Working at ECA

Frederik Beelitz

Managing Director

Frederik Beelitz

What is your background?

I joined ECA in 2009 straight after graduating from University and hold an MPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick.

What’s it like working at ECA?

The variety of sectors, areas, countries and tasks I am exposed to during my work is one of the most interesting aspects of working at ECA. Furthermore, the non-hierarchical organisational set-up means that the working environment is inclusive and provides a great opportunity to learn from more experienced staff.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

Joining ECA you will inevitably become an expert in the fields of energy or water economics. Your everyday exposure to the key issues in policy design, market liberalisation, support system development, pricing methodologies and financial analysis will enable you to acquire in depth knowledge in these fields.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

As many staff members here at ECA, I had the chance to work on a large variety of sectors, areas and topics. My previous projects have ranged from advising on gas infrastructure development in Indonesia over analysing renewable energy support mechanisms in the West Balkans to recommending a solar rural electrification project in Djibouti. While I increasingly specialise on gas, I still have the freedom to choose other projects I want to be involved in.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

Yes, collaboration with and presentation of results to our clients is an important part of our work and you will be expected to interact with the client on a regular basis. Our clients typically are development agencies and international finance institutions. Although we also advise private sector clients, the majority of the projects I have lead or been involved in were funded by the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

The project’s at ECA will usually take you to very interesting countries. For me these have included: Djibouti, Gabon, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, FYR of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Indonesia.

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

Working on high profile and interesting projects with international scope in a very informal and intellectually stimulating environment.

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Nick Haralambopoulos

Managing Consultant

Nick Haralambopoulos

What is your background?

I am an economist with a Master’s degree from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. I have lived and worked in Australia, Greece and the United Kingdom, and have also worked extensively in other countries, predominantly in South Eastern Europe (e.g. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Western Balkans), in the former Soviet Union countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine) and a collection of others (e.g. Egypt, Vietnam).

What’s it like working at ECA?

ECA is a small company and therefore unaffectedly fosters a common sense of purpose and a culture of belonging, commitment and teamwork. All staff are encouraged to participate and contribute in all aspects of ECA work and have the opportunity to share and develop ideas and innovative solutions with colleagues. ECA also combines flexible working arrangements (working from home is not frowned upon) with a strong international focus and the opportunity to work in varied country, economic and cultural settings. At ECA, one has the opportunity to work on some of the most interesting utility and economic challenges and to contribute to their actual (and not just theoretical) solution.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

ECA provides a fertile ground for continuous development of knowledge and skills. I believe this is a function of at least three important factors. The first is the nature of the projects we win and undertake, which necessarily require us to address complex problems. The second is the extensive expertise of colleagues who openly share their knowledge and candidly challenge ideas, approaches and recommendations. The third is an absolute commitment to provide high-quality advice to clients that meets (and even surpasses) their expectations and upholds ECA’s reputation for excellence.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

Although the projects I have worked on are diverse, one common theme has been the establishment of prices or pricing principles that are consistent with a number of objectives such as efficiency, cost recovery and fairness. For example, I have managed an electricity tariff study in Cyprus, advised the Northern Ireland and Greek regulators on comprehensive changes to the revenue and pricing regulation of electricity transmission and distribution, and helped develop gas pricing options for both Egypt and Vietnam in the context of planned market liberalisation. Another work aspect has entailed the restructuring and opening of energy markets to competition; for example, I recently completed projects in Egypt and Ukraine that examined extensive market reform options, with a particular emphasis on the separation of potentially competitive from natural monopoly activities and the introduction (or further promotion) of competition in production and supply. An additional and more recent area of involvement has been energy efficiency, where I have been managing the EBRD’s “Energy Efficiency Framework – Policy Dialogue” in the Western Balkans (under the auspices of the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme or ‘REEP’), which seeks to address systemic barriers to the realisation of energy efficiency improvement projects and the deployment of energy efficient technologies in the countries of relevance.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

Presenting to clients is an important part of our work and in many cases represents the most effective means for communicating our methodologies, findings and recommendations. We undertake formal presentations at major project milestones (such as the delivery of interim and final reports), but we also need to present at ad hoc meetings with various stakeholders where key issues are to be discussed and analysed. The clients I have worked for to date are the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and relevant energy and other portfolio ministries in the EBRD’s countries of operation, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), the Natural Gas Authority of Israel, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR), the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) in Greece, and the World Bank together with corresponding beneficiary entities such as the Ministry of Petroleum in Egypt and the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

So far I have worked, or I am currently engaged, on projects in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, FYR of Macedonia, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Kosovo, Serbia, Northern Ireland, Ukraine and Vietnam. I also worked on a World Bank project that had broad worldwide coverage and another assignment for the Europe-wide energy regulator, ACER, covering all EU Member States.

