As a leader in the construction and engineering space, Kiewit manages billions of dollars in labor, materials and equipment sourced from around the world for some of its largest projects.
For Kiewit’s finance team, this means a lot of responsibility in an environment that can present daily challenges. Finance’s role is critical to the process, in which missing an invoice can create ripple effects, potentially causing delays throughout the operation. Whether or not someone can excel in such an environment comes down to their attitude toward the work. For Zach Griner, now in his fourth year at Kiewit, the key difference is adaptability.
“Projects go through peaks and valleys of activity, and it keeps the work interesting,” said Griner. As part of the finance team, Griner has worked on analyses for various projects, including a $4 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal early in his career. By the end of his first year as an operation finance analyst, he had presented to Kiewit’s chief financial officer (CFO), vice president of finance and board of directors on his team’s findings.
Griner holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M, where he spent his junior and senior years searching for a post-graduation career that aligned with his values. After interviewing with companies in traditional finance fields like banking, accounting and wealth management, Griner set his sights on construction: “Kiewit stood out to me because the culture consists of driven people that are willing to work hard and have fun while doing it.”
As a finance supervisor, he has overseen various teams including a core team of three analysts, which has allowed him to develop management skills early in his career.
“I felt like Kiewit was a great fit for me because I could come into a large, $17-billion company and receive many opportunities early if I delivered results. Four years later, that is exactly what has happened, and I am looking forward to a future of more fulfilling work,” said Griner. In the short term, he says his goal is to become the top solutions provider for all project teams.
Finance and business majors have found non-traditional industries increasingly attractive in recent years. Noting one potential cause for the shift, Griner pointed out, “Kiewit interested me because of how much responsibility is given to you early in your career, especially in comparison to your peers in other industries. If you are driven and motivated, you are given endless opportunities to grow your career and get new experiences.”
