From Engineer to Finance: A Blueprint for Modern Energy Finance with Zachary Kimball, PE, MBA, Citation Oil and Gas Corp
September 23, 2025
In this episode of CFO Weekly, Zachary Kimball, PE, MBA, VP of Finance and Strategic Planning at Citation Oil and Gas Corp, joins Megan Weis to explore how CFOs are optimizing value from aging assets while managing escalating production costs, drawing from his unique background as a petroleum engineer turned finance leader with experience at Marathon Oil and McKinsey's Petroleum Asset Excellence group.
In this episode of CFO Weekly, Zachary Kimball, PE, MBA, VP of Finance and Strategic Planning at Citation Oil and Gas Corp, joins Megan Weis to explore how CFOs in the energy sector are transforming their approach to managing aging assets while balancing escalating production costs and operational efficiency. Zach brings unique insights as a petroleum engineer turned finance leader, with experience at Halliburton, Marathon Oil, and McKinsey & Company's Petroleum Asset Excellence group.
With his extensive background spanning field operations to corporate strategy, Zach shares how finance teams can leverage operational knowledge to optimize mature assets, implement data-driven capital allocation frameworks, and navigate the complex intersection of ESG considerations and profitability. Currently serving as VP of Finance and Strategic Planning at Citation Oil and Gas Corp, Zach oversees strategic planning for a portfolio of mature assets with over 400 fields, some dating back over 100 years.
What You'll Learn:
- How aging assets fundamentally change financial strategy beyond traditional commodity price focus
- Frameworks for evaluating which mature assets to invest in versus divest or decommission
- The critical role of operational data integration in high-level financial decision making
- Strategies for managing power costs that can represent 30-40% of operating expenses
- How ESG considerations serve as a license to operate rather than just a cost center
- Capital allocation approaches that balance growth investments with cost-saving initiatives
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Previous guests include: Tom McDermott, CFO at Career Certified, Claire Bramley, CFO at Teradata, Chris Miles, Founder of Money Ripples, Ranil DeSilva, CFO & COO at CARE, Jordan Grumet, Financial Independence Expert & Host of Earn & Invest & William Washington, Global CFO at Baker McKenzie
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