REGULATORY ACCOUNTANT - UNCLASSIFIED

State of Nevada; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Holidays

PERS Retirement

Deferred Compensation

No state income tax

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Longevity Pay

Job summary

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) in Carson City seeks a Regulatory Accountant to audit and analyze utility accounting and regulatory data, develop and recommend adjustments for ratemaking, and prepare and present testimony for Commission proceedings.

The position requires an advanced degree or equivalent experience; certifications (CPA, CMA, CFA) are desirable, and collaboration with accountants, auditors, engineers, economists and legal staff is essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in finance, accounting, business admin or related field.
• Bachelor’s with two years regulated utility experience or equivalent.
• CPA, CMA or CFA certification desirable.
• Familiarity with cost-of-service regulation and federal tax basics.

Responsibilities

• Audit general rate change applications for electric, gas, water and telecom utilities.
• Analyze filings and license applications; review certificates of public convenience.
• Prepare and present testimony; defend testimony in Commission proceedings.
• Track cases and draft narrative summaries of research findings.

Education

Master’s degree in finance/accounting or closely related field

Bachelor’s degree + 2 years regulated utility experience

CPA CMA CFA desirable

Job description

• No Nevada state income tax.

Job Summary

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Regulatory Accountant in Carson City. Must be highly professional, well-organized, self-motivated, and possess leadership skills. Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision as well as in a team environment in collaboration with other financial accountants, auditors, engineers, economists, and legal staff; compile and summarize information and prepare correspondence, periodic or special reports related to assignments; and contribute effectively to the accomplishment of the team or agency goals, objectives, and activities. Ability to audit and analyze accounting, financial and operational data recorded in the books and records of utilities; ability to audit and analyze a utility’s modifications to recorded accounting data for regulatory ratemaking purposes. To include developing and recommending appropriate adjusting entries to be recorded in a utility’s books and records; and developing and recommending appropriate adjustments to a utility’s modifications to recorded accounting data for regulatory ratemaking purposes. Complete and in-depth knowledge of cost-of-service ratemaking principles and techniques at the state and federal level. Complete and in-depth knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.

Essential Qualifications

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in finance, accounting, business administration, or closely related field and studies or work experience pertaining to regulated industries; OR Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and two years professional level experience with a regulated utility company or an agency responsible for regulating utilities; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession of a current CPA, CMA, or CFA certification desirable. Also desirable is a working knowledge of federal income taxation of corporations and the ability to research and apply federal income tax law with respect to cost-of-service regulation.

Job Duties

This position will audit general rate change applications and analyze filings for electric, natural gas, telephone, water and wastewater utilities. Audit deferred energy and purchase gas adjustment applications and mobile home park filings. Analyze and process applications for licenses. Review applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity and changes in ownership. Review annual report filings; track compliance for non-safety issues and monitor the universal energy charge collections and the Universal Service Fund program. Provide written testimony and orally defend testimony for proceedings brought before the Commission; and serve as an expert witness. Analyze issues and evaluate other parties’ written and oral testimony for accuracy, logic and consistency with existing Commission policy, state statutes and regulations, and write rebuttal testimony based upon analysis. May be required to prepare and present testimony to legislative committees. May be required to make presentations to various state, local and federal agencies. May be expected to perform additional job-related duties and to have or develop additional specific job-related knowledge and skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of applicable Nevada and federal laws to include the Open Meeting Law; and the rules and regulations of the Commission. Complete and in-depth knowledge of regulatory principles at the state and federal levels as they relate to current trends and their implications in the telecommunications, electric, gas, water, and geothermal industries. Thorough knowledge of cost and financial accounting. Knowledge of accounting principles, practices and methods relating to short and long-term financial and economic forecasting. Ability to audit accounting and information systems and to diagnose improper operation. Knowledge of current issues and their implications on industry restructuring, including incentive regulation and performance-based ratemaking, administrative procedures and rate design. Ability to effectively communicate and present complex information to the Commission and utility companies, both verbally and in writing. Must be able to sufficiently compose narrative summaries of research findings and analysis which are grammatically correct, logical, thorough, and comprehensible. The latter includes tracking the more complex cases (general rate cases, for example) before the Commission and, if required, providing written and/or oral testimony during Commission proceedings.

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP).
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication.
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program.
• No Nevada state income tax.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.

Additional benefits

may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF).

• State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The Following Are Legal Holidays

• January 1.............................................. New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
• Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday
• Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day
• June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day
• July 4.................................................... Independence Day
• First Monday in September.............. Labor Day
• Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day
• November 11........................................ Veterans' Day
• Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day
• Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day
• December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255