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

The key benefit for me is definitely the opportunity to undertake interesting work in a congenial and productive work environment, while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

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Tatiana Tumenggung

Senior Consultant

Tatiana Tumenggung

What is your background?

This is complicated… I am an Indonesian born Kiwi, and I have lived and worked in Jakarta, Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne and now London. I did my Bachelor degrees, in Art (Philosophy) and in Engineering (Mechanical) in Auckland University, New Zealand, and completed my Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management in Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

What’s it like working at ECA?

Like a box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get (this is the first thing that comes to my mind when reading this question!). The point being, it is never boring here at ECA. The projects are interesting and challenging, and keeps you learning all the time.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

ECA has built my confidence as a consultant through encouraging me to take on new responsibilities, and challenges me to have an opinion and develop my own solutions. Having the freedom to think outside the box and debating the issues and solutions with more experienced ECA staff, I become more confident in tackling the problems we have to solve in the projects and in general more confident as a consultant.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

I work mostly on water sector projects, including finding ways to finance much needed water supply and sanitation infrastructure, tariff studies and policy development, plus water resource management and development. I also work on gas sector projects, including gas demand-supply modelling, market and security of supply analysis and policy development. I’ve also started to work on the electricity sector recently, which is a great opportunity to learn new things yet again!

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

For my projects, the clients are mostly development banks such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, EBRD and Asian Development Bank. However, these clients are mostly the financiers, and we work closely with the ‘real’ clients, i.e. the government departments and/or regulators in the project country. And yes, I have presented to clients, plus participated and presented in workshops, although not expected of me. The Project Directors will give you the opportunities and you may take them on. And there is always a lot of support from the more senior or more experienced members of the team, so you never feel abandoned, even when you are on your own in a new country and presenting to a new client.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

Countries visited: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Indonesia and Fiji. Countries covered but not visited: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Israel, Australia and Iraq.

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

The environment – and I don’t mean the nice park just round the corner or the nice cafes down the road – I mean the fact that ECA does a lot of serious and large projects but the working environment is never stressful! Sure we sometimes have long hours and super busy times but the way people handle stressful periods are amazing. You can still hear laughter in the office even when everyone is flat out! Work-life balance is highly encouraged and I am loving it!

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Andrew Tipping

Managing Consultant

Andrew Tipping

What is your background?

I am a born and bred New Zealander, having done all my schooling and my first stint at university there. I originally studied real estate and commerce, majoring in finance, going on to spend three years working in investment banking in New Zealand. I moved to the UK in 2008 to study international development at the London School of Economics, and then worked for a company developing agriculture businesses in Africa for 18 months, before joining ECA in November 2011.

What’s it like working at ECA?

Intellectually stimulating and challenging, while also being fun. We’re constantly learning on each new project, so it’s very hard to get bored.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

You will learn a mixture of technical and professional skills: technical, such as power market development, renewable energy promotion regulatory frameworks, tariff calculations; professional, such as report writing, project management, economic and financial modelling.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

With a background in finance, I tend to work on projects with financial angles, such as financial modelling or financing of investments. But I also work on a full range of projects in energy and water, including things like business model development, regulatory frameworks and governance.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

If you want to, then you can! It is definitely encouraged, and there are opportunities to improve and receive feedback. Clients tend to be the large multilateral development organisations, e.g. the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EBRD, but also regulatory agencies or consumer bodies.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

Bhutan, Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Lesotho, Macedonia, Moldova, Mozambique, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe so far, with others lined up for the future already!

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

A great blend between interesting work and friendly, open team environment for working. There is always variety in the projects and variety in the team dynamic in the office – laughter is regular!

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Eleni Adamopoulou

Consultant

Eleni Adamopoulou

What is your background?

I was born in Greece and I moved to UK to study Economics when I was 18. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree (First class) in Economics from the University of Southampton and an MSc in Health Economics from the London School of Economics. Before joining ECA, I did an internship at the UK Department of Health and a traineeship at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium.

