Director of Regulatory Finance & Rates

Summit Utilities, Inc.; Fort Smith (AR); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Utilities, Inc. is seeking a Director of Regulatory Finance & Rates responsible for leading regulatory financial strategies to support safe and reliable natural gas services. This hybrid position is available in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Maine, or remote in Texas.

The ideal candidate should have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree in a related field. Strong analytical and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with utility ratemaking experience. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of finance, accounting, regulatory or a related field.
• Utility Ratemaking experience required.
• Ability to develop relationships and build credibility quickly.

Responsibilities

• Lead rate making activities for assigned jurisdictions.
• Provide oral and written testimony in regulatory proceedings.
• Develop regulatory recovery strategies and processes.
• Lead and develop a team of regulatory analysts.
• Promote a culture of integrity and continuous improvement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Accounting, Finance or Economics

Tools

Excel

SQL

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Join our Growing Team and see why Summit Utilities, Inc was named as one of the Fastest Growing Denver Area Private Companies 2019 and 2020; Best Places to Work in Maine 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and Best Places to Work in Arkansas 2020 and 2023, Oklahoma 2022 and 2023 and Missouri 2023. Summit was also recently named one of Forbes 2023 America’s Best Small Employers.

Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Regulatory Finance & Rates. This role can be hybrid in any of the following states: Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Maine, or remote in Texas.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Regulatory Finance & Rates is responsible for leading the development, analysis, and execution of the company’s regulatory financial strategies, including revenue requirement modeling, rate design, cost recovery mechanisms, and financial testimony in regulatory filings. This role ensures that the company’s rates and regulatory filings support safe, reliable natural gas service while achieving fair recovery of prudently incurred costs. The Director serves as a key liaison with state commissions, staff, intervenors, and internal business units to align regulatory outcomes with operational and financial objectives.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all rate making activities for assigned jurisdictions to include general rate cases, formula rate proceedings, infrastructure riders, cost of gas filings, and other filings.
• Serve as a lead witness or support witness in regulatory proceedings; provide oral and written testimony; prepare and/or review testimony, exhibits, discovery responses, and settlement analyses. Provide strategic guidance on regulatory policies, emerging laws, and industry trends impacting cost recovery and utility financial performance.
• Develop regulatory recovery strategies, processes and procedures to effectively and efficiently manage large projects (general rate cases) maximize investment returns, balance customer impacts and ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
• Lead and develop a team of regulatory analysts by establishing processes, training, and tools that improve modeling accuracy, regulatory compliance, and analytical efficiency.
• Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, and continuous improvement.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of ten (10) or more years of finance, accounting, regulatory or a related field
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as Engineering, Business, Accounting, Finance or Economics
• Utility Ratemaking experience required
• Must have the ability to develop relationships and build credibility quickly

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Deep understanding of cost-of-service regulation, rate design, capital recovery mechanisms, depreciation, and utility accounting (FERC/GAAP).
• In depth knowledge of state regulation and rate making principles
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills (e.g., Excel, SQL, BI tools).
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including ability to simplify complex regulatory concepts.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a highly regulated environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills and meticulous analytical capability
• Business partner mentality with ability to educate basic financial concepts to stakeholders
• Proven ability to communicate complex financial concepts and data in an understandable manner, in written and oral presentation formats, to all levels of management and staff
• Experience with SAP and or Oracle a plus
• CPA or CIA a plus

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.