Tony Bender, Cma
About Tony Bender, Cma
Tony Bender is a Senior Manager of Energy Settlements at American Electric Power, where he has worked since 2019. He has a background in Business Administration and Managerial Accounting, with extensive experience in energy settlements and project management.
Work at American Electric Power
Tony Bender has held multiple positions at American Electric Power (AEP) since 2001. He currently serves as Senior Manager of Energy Settlements, a role he has occupied since 2019. Prior to this, he worked as Senior Manager of Commercial Operations from 2013 to 2019 and as Principal Regulatory Consultant from 2010 to 2013. His earlier roles at AEP included Analyst, Senior Analyst, and Supervisor of RTO Settlements & Gross Margin Analysis. Throughout his tenure, he has contributed to various projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and financial reporting.
Education and Expertise
Tony Bender earned an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from The University of Toledo. He furthered his education at the University of Findlay, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Accounting with a minor in Business Economics. His educational background supports his expertise in financial management and energy settlements, which he applies in his current role at AEP.
Background
Before joining American Electric Power, Tony Bender worked at Marathon Ashland Petroleum in various roles, including Marketing Accountant and Product Scheduler. His experience in the petroleum industry provided him with foundational skills in accounting and logistics, which he later applied in the energy sector. He transitioned to AEP in 2001 and has since developed a comprehensive understanding of energy settlements and regulatory practices.
Achievements
Tony Bender has successfully led significant projects at American Electric Power, including a $2.5 million project that was completed on time and under budget after previous failures. He has launched a new system to automate energy settlement functions, enhancing efficiency. Additionally, he initiated the use of accounting data to support rate cases and developed a new cost allocation and reporting system that improved accounting close cycles.
Professional Development Initiatives
Tony Bender has implemented various initiatives aimed at fostering a high-performance culture within his teams. He deployed R-factor training to engage stakeholders in change management and instituted smarter controls using data and analytics to optimize workforce efficiency. His focus on cross-functional collaboration has led to improved financial and operational reporting processes.