SM Energy is seeking a highly analytical, motivated and intellectually curious Financial Analyst to join the Investor Relations & Finance team.
This is a hands-on analytical role for an individual who enjoys solving complex problems, working with financial and operating data, and translating analysis into clear conclusions for senior management, the Board of Directors and the investment community. The position sits at the intersection of corporate finance, operations, strategy and the capital markets and will have direct exposure to senior leadership as well as investors and sell-side research analysts.
The successful candidate will be a strong independent thinker and executor who can take an analytical question from initial concept through research, financial analysis and final presentation. This individual will support competitive benchmarking and valuation analysis, earnings and consensus analysis, operating and guidance assessment, investor and Board materials, and other strategic finance initiatives.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:
Financial Analysis, Valuation & Competitive Benchmarking
- Perform detailed financial, operating and valuation analysis of SM Energy and its peer group.
- Maintain and enhance comparative-company analyses, including trading multiples, free cash flow yields, leverage, returns, capital efficiency, operating performance and other relevant financial and operating metrics.
- Evaluate relative valuation and identify key drivers of differences in market performance and investor expectations.
- Conduct independent research on peers, industry trends, commodity markets, capital allocation, transactions and other topics relevant to SM Energy's strategy and valuation.
- Support scenario analysis and other strategic finance projects for senior management.
Earnings, Consensus & Sell-Side Analysis
- Review and analyze sell-side financial models in detail, including production, pricing, operating costs, capital expenditures, cash flow, earnings and balance-sheet assumptions.
- Maintain and analyze consensus expectations and identify meaningful variances among analyst estimates and versus company expectations.
- Investigate the assumptions underlying changes in analyst estimates and help identify emerging areas of investor concern or opportunity.
- Assist in preparing management for quarterly earnings calls, analyst discussions and investor meetings.
- Develop analyses that connect operating and financial performance with external expectations and valuation.
Operations Planning & Guidance
- Partner closely with Operations Planning and ass