Vice President, Billing Collections Strategy and Operations

National Grid is hiring a Vice President for our US Billing and Collections department in Syracuse, NY or Northboro, MA.

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry.

To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Lead the transformation of the US Billing and Collections team currently consisting of the full meter-to-cash processes for all of US National Grid including Billing, Collections, Accounts Maintenance and Operations, Revenue Assurance, and Payment Processing. Create an organization that is rated top quartile on quality, efficiency and effectiveness measures for all processes to exceed our customer expectations.

• Lead the transformation of the US Billing and Collections function to create an organization that is delivering at a high level in all areas with measurable improvement in KPIs, unit cost , cash flow, and key business outcomes for our Customers

• Sponsor NGUSA's meter-to-cash process and work cross functionally with Customer, Electric, and Gas Operations to deliver a step change in performance across the end to end process.

• Lead adoption of data analytics, AI / Gen AI , machine learning, and robotics in the transformation of NGUSA's meter-to-cash processes,

• Direct the Billing and Collections leadership team to deliver seamless end-to-end processes at the agreed upon service level through partnership arrangements with internal customers and third party suppliers whilst also balancing the associated costs and risks.

• Create a US process ownership structure enabled by a performance management framework of KPIs and business outcome metrics to measure, monitor and benchmark performance internally and externally and communicate the value of processes and associated costs under management to all stakeholders.

• Establish and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, negotiating contract agreements with suppliers that maximise value to National Grid.

• Recruit, develop and manage a highly motivated, capable and adequately resourced team across multiple US locations, developing talent and a performance management culture that drives value through employee engagement and successfully meets or exceeds all strategic objectives.

• Bachelor's degree required and MBA preferred, with a minimum of 15 years in shared services, revenue management, or finance leadership roles.
• Extensive experience leading a large, diverse operating unit represented by various bargaining units.
• Proficiency with SOX and associated centralized controls.
• 15 years senior management level experience in multiple disciplinary shared services environment including leading a transformation of such organizations using data analytics, BI, machine learning and robotics to drive sustainable efficiencies.
• Significant experience in managing teams in a high volume and focused transactional environment delivering superior performance and continuous improvement.
• Ideally, a thorough understanding of the utility or other regulated industry and able to communicate their knowledge clearly to external partners and internal stakeholders.
• Significant experience in leading operations in a multi- jurisdiction, multi-operating company/matrix environment
• Customer service oriented executive with the ability to lead operational activities as well as developing and implementing efficiencies by building key relationships and engaging others
• Proven success in leveraging technologies to drive cost efficiencies and process improvements, preferably with experience in implementing an ERP.
• Superior analytical, problem solving, budgeting and economic skills, including the ability to develop, implement and utilize high-level control mechanisms to measure profitability, quality, and effectiveness of activities.
• Strong process skillset and process improvement experience required.
• Superior communication skills.

Location: NY or MA

Team Size: 5 direct reports, c500 FTE

Closing date: January 29, 2025

Salary: $235,000-300,000 + wider executive benefits

Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise. We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.