What’s it like working at ECA?

You never get bored working at ECA. One day I may be conducting research on the Bulgarian electricity market and the next day attending a meeting with our clients in Zimbabwe to discuss our report findings regarding a solar electrification project. The ongoing success of the company in winning projects funded by reputable clients throughout the world means different challenges and rewards come every day.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

The main asset of ECA is its people. From the first day in the office you get to work on real projects, along with some of the brightest people in the industry with many years of experience and worldwide recognition. We work in an open plan office, whereby junior members are always encouraged to ask questions and senior consultants are always eager to help you improve your skills by making suggestions and comments on the reports.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

I work on energy related projects, specialising in renewable energy and power markets, including tariff estimation, cost-benefit analysis, feasibility studies and regulatory framework analysis. I have also worked on a number of gas policy development projects.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

Our clients include international organisations, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, plus energy regulators such as Ofgem. It’s mainly the Directors that present the findings to clients, but analysts and senior consultants participate in business trips and actively contribute to client meetings.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

I have mainly worked in Western Balkan Countries (Serbia, Moldova, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro) and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey), but I also have experience in Africa (Djibouti, Kenya).

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

The culture of ECA is what makes it unique. Here, there is a real sense of ‘team spirit’. Directors and senior consultants are very approachable and there is no distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’ that you may find in other companies. Also, it’s great to know that you work for one of the best firms in the industry- ECA’s high quality reports and its commitment to striving for excellence has contributed to its high reputation and success.

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David Williams

Senior Consultant

David Williams

What is your background?

Brought up in northwest England, I ventured south to Bath University for my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, while working on renewable energy projects in Japan and China, my interest in the policy, economics and regulation of the field was ignited and so upon return to England I undertook a Masters degree in Energy Policy from the University of Exeter. Following a number of years working on strategy and policy of renewable energy, I joined ECA in summer 2013.

What’s it like working at ECA?

ECA’s philosophy towards staff is firmly focused on outputs. Confidence and trust is invested in staff from day 1, flexibility afforded and the opinions of all employees are sought and listened to. Colleagues are very supportive when required, yet personal initiative is expected. For a small team we have an incredibly diverse range of backgrounds both geographically and academically which provides a richness to discussions both of a work and non-work nature.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

ECA has broadened and deepened my knowledge of the economics and policy of the energy sector, both in terms of industry areas and countries of work experience. With a huge amount of expertise held by fellow staff members, opportunities to learn new skills arise on almost every project undertaken. The fact our “typical project” is most clearly characterised by its uniqueness is a key driver in ensuring continued learning on the job.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

The projects I have been involved in during my time at ECA have bene too diverse to define a typical project. I have worked in energy efficiency regulatory development in the West Balkans, on the impact of market coupling for the United Kingdom, on renewable energy tariffs in Kazakhstan and on gas utilisation in Ghana.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

I consider presenting to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of a project, allowing for personal interaction with clients which helps cement working relationships and ensure frank and open discussions are held regarding project outputs and findings which enrich the value they provide the client and give us greater satisfaction regarding what we have delivered. My clients types have spanned government departments, industry regulators and project lenders.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

In my time at ECA I have worked on projects in the UK, the West Balkans, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Rwanda and Ghana.

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

The people. It is a company where you feel everyone is pulling in the same direction towards common goals, where everyone has the capabilities to provide a big contribution to that effort, and yet to do this within a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

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Grigorios Varympopiotis

Senior Consultant

Grigorios Varympopiotis

What is your background?

I am a mechanical engineer with energy engineering specialisation and hold a Master’s degree in Energy, Trade and Finance. My PhD is related to strategic investments for power plants. I come from Greece and joined ECA in 2013. I have since participated in due diligence studies, gas master plans, power sector development studies, tariff restructuring projects and infrastructure development projects for the electricity and the gas sectors in Europe, Central America and Africa.

What’s it like working at ECA?

Working at ECA means working with highly qualified and bright people, on interesting projects, in a friendly environment to provide the best quality of work.

How will ECA help my career development/help me improve my skill set?

Due to ECA’s structure you get increased responsibilities and exposures that will force you to improve your skills. On a daily basis you will interact with some of the most reputable and experienced people in the industry. Additionally, ECA organises training sessions to help you improve your weaknesses and develop your strengths.

What type of projects do you typically work on?

