Lead Utility Finance Specialist

PowerLines; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State Corporation Commission in Virginia seeks a Lead Utility Finance Specialist to join the Division of Utility Accounting & Finance. The role involves examining, researching, and analyzing large utility companies, with focus on cost of capital and rate cases.

You will conduct analyses, prepare testimony, and oversee staff policy development while staying current on financial market developments and regulatory trends.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in financial analysis and/or financial modeling.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Statistics, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field.
• CPA, CRRA, or CDP certification is considered a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide cost of capital analysis and testimony in rate cases.
• Conduct review and analysis of routine to complex utility financing filings.
• Provide general research and support on cost of capital and other financial issues.
• Lead development of staff policy.
• Monitor financial market information and developments.
• Review finance schedules, send interrogatories, and run cost of equity models.
• Present recommendations and justification in testimony.
• Provide oral testimony to support positions during hearings.
• Draft reports, action briefs and orders to meet deadlines.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for action.

Skills

Financial analysis

Financial modeling

Verbal communication

Written communication

Critical thinking

Attention to detail

Judgement

Testimony drafting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA/CRRA/CDP certification

Job description

The State Corporation Commission (SCC or Commission) seeks a Lead Utility Finance Specialist to join our Division of Utility Accounting & Finance (UAF), which regulates public utilities that provide essential services such as energy and water to Virginians. The Division of UAF provides the Commission with accounting and financial information to use when deliberating utility cases involving rates and services. Utility ratemaking is the formal regulatory process by which public utilities set the prices they will charge consumers. The Lead Utility Finance Specialist position’s work will involve responsibility for the examination, research, and analysis of large utility companies.

The job responsibilities of the Lead Utility Finance Specialist position will include the following:

• Provide cost of capital analysis and testimony in rate cases.
• Conduct a thorough review and analysis of routine to complex utility company financing, affiliate, and transfer applications filings.
• Provide general research and support on cost of capital, and other financial issues in addition to rate cases.
• Lead overall development of staff policy.
• Monitor and stay abreast of financial market information and developments.
• Review utility finance schedules, send interrogatories, conduct financial research, and run complex cost of equity models.
• Present UAF staff's recommendation and justification in a well-written testimony.
• Provide oral testimony to support UAF staff's position under cross-examination, as required.
• Support cost of capital calculations in rate adjustment clauses filings.
• Review case history and develop and send data requests needed to provide thorough analysis.
• Provide draft reports, action briefs and orders in a timely manner to meet any statutory deadlines.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for action.
• Perform related work as required.

QualificationsPreferred Qualifications

• 5 or more years of professional experience in financial analysis and/or financial modeling.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Statistics, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field.
• Utility experience is strongly preferred.
• CPA, CRRA, or CDP certification is considered a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and editing skills.
• Strong initiative and the ability to use sound judgement when evaluating and investigating complex issues.
• Ability to draft well-written testimony to communicate and synthesize complicated concepts in a way that a non-finance professional can understand.
• Ability to think quickly and respond to cross-examination in hearings.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Commission staff, utility companies, and industry personnel.