Director Capital Portfolio Governance

American Electric Power; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 160,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power (AEP) seeks a Director-level leader to govern enterprise capital portfolio across operating companies, business units and corporate functions.

The role ensures investments are evaluated, documented, monitored, and reported per policy, budgets, and plans, while driving transparency, financial discipline, and informed executive decisions.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years in finance, accounting, FP&A, capital planning, or related field with five years in leadership.
• Experience with capital budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and executive support.
• Ability to evaluate complex capital proposals and influence senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise capital portfolio governance across functions, ensuring governance, monitoring, and reporting.
• Prepare board resolutions and manage capital spend oversight and related controls.
• Develop capital allocation analyses considering risk, returns, and funding availability.
• Coordinate SOX controls and collaborate with Accounting, Internal Audit, and business control owners.
• Present executive-ready analyses and portfolio updates for senior management.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Financial planning tools

Job description

Job Summary

This Director-Level role provides enterprise leadership for AEP capital portfolio governance across operating companies, business units, and corporate functions. Ensure capital investments are evaluated, authorized, documented, monitored, and reported in accordance with the AEP Authorization Policy, applicable Board resolutions, approved budgets and capital plans, internal controls, and related company requirements. Serve as a central corporate Finance leader for capital authorization, Board resolution preparation, capital spend oversight, capital-related SOX controls, and capital allocation recommendations. Partner with senior leaders and Finance organizations to improve transparency, strengthen financial discipline, identify portfolio risks and opportunities, and support informed executive and Board decision-making.

Job Description

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and maintain the enterprise capital portfolio governance framework across AEP business functions. Establish consistent expectations for capital authorization, documentation, monitoring, reporting, escalation, and decision support while recognizing applicable business, regulatory, and legal requirements.
• Ensure proposed capital investments and changes to authorized investments are reviewed and routed in accordance with the AEP Authorization Policy, Improvement Requisition policies and procedures, approved budgets and capital plans, and applicable approval thresholds. Identify exceptions, gaps, or emerging issues and coordinate timely resolution or escalation.
• Lead the preparation, coordination, and quality review of Board and Board committee resolutions and supporting financial materials related to capital plans, capital investments, spending authority, and other assigned capital matters. Maintain clear documentation of approvals, conditions, and follow-up requirements.
• Monitor enterprise capital spending, commitments, and forecasts compared with approved budgets, authorized amounts, and longer-term capital plans. Analyze material variances, timing shifts, funding needs, and execution trends, and provide concise, decision-oriented reporting to senior management.
• Develop capital allocation analyses and recommendations that evaluate strategic alignment, affordability, financial returns, customer and operational needs, regulatory and cost-recovery considerations, risk, timing, and available funding. Frame tradeoffs and scenarios to support enterprise prioritization decisions.
• Own or coordinate capital-related SOX controls assigned to the function. Ensure control design, execution, documentation, evidence retention, issue remediation, and testing support are timely, consistent, and effective in partnership with Accounting, Internal Audit, external auditors, and business control owners.
• Coordinate across Corporate FP&A, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Regulatory, Legal, Supply Chain, operating companies, and business units to align capital governance processes and resolve complex or cross-functional matters.
• Prepare and present executive-ready analyses and portfolio updates. Communicate complex capital matters clearly, including financial implications, policy requirements, risks, options, and recommended actions.
• Lead the work of assigned analysts and cross-functional teams through clear priorities, quality expectations, coaching, and accountability.
• Exercise sound judgment, confidentiality, integrity, and financial stewardship. Escalate material compliance, control, funding, or portfolio concerns and perform other strategic finance and capital governance responsibilities as assigned.

What We’re Looking For:

Education requirements are listed below:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Engineering, or a related field required.

Work Experience requirement listed below:

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in finance, accounting, FP&A, capital planning, project or portfolio controls, regulatory finance, or a related discipline and five (5) years of leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience with capital budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, investment evaluation, financial controls, governance, and executive-level decision support.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex capital proposals, balance competing priorities, make sound recommendations, and influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders without relying on direct authority.

Other:

• Strong understanding of financial authorization, capital planning, portfolio management, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and governance principles.
• Knowledge of the regulated utility industry, including capital recovery, regulatory mechanisms, operating company structures, and the financial implications of large capital programs, is strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority matters, sensitive information, approval deadlines, and stakeholder expectations in a complex enterprise environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise financial planning, reporting, workflow, analytics, and visualization tools. Familiarity with AEP capital authorization, planning, accounting, and reporting systems is desired.
• MBA, CPA, CMA or another relevant advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
• Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

What You’ll Get:

• In addition to a competitive compensation, AEP offers a unique comprehensive benefits package that aims to support and enhance the overall well-being of our employees.

Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do!

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade: SP20-011

Compensation Range: $160,434.00 - $208,565.50

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.