Project Cost Analyst- Multiple Levels (Associate - Senior)

DTE is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer’s homes and Michigan’s progress for more than a century. And as Michigan’s largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states.
 

But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job. At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities.  When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing.  Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE. Together, we can achieve great things.
 

Testing Required:

Employment Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship currently.

Hybrid Role: This role is hybrid, with an established schedule of in-person work required at an assigned work location. Any remote work is expected to be performed from an employee’s primary residence, unless allowed (or prohibited) through the Company’s remote work guidelines.

Emergency Response: Yes – Must be available to perform a primary assignment in support of DTE’s emergency response to storms or other events that impact service to our customers.

Job Summary for Senior Level

The Senior Level role involves managing the financial aspects of complex projects throughout all phases, including planning, execution, and close-out. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining accurate financial forecasts, tracking project progress, validating costs, and managing monthly accruals to ensure alignment with project scope and objectives. This position requires oversight of larger portfolios and collaboration with cross-functional teams. The Senior-Level professional drives process improvements, offers actionable insights, mentors less experienced team members, and demonstrates expertise in cost analysis, resource optimization, and financial leadership. Additionally, this role serves as a mentor for associate project cost analysts.

Job Summary for Project and Associate Level

The Project and Associate Level roles partner with Project Managers, Schedulers, and other stakeholders to provide comprehensive financial support for a portfolio of projects across all phases: planning, execution, and close-out. These positions proactively develop time-based financial forecasts based on project schedules and estimates, maintain and refine forecasts weekly, track project status, validate incurred costs, and manage monthly accruals (unbilled liabilities) to ensure that financial data aligns with the executed scope. The Project Level role typically oversees a larger portfolio, covering more projects and requiring effective problem-solving capabilities

Key Accountabilities for Senior Level

- Lead and coordinate efforts with project teams and cross-functional teams, including controllers, estimators, logistics, supply chain, and governance, to ensure successful execution of project cost management strategies across a broad portfolio of projects.
  
- Serve as the primary point of contact for contracted field staff, field personnel, and vendors, providing oversight, resolving complex issues, and ensuring that project milestones are met efficiently. Conduct site visits to validate progress and address escalated concerns.
  
- Utilize a robust knowledge of construction methodologies and project management gating systems to guide teams through project phases while ensuring alignment with organizational standards and best practices.
  
- Lead detailed budget tracking, resource planning, and operational execution, which includes crew coordination and material management, while identifying opportunities for cost optimization and risk mitigation.
  
- Oversee the review and approval process for gating requests, ensuring compliance with spend controls and alignment with project goals.
  
- Ensure the timely closure of Internal Orders (IOs) and maintain accountability for the accuracy and compliance of financial reporting processes.
  
- Develop and refine detailed financial forecasts, provide comprehensive variance analyses, and deliver actionable insights to inform executive decision-making and ensure alignment with project performance.
  
- Establish and maintain processes for monitoring key performance metrics, deliver high-impact reports, and conduct in-depth analyses to support project management and field operations.
  
- Lead efforts to forecast and optimize labor requirements, material procurement, inventory management, and contractor crew scheduling to ensure efficient project execution and cost-effectiveness.
  
- Manage escalations by overseeing the most complex projects, serving as a key point of contact for stakeholders, and providing expertise in SAP systems, credit memos, and tax memos.

Key Accountabilities for Project and Associate Level

**Project Level **

- Collaborate with the project team to facilitate project execution and effectively manage cost scope alongside controllers, estimators, logistics, supply chain, and governance teams.
  
- Establish partnerships with contracted field staff, field personnel, and vendors. Perform site visits as needed to verify progress against milestones and resolve operational concerns directly.
  
- Utilize an understanding of construction processes and project gating systems to ensure smooth execution and compliance with project standards.
  
- Develop and participate in project processes, including budget tracking, crew coordination, material planning, and other operational components.
  
- Participate in the review and feedback process for gating requests to ensure alignment with spending levels and controls for cost management.
  
- Oversee the timely closure of IOs while ensuring financial accuracy and adherence to organizational procedures.
  
- Develop and maintain detailed financial forecasts weekly and monthly, providing clear variances in commentary between actuals and forecasts to guide decision-making.
  
- Analyze key performance metrics, prepare comprehensive reports, and provide ad hoc analyses for leadership teams and field personnel.
  
- Contribute to forecasting labor requirements, material purchases, inventory management, and scheduling contractor crews based on project needs, focusing on optimizing resources and project efficiency.

**Associate Level**

-    Assist in managing the closure of Internal Orders (IOs) and monitoring cost controls and compliance with established procedures monthly. structure, supporting multiple clients, procedures & policy.

Senior and Project Level Minimum Education & Experience Requirement

- A Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Project Management, or Construction Management is required. Candidates should have at least 6 years of relevant experience for Senior Level positions or 3 years for Project Level positions in construction management, project management, financial analysis, accounting, scheduling, or estimating.
- Proficiency in Excel and SAP is necessary to support senior project cost analysts and leadership.
- Experience using corporate operating systems such as Maximo, SAP R/3, SRM, or BW is preferred.
- Ability to apply project planning and implementation, or continuous improvement principles, gained through several years of experience, to achieve tangible positive outcomes.

**Associate Level Minimum Education & Experience Requirements**

- A Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Project Management, or Construction Management is required. Candidates who are within nine months of obtaining their degree may be considered; however, degree verification will be required before starting the job.
- Internship experience in Accounting, Finance, Project Management, Construction Management, or Project Controls is preferred.
- A working knowledge of financial analysis, project management, and risk management is important.
- Ability to collaborate within a team and/or matrixed structure, supporting multiple clients, procedures, and policies

Preferred Qualifications for All Levels

- An MBA, CPA, or Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Project Management, or Construction Management is preferred.
- Experience in project controls (scheduling and estimating) is a plus.
- Professional certification in cost control from the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering or an equivalent body is advantageous.
- Ability to analyze complex financial data and develop optimal recommendations and solutions for senior leadership.
- Strong collaboration skills within a team and/or matrixed structure, supporting multiple clients, procedures, and policies., procedures & policy.

PRIVACY NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA JOB APPLICANTS 
 

At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. We seek individuals with a heart for service, a passion to help our communities prosper, and ideas to help shape the future of energy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity, employer that considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, citizenship, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal and/or state laws.