Job Responsibilities
I am currently responsible for the budgets of our capital
substation & transmission projects. I report on a yearly,
quarterly and monthly basis. Variance reporting as well as cash
flows. Work with engineers in determining any significant
changes and go through the necessary approval processes. I am
also involved in development of IT applications for our
department and working to have multiple applications "talk" to
each other for more efficient reporting. I spent 75-85% of my
time on analysis and 15-25% on development.
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Job Requirements
The MBA program I am currently in is a very well-rounded
program. It has an excellent balance of academic and real-world
analysis as well as amazing technological support. Courses are
readily available and each registration period they show the
planned availability for courses a year out which helps
planning. Professors are all extremely professional and
challenge the students. It is a VERY strong workload for an
evening program which is what I wanted because I want it to be
as valuable as if I had gone through the Day program. Grading
is fair and never a surprise.
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Uppers
I love problem solving. My department is about a year old and a lot of my
non-task work has been developing and networking the department and people. It
has been an amazing learning experience and as our company goes through many
changes in the year ahead, it has prepared me for being ready for the next
challenge. I have a flexible schedule and the ability to work on the fly with a
company provided laptop. We span many regions and the company's technology
allows us to collaborate well.
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Downers
Being a relatively new department, when I started it was
difficult to get clear direction - but that also helped me
develop so only a partial "downer"
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Lifestyle
Work Hours - relatively flexible in between 7-9 out between 3:30-5:30 however I
often do some work at home after the kids are in bed. There is sometimes travel,
but with videoconferencing and net meetings, not as required. Most travel is an
opportunity and I look to travel whenever possible. We do not have many company
social events - holiday party, sometimes a mid-year party, although there are new
affinity groups being developed that are sponsoring networking events that have
more social aspects to them. Business casual dress code. My company has
launched a fantastic inclusion & diversity initiative and two other groups New
hires and Women affinity groups have launched with great success. My company
really rewards educated, hard-working employees.
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Compensation
$50k base (hopefully more come June review period!)
Bonuses - company goals bonus, performance bonus, spot bonus,
achievement bonuses - lots of opportunity for bonuses
Fantastic benefits - 401k plan, thrift plan, health, dental,
life insurance, adoption assistance, vacation, holidays, paid
maternity leave through comprehensive sick pay program,
excellent tuition assistance - 90% tuition, fees, books paid up-
front.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Many people look at utilities and see old, stone companies, but
utilities are in desperate need of well-educated, hard-working
employees. There are a lot of regulatory and competitive
changes happening in utilities and the old slow-pace isn't true
anymore.
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