Associate Director - P&U Cost Assessment

The Team KPMG’s Infrastructure Group in the UK consists of over 400 professionals and is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading independent financial and business advisers in infrastructure. We provide in-depth advice on the strategic, financial, regulatory and commercial issues driving investments in infrastructure across Transport, Power & Utilities, and Social Infrastructure in the UK and internationally. Our work includes market and policy design, economic analysis, deal structuring and execution, as well as strategic and transaction advice to enable private and public capital to fund infrastructure. We also work closely with other functions within KPMG to advise clients on mergers and acquisitions, valuations, tax, accounting, and due diligence. The utilities sector is a key business area for the Infrastructure Group and encompasses work for the large clients in the sector including all of the leading UK energy and water companies. We provide in depth strategic and technical advice on corporate finance issues, corporate financial management; regulatory finance, regulatory policy, business and financial planning, as well as other issues affecting value. We are widely recognised by many industry stakeholders as one of the most innovative advisors influencing the future of the sector. Our business is expanding rapidly and is looking for a high-quality candidate to support our Power & Utilities business.The RoleYou will be working on a range of projects in the water and energy network sectors. Your work will focus on robust economic analysis – particularly related to cost and performance.Our clients seek expert advice relating to cost and performance benchmarking. There is no ‘typical project’. You will need to apply a structured strategic approach to problem solving, drawing on established economic principles, while having the capacity to think creatively.Our approach to benchmarking can involve econometric models comparing costs across companies. We also support clients through cost benefit analysis and other benchmarking approaches, such as unit cost models.The projects that you will advise on will be high profile and varied. For example, in recent years we have advised nearly every water and energy network company on their price control reviews, been the lead advisor on several CMA appeals, and advised on major transactions within the sectors. We have the skills and capabilities to be involved in every major development within the sector.The work will include a combination of report drafting, data collection/verification, economic analysis, econometric analysis, and engaging with clients.You will also take a key role in developing the skills of more junior staff.The Person We are looking for someone who is passionate to learn and develop in the role.You will have some experience in the utilities sector, in the industry, at a regulator, or as a consultant. You will have familiarity with the available data sources for the utility sectors and be comfortable finding, verifying and analysing data.You will have some knowledge either of the regulatory frameworks for utility companies, micro-economics, or finance , or at least a strong understanding of micro economic principles.Ideally you will be experienced in one or more of the quantitative economic analyses we employ for clients. This may be through knowledge and experience of statistics and econometrics, cost benefit analysis or other benchmarking approaches, such as unit cost models. Experience of these techniques applied in the utilities sectors is beneficial, but not essential.You will bring excellent report writing, Excel and PowerPoint skills—strong writing and quantitative skills are a must.