Alumni Career Snapshots

Andrea Montgomery

 

Employer  

The Structure Group

Employer  Website  

www.thestructuregroup.com

Job Title    

Manager  (Consulting)

Class Year and Major

1998.0 BS English and Business Administration (Accounting)

Briefly describe what you do   

 

Consultant to energy companies, with a primary focus in the energy trading and risk management (ETRM) business line.

What other jobs have you had?

 

Noram/Houston Industries/Reliant Energy/Reliant Resources (name changes while there!) from 1998 to 2002 as risk analyst, energy trading analyst and then junior trader in Natural Gas.

Intercontinental Exchange - manager 2003 - 2004 (sales/marketing of o

What are the key skills, abilities, and personal qualities necessary to succeed in this type of work?  

 

Communication skills

Ability to learn quickly and with little direction (figure things out on your own)

Managerial skills (for both managing client expectations and eventually people under you on projects)

At least two of the following:  an understand

What do you enjoy most about your current position?  

 

It changes all the time!  Projects can last from a week to several years, but the average is around 3-8 months.  I like that it changes quite often, so I am constantly challenged and meeting new people and seeing new places.  The down side of that, of cou

Most important/valuable lesson or activity in college that impacted your career  

 

My English major was incredibly beneficial, as my job is very writing-intensive.  My Accounting degree was invaluable in terms of understanding the building blocks of business, although I never did traditional Accounting.  It has definitely set me apart i

What advice for someone entering this field?

 

Be very sure you want to travel 100% of the time!  You might get staffed in your home town (especially if that is Houston), but you can't count on it.  Also, be sure the personality fit is right.  You have to be comfortable going into a situation where yo