Senior Financial Analyst - Utilities O&M (Contract to Hire)

Job Title: Senior Financial Analyst – Utilities O&M (Contract to Hire) Location: Columbus, OH or Merrillville, IN Pay Rate: $60–$70/hour Work Schedule: Remote Mondays & Fridays; Onsite Tuesdays–Thursdays Contract Length: 1 Year (Strong possibility of extension or full-time conversion) Contract Type: W-2 Only (U.S. Citizens – No visa sponsorships) Position Summary We are seeking a Senior Financial Analyst with strong FP&A experience to support Operations & Maintenance (O&M) forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis within the utilities industry. This role will play a critical part in the financial planning cycle, working closely with stakeholders across real estate, facilities, and operational functions. The analyst will support leadership with actionable insights, scenario modeling, and reporting to help drive efficient financial operations. This is a contract-to-hire role, ideal for professionals with strong experience in FP&A within utilities, energy, or infrastructure sectors. A background in real estate and facilities management is a strong plus. Key Responsibilities Lead financial planning, forecasting, and variance analysis for assigned utility O&M cost centers Partner with business units and operational leaders to gather inputs and support cost management Track actual vs. budgeted spend and provide monthly performance reporting with insights and recommendations Support development of multi-year financial plans and O&M investment strategies Prepare financial presentations and reports for executive leadership and planning committees Develop driver-based models to support scenario planning and cost optimization Identify process improvement opportunities in forecasting, tracking, and financial governance Assist with ad hoc analyses and special projects related to real estate, facility spend, and capital/O&M alignment Required Qualifications 5–8+ years of FP&A or financial analysis experience, preferably in utilities, energy, or infrastructure Hands-on experience with Operations & Maintenance (O&M) financial planning Proficient in Excel, financial modeling, and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, SAP, Oracle, Hyperion, or similar) Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills Experience working with operational leaders, engineers, or real estate teams on cost control Ability to explain financial insights to non-finance audiences and drive data-informed decisions Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field (MBA preferred) Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting real estate and facilities financial operations Familiarity with utility industry regulations and cost recovery frameworks Experience with capital vs. O&M allocation, lease accounting, or asset lifecycle management Comfortable working in fast-paced, matrixed organizations and collaborating across finance and operations #J-18808-Ljbffr