Director of Financial Planning & Analysis

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, seeks a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis to lead budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning, reporting to the CFO. This role partners with leaders to translate operational needs into financial plans and to ensure prudent, transparent use of ratepayer dollars.

You will steer the enterprise budget of $1.3B in operating costs and a $4.4B six-year capital plan, develop multi-year forecasts, and craft financial policies to support

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in financial planning, budgeting or utility/public-sector financial management.
• 8+ years of demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and complex financial processes in a large organization.
• Master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent background to perform the work of the class.

Responsibilities

• Lead the enterprise budget process, ensuring the utility’s operating and capital budgets are accurate, transparent, and aligned with strategic priorities.
• Partner with leaders to translate operational needs into sound financial plans and help understand costs and trade-offs.
• Foster financial stewardship and coach leaders on forecasting, budget management, and key financial concepts that improve decision-making.
• Develop multi-year forecasts and financial policies to support capital investments, rate-setting and long-term financial health.
• Lead a team of managers and contributors, delivering high-quality reporting and continuous improvement.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Systems thinking

Leadership

Communication

Public sector finance

Education

Master's degree in finance or related field

Job description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

City Light is recruiting for a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. This role leads budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning while providing senior leadership with clear insights into performance drivers, risks, and opportunities. This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Here is more about what you’ll be doing:

Budgeting & Financial Stewardship

• Lead the enterprise budget process, ensuring the utility’s $1.3 billion annual operating budget and $4.4 billion six-year capital budget are accurate and transparent, uphold careful stewardship of public resources, and are aligned with strategic priorities.
• Partner with leaders and managers to translate operational needs into sound financial plans, helping them understand costs, impacts, and operational trade-offs.
• Foster strong financial stewardship of ratepayer dollars by rigorously evaluating spending requests, challenging assumptions, and ensuring responsible, ethical allocation of resources.
• Build financial acumen across the organization by coaching leaders of people and projects on forecasting, budget management, labor resource planning, and key financial concepts that enhance decision-making.
• Advance a culture of accountability and continuous improvement by modeling values-based decision-making and reinforcing.

Financial Strategy, Policy, & Rates

• Lead development of multi-year financial forecasts that support the utility’s strategic plan, capital program, rate path, and long-term financial health.
• Develop and maintain financial policies, standards, debt strategy, and annual bond sale plans that support prudent capital investments in utility infrastructure.
• Lead the rate-setting process, managing development of rate increase recommendations that are equitable, progressive, and support revenue sufficiency and long-term affordability.
• Support creation of clear, accessible financial materials for City Council briefings, public hearings, and stakeholder engagement, enabling understanding of cost drivers, compliance obligations, and financial impacts.
• Foster prudent, data-informed, business-driven decision-making through development of business cases, procedures, and strong financial controls.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Champion accountability, transparency, and public service, ensuring financial decisions reflect City values and maintain trust with customers.
• Lead and develop a team of managers and individual contributors, fostering analytical rigor, high-quality reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with leaders in engineering, operations, capital project delivery, power supply, and customer service to ensure strong financial alignment with utility operations.
• Serve as a key financial advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team, translating complex financial information into actionable insights.

Required Qualifications:

In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in financial planning, budgeting or utility/public-sector financial management.
• 8+ years of demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and complex financial processes in a large organization.
• Master's degree in a relevant field (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications -

You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated strength in analytical thinking and systems thinking.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and other decision-support tools that enable sound business judgment.
• Experience designing and implementing policies and programs within a regulated or governmental environment.
• Electric utility experience.
• Strong ability to communicate financial concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong understanding of financial forecasting, budget development, capital planning, performance reporting, retail rate design, and regulatory accounting standards such as GASB 62.
• Effective people leader with a track record of building engaged, high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous growth and improvement.
• Commitment to public service, racial and social equity, and Seattle City Light’s mission.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Emergency Response Commitment:

Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies. Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role - usually aligned with their regular duties to support emergency operations. Your participation is required and vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.

The full salary range for this position is $66.88 to $110.35 per hour.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.