Senior Associate, Management Support Functions FP&A

• Location(s):

Chicago, IL, US, 60654

RWE Clean Energy, LLC

Functional area: Finance / Controlling
Remuneration: Exempt

At RWE Clean Energy, the department HR & Management Support Function (MSF) Controlling is a 6 person team (including head of department), comprising three different Controlling functions: MSF Controlling, IT Controlling and HR Controlling. The Senior Associate, Management Support Functions FP&A has two areas of focus: MSF Controlling (primary with 80% of time) and IT Controlling (20% of time).

• MSF Controlling: MSF Controlling is responsible for monitoring, budgeting, planning & reporting the financial performance of RWECEs Support Functions overhead cost. Ensuring transparency, cost effectiveness, and strategic alignment of all support functions spend. Working as strategic partner and trusted advisor with the business, evaluates improvement measures, actively giving recommendations/appropriate challenges, and business decision support. Annual MSF exposure of >$200m covering 14 different MSF departments (e.g. HR, Accounting, Procurement, Strategy, etc.), senior management, facilities, RWECE external services, overhead cost allocation to RWECE projects etc.

• IT Controlling: The newly created IT Controlling function is responsible for the financial performance monitoring, budgeting, and financial planning & reporting for the RWECE IT & OT business. Ensuring transparency, cost effectiveness, and strategic alignment of all RWECE IT & OT investments. Working as strategic partner and trusted advisor with the business, evaluates improvement measures, actively giving recommendations/appropriate challenges, and business decision support. As newly established function, designing and implementing new models and processes is central, including setting up new budgeting procedures, cost allocation methodologies, and planning & reporting standards. RWECE IT & OT is the organisations digital backbone with an annual exposure of >$50m related to software and hardware for business operations (IT) as well as for monitoring and control of RWECEs renewables fleet (OT).

• HR Controlling : HR Controlling is in charge of the monitoring, budgeting, planning & reporting of FTE and personnel expense for the entire RWECE company, including Management Support Functions and the IT & OT department.

Responsibilities MSF Controlling (80% of time):

• Responsible for MSF Controlling topics (e.g. creating and delivering monthly and quarterly reporting on MSF costs, budgeting, forecasting, mid-term planning, business cases, ad-hoc analyses, special topics, identifying cost saving opportunities, monthly performance dialogues)
• Financial planning & cost analysis: Develop and maintain the model and processes for RWECE MSF cost and planning. Drive timely, complete, accurate, high-quality reporting/planning/forecasting for the business overhead functions. Assess performance of MSF functions investments and projects against predefined KPIs and recommend actions to Senior Management
• Coordination and network: As the primary contact for MSF functions within the RWECE Controlling team, coordinate MSF related topics and financial impacts across the RWECE business and the Controlling team. Build strong network across the different MSF Controlling departments in RWEs legal entities, understand MSF services and associated cost allocations provided by and to the different entities and ensure transparency and the ability to proactively challenge the allocations
• Management communication: High level of exposure and interaction with Head of each Management Support Function. Prepare materials for and support meetings with Senior Management and the Board for both regular reporting activities and special projects/topics
• Ongoing initiatives: Support company-wide top priorities and goals, special projects, increase in growth targets, implementation of S4 accounting system and new SAP based budgeting and forecasting tool

Responsibilities IT & OT Controlling (20% of time):

• Senior associate supporting IT Controlling topics within the team (e.g. monthly reporting, quarterly forecasting, mid-term planning, business cases, ad-hoc analyses, special topics, savings initiatives, monthly performance dialogues)
• Financial planning & cost analysis: Support timely, complete, accurate, high-quality reporting/planning/forecasting for the IT & OT cost and investments. Assess performance of IT & OT investments and projects against predefined KPIs and recommend actions to Senior Management
• Business Support: Serve as a strategic partner to the IT & OT business by identifying costs saving opportunities, supporting/challenging/measuring critical initiatives within the business; provide timely and insightful (ad-hoc) analysis that supports informed decision-making
• Management communication: High level of Senior Management exposure and interaction (RWECE SVP of IT & OT function, RWE Group IT Controlling in Germany etc.). Prepare materials for and support meetings with Senior Management, the Board and RWE Group IT Controlling for both regular reporting activities and special projects/topics
• Ongoing initiatives: Support company-wide top priorities and goals, integration activities following recent organization structure changes, increase in growth targets, implementation of S4 accounting system and new SAP based budgeting and forecasting tool

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance/Accounting/Economics/Business is required; an Advanced degree is a plus, but not required
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in Accounting, Business Controlling, Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial or Management Consulting, or other Finance related fields; Experience in Renewable energy and/or management is a plus, but not required
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Excellent analytical abilities including ability to compile, condense and explain complex structures and information
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel (moderate to advanced); knowledge in SAP, PeopleSoft, Tableau, Power BI and other system/tools is a plus
• Strong leadership and communication skills, and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
• Continuous process improvement supporting the proactive pursuit of best practices, processes, standardization and tools that drive gains in efficiency, automation, and quality
• Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
• Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Responsive to constructive feedback and coaching and desires personal development
• Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
• Integration and change management experience is a plus
• General accounting and IFRS knowledge a plus

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. No matter who you are, we welcome your application irrespective of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

RWE Clean Energy is one of the biggest names in the US renewables industry and No.2 in solar. With a 1,500-strong team, the business has over 15 years experience of developing, constructing and operating renewable energy facilities, and ambitious plans for the future.

As part of the RWE Groups Growing Green strategy to expand globally its green portfolio to more than 65 GW of installed capacity and to invest globally more than EUR 55 billion gross by 2030, RWE Clean Energy is determined to significantly increase its operating asset base in the U.S. This is backed by a project pipeline of more than 24 GW in onshore wind, solar and battery storage which provides for one of the largest development platforms in the United States.

Every project brings constantly-evolving technical, practical and social challenges and drives a culture where everybody thrives, has fun and feels excited by each day. Our financial stability also means youll have the freedom to act with conviction and courage as we pivot to new technologies and continuously improve, together.