I am usually involved in energy projects. The range is wide, covering natural gas upstream and midstream projects, due diligence studies for power plants, electricity transmission and distribution studies, electricity market evaluations, tariff design for electricity markets and policy recommendations. The truth is that I never get bored undertaking different types of challenging worldwide projects which always match my interests.

Am I expected to present to clients? Who are the typical clients you work for?

Contact with clients is part of our work. Communicating with them directly helps you understand their actual needs to provide the consultancy advice that best matches their necessities. Sometimes you will also have to travel to meet the clients in person, or to provide training workshops.

Which countries have you covered in your time at ECA?

Benin, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritania, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Turkey, Vietnam and Zambia.

What is the best thing about working at ECA?

That I get to work in the industry I am passionate about, with colleagues who are both unique professionals and persons.

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Interested in a career at ECA?

Economic Consulting Associates is a London based economics consultancy advising clients on markets, regulation and policy in the energy, water and other infrastructure sectors in the UK and internationally. We are a small but well-established company that is now expanding fast to meet demand from our clients. To meet this demand, we need to recruit additional members for our team.

Who we are looking for…

We are interested in hearing from outstanding experienced individuals interested in joining ECA. We would welcome your application if, like other ECA consultants, you enjoy playing a key role within a small, dynamic consulting firm.

Analyst

We are looking to recruit an Analyst to expand our team of 17 consultants. The successful candidate will be working in a stimulating environment across different sectors and teams and being able to choose their areas of specialization. ECA has a flat hierarchy and flexible working conditions, where staff performance is judged on merit.

The minimum requirements for the candidate are:

• economics, engineering, finance or energy related degree (MSc or PhD);

• a keen interest in electricity, gas or water sector issues, ideally demonstrated through prior internship experience or academic specialisation;

• excellent written English with good report writing and presentation skills;

• high level of numeracy with very good excel modelling skills;

• willingness to travel internationally;

• keen interest in contributing to business development;

• Spanish or French speaking an advantage;

• prior experience in public sector or international finance institutions work an advantage (regulators, World Bank, EU, EBRD, EIB, etc…).

Senior Consultant

We are seeking a committed Senior Consultant, with experience in policy and regulatory issues in the electricity and/or gas sectors. The minimum requirements for the candidate are:

• economics, engineering, finance or energy related degree (MSc or PhD);

• a minimum of 5-10 years’ experience in energy (electricity or gas) market regulation, energy economics and/or energy policy;

• prior experience in working on regulatory and policy issues in EU electricity/gas markets;

• prior experience in public sector or international finance institutions work an advantage (regulators, World Bank, EU, EBRD, EIB, etc…);

• good project management skills and the ability to mentor others;

• enthusiasm to take responsibility for business development;

• excellent written English with good report writing and presentation skills;

• high level of numeracy with very good excel modelling skills;

• willingness to travel internationally;

• Spanish or French speaking an advantage.

Intern

Applications for our summer 2016 internship have now closed. Please do not submit applications for next year’s internship until it is advertised here in early 2017.

What we offer…

Working for ECA, you will be contributing to a variety of projects and also play a role in business development. We operate with the highest professional standards in the international arena, while fostering an atmosphere of innovation and creativity. We believe that people work best when they are motivated to achieve high quality results in a friendly and supportive environment.

Our work ranges from detailed problem analysis to high level policy advice presented directly to senior client and government representatives. We work in 4 continents and over 45 countries; you will have the opportunity to travel and work in very varying environments at an early stage of your career. Delivery of excellent projects for our clients involves teamwork and continuous improvement in our economics and consulting skills.

ECA offers an attractive salary and a profit-related bonus.

Working for ECA, you will be involved in a cross-section of different working areas as well as sectors. While we encourage our staff to work across the breadth of our work streams, you will get the chance to specialise in one sector or work stream should you wish to do so.

How to apply…

To follow up your interest in opportunities for relevant and challenging work at the forefront of your field, email your CV and a short motivational letter (please send all documents in PDF format), explaining your interest and suitability for joining ECA, to us at recruit@eca-uk.com. Please also state your availability (your notice period with your current employer).

Once we have received your application, we will review your CV and cover letter and if successful we will invite you for a first interview. This will be via phone or in person depending on where you are currently based. We will then re-evaluate your application and invite you for a second interview with more senior staff if successful. Based on this we will make you an offer or provide feedback on why your application has not been successful.