Analyst II, Financial Planning and Analysis

Analyst II, Financial Planning and Analysis At Algonquin-Liberty, we hire passionate people who care about doing the right thing for our customers. We are entrepreneurial, creative, and outcome-focused. Here, your natural talent and achievements will flourish in an inclusive environment of teamwork, trust and continuous learning. We are always pursuing excellence to exceed our ambitions goals, rewarding both the goal outcome and how we achieve it.
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 and 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, forecasts, 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.
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