Jayde Dono’s Reflections After One Year
Nearing her first full year in her role as a financial analyst at Utility Financial Solutions, Jayde Dono brings a fresh perspective to utility finance.
With degrees in finance and economics from the University of Central Florida, she applies analytical skills to an industry where every decision affects real communities.
Here, she reflects on what makes utility finance uniquely challenging and rewarding.
A year ago, I rarely thought about the utility sector beyond paying my bills. Utilities are among the systems that work so reliably in America that most people never give them a second thought. Water flows when you turn the knob, lights come on with a switch—everything just works.
We see it in movies and shows: when the grid goes down, chaos follows fast. My favorite show right now is The Walking Dead, which emphasizes just how hard things get when utilities don’t function normally. Certainly the zombie “walkers” didn’t help the chaos, but the lack of communication, running water, and electricity definitely didn’t make things any easier.
That’s part of what drew me to this job: the idea of helping people in ways they don’t always notice. I knew I wanted to be a financial analyst, but that title can mean something entirely different in different industries. There’s something rewarding about being part of the behind-the-scenes work that helps a utility stay healthy and run smoothly.
During my four years at the University of Central Florida, I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. That experience gave me the foundation to think critically and understand the financial side of things. After graduation, when I started applying for jobs in finance or economics, I knew my first role would shape my path. It was important for me to choose a career that would utilize my strong suits and help me grow.
No Two Utilities are the Same
What surprised me most after starting this job is just how much depth the utility industry has. Learning how utilities operate has been like opening the door to an entirely new world. The sophistication of utility finance begins with understanding this aspect of the industry. There’s always something new to learn in this sector, which keeps the work intellectually engaging.
Navigating Capital Planning, Sustainability Goals, Political Considerations & Regulatory Standards
It might surprise you to learn that utility finance sits at the crossroads of many high-stakes decisions. It blends traditional finance learned in school with capital planning, sustainability goals, political considerations, and regulatory standards specific to utilities.
The municipal utility world requires applying financial principles in contexts where every utility and community has different needs. This is not the kind of work where you can rely on a one-size-fits-all approach.
The UFS approach is about listening first, then partnering to find solutions that fit each utility’s unique goals and community needs. Every recommendation has ripple effects and can impact communities and even people within the communities differently. This complexity requires strategic, innovative solutions that position utilities for long-term success.
The most rewarding part of my role is knowing that real communities will be impacted by the work we do. The financial studies and reports we prepare ultimately shape important decisions. They affect families who rely on affordable water, businesses that depend on reliable power, and communities planning for the future.
Strong Data, Healthy Financial Futures
The work is deeply analytical, but that technical precision plays a critical role in helping utilities serve their communities. We help clients navigate the complexity so they can make decisions with confidence.
While the focus of this blog is the career itself, I also want to highlight the team I work with. Everyone is brilliant and so committed to doing their best work. Our team consists of skilled accountants, engineers, and economists who specialize in utility finance and have served hundreds of utilities globally. It’s impressive to see our team leverage decades of industry experience, and I am grateful to be a part of it.
It’s funny to think that I never gave the utility industry a second thought before. Now, it’s something that’s on my mind every single day.
