PUCT, Regulatory Accountant (Financial Examiner III-V)

Public Utility Commission of Texas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) seeks a Regulatory Accountant to perform routine to highly complex accounting work in the Accounting section of the Rate Regulation Division. Responsibilities include reviewing rate-change applications, analyzing utility reports and contracts, and preparing precise written recommendations with accurate financial calculations.

Ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree in accounting/finance or business administration, with CPA license

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree or higher in accounting, finance or business administration.
• For Financial Examiner IV: degree plus two years in utility/regulatory accounting or finance, or CPA license.
• For Financial Examiner V: degree plus either CPA and two years in relevant work, or six years in utility accounting/finance.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine to highly complex accounting work in the Accounting section of Rate Regulation.
• Review rate change and other applications filed with the Commission for compliance and reasonableness.
• Analyze utility reports, contracts and other information for regulated utilities under oversight.
• Prepare written recommendations with precise financial calculations and clear writeups.
• Work under supervision with initiative and independent judgment.

Education

Accounting/Finance/Business Admin degree

CPA license (preferred)

Job description

DIVISION- RATE REGULATION DEPARTMENT/SECTION - ACCOUNTING

About the Rate Regulation Division

The Rate Regulation division is the branch of the PUCT that is most involved in the agency's traditional regulatory rate-setting function. The Rate Regulation division consists of three sections: Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Tariff and Rate Analysis.

The Accounting section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in accounting; these staff members evaluate the legitimacy and reasonableness of a utility company's expense levels. The allowable amounts must be reasonable and necessary to provide utility service to the public. Additionally, the recoverable expenses must be just and reasonable to consumers and the utility.

The Financial Analysis section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in finance; these staff members develop estimates of an appropriate rate of return on the utility company's capital investment. The rate of return provides a reasonable opportunity for a utility to earn its authorized return but does not provide a guarantee that the rate of return will be achieved.

The Tariff and Rate Analysis section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in economics and finance; these staff members develop the specific rates that a utility company charges its customers and address issues related to the proper allocation of a utility's costs to different customer groups, such as residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

The Rate Regulation Division also leads and participates in various rulemaking proceedings and works on other projects involving rate-related issues for electric, water, and telephone utility companies.

Looking to take the next step in your career? Ready for a meaningful career in public service?

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has an opportunity for a motivated professional to help advance the agency's mission and support critical work for the state of Texas.

Rate Regulation is seeking a Regulatory Accountantto perform routine to highly complex accounting work in the Accounting section of the Rate Regulation Division, including the review of rate change and other applications filed with the Commission. Work involves analyzing utility reports, accounting records, contracts, and other pertinent information for regulated and unregulated utilities subject to Commission oversight for compliance with accounting standards, state laws, and Commission regulations, and reasonableness of costs. Work involves preparing written recommendations with attention to mathematical accuracy of financial calculations, clarity, precision, and grammatical accuracy. Works under general to limited supervision with limited to considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

SALARY RANGE

Salarycommensurate with qualifications.

Financial Examiner IIIFinancial Examiner IVFinancial Examiner V

Min

$75,000 ($6,250)$80,004 ($7,001)$90,252 ($7,521)

Max

$83,004 ($7,254)$90,000 ($7,500)$108,000 ($9,000)

The ideal candidate should possess the following minimum qualifications. Applicants must meet all the required minimum qualifications to be considered for this position.

Financial Examiner III

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance, or business administration.

Financial Examiner IV

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance, or business administration plus either (1) two years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting.; or (2) an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Financial Examiner V

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance or business administration; plus either (1) two years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting and an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license; or (2) six years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also possess one or more of the following preferred qualifications:

• An active CPA license.
• Experience in utility or regulatory accounting, including electric, telecommunications, or water and wastewater utilities.
• Experience with rate regulation, cost of service analysis, or financial modeling in a regulatory environment.
• Experience preparing or supporting expert testimony, regulatory filings, or contested case proceedings.