be able to sit for extended periods of time at a desk/computer terminal and able to view computer monitor from a reasonable distance.
• Work Environment: Air-conditioned office environment.

STORM DUTY REQUIREMENTS.... Responding to storms will be considered a condition of employment: LCEC provides critical services to our community during an emergency.  Employees are required to participate in the response/recovery activities related to emergencies/disasters to maintain service to our LCEC members.  Employees are required to work in their normal job duties or other assigned activities.  Proper compensation will be made in accordance with the company's guidelines and procedures.

Please note that at the time a candidate is made a job offer, the candidate will be subject to a background check and a drug screening.