UTILITIES PRINCIPAL ANALYST

City of Riverside; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Riverside's Public Utilities Department is seeking a Utilities Principal Analyst to supervise and lead professional, technical, and analytical work in accounting, budgeting, and financial forecasting for the electric and water utilities.

The role emphasizes cost of service, rate design, policy development, and financial modeling, with duties including staff oversight, audit coordination, and presenting findings to the Public Utilities Board and City Council.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration.
• CPA licensure highly desirable.
• Six years of governmental or commercial accounting experience.
• One year of supervisory experience preferred.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff and train on budgeting, financial planning, and rate design.
• Develop policies to improve financial operations of the department.
• Provide technical expertise in budget administration and economic analysis.
• Lead cash flow analyses and prepare revenue forecasts.
• Prepare rate case testimony and interact with City Council.
• Monitor five-year financial forecasts for water and electric utilities.

Skills

Budget analysis

Financial forecasting

Cost of service

Rate design

Accounting

Supervisory experience

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration

CPA licensure desirable

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Financial modeling software

Job description

The City of Riverside, Public Utilities Department (RPU) is accepting applications for the position ofUTILITIES PRINCIPAL ANALYST to fill one (1) vacancy in theAdministrative Division. The eligibility list established may be used to fill the current and/or upcoming vacancies within this classification for up to six (6) months.

**For positions indicating a salary range from 1N – 2X, the top 15% of the pay range cannot be offered upon hire or upon an employee promotion.

Under general direction, the Utilities Principal Analyst is to perform supervisory and/or lead supervisory professional, technical, analytical and related duties in the areas of accounting, budget administration, financial and economic forecasting for the Public Utilities Department and to do related work as required.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee the work of assigned staff; train employees on work methods and procedures, financial planning, economic and budget analysis, cost of service and rate design activities and procedures.
• Participate in the development of policies and procedures to improve the Public Utilities Department's financial and administrative operations, including developing section goals, objectives, policies and priorities.
• Provide highly technical expertise in the areas of budget administration, financial planning, cost of service, rate design and economic analysis.
• Provide oversight and training to Utilities Management in budget theory, methodology and techniques regarding budget planning.
• Analyze departmental financial and administrative systems and procedures; develop and implement new accounting and/or financial systems.
• Analyze a variety of monthly and quarterly financial reports and statements for the department, bond rating agencies, materials related to electric and water rates and fees, federal and state agencies, Board of Public Utilities and City Council.
• Oversee departmental accounting-related activities within the Department and with other City Departments, including the annual audit and the development of applicable reporting and monitoring systems.
• Analyze proposed water and electric projects, perform cost-benefit analysis, recommend course of action, and provide justification including fiscal reliability/risks of such projects.
• Oversee cash flow analyses, financial reports, planning models, and other analysis to assist in short and long-term financial planning for the electric and water utilities; develop, administer and monitor financial models; develop forecasts of revenues, expenses and fund balances for the Department.
• Monitor the five-year financial forecast for the water and electric utilities, modify complex computer models as necessary to reflect changes in supply plans, rate designs, consumption levels, capital plans and policies, economic conditions or other applicable factors.
• Ensure revenues, expenses and fund balances comport with budget and Department policy; develop changes in Department fiscal policy, as needed.
• Respond to financial and rate surveys and requests for information from other utilities, governmental and outside agencies.
• Make presentations to the Public Utilities Board and City Council when necessary.
• Monitor recording of Utility revenues.
• Prepare the revenue budgets for the electric and water utilities.
• Testify as an expert witness before the Public Utilities Board and City Council regarding cost of service studies and on revenue requirements and rate design.
• Prepare rate case testimony by analyzing financial and rate information; developing charts and graphs.
• Serve as Utilities Finance/Rates Manager as required.

Education:

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major work in accounting or business administration.
• A Certificated Public Accountant licensure is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Six years of responsible experience in governmental or commercial accounting and/or auditing, preferably with utilities. One year of supervisory experience is desirable.

Highly Desired Qualifications:

1. Experienced in leading cash flow analyses, financial reporting, and planning models to support both short- and long-term financial planning.
2. Skilled in developing, administering, and monitoring financial models that incorporate utility operations, facility cash flows, and budget assumptions.
3. Strong accounting background including journal entries, trial balance work, reconciliations, and support for year-end audit processes.
4. Experienced in managing property and facility financials, including budgets, cash flows, lease administration, payment tracking, and revenue forecasting.
5. More than three years of experience supervising and developing staff, improving workflow efficiency and strengthening team capability.

Advanced Excel capability (Pivot tables, v-lookups, other complex formulas).

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION:

• 1) Completed Employment Application
• 2) Completed Supplemental Questionnaire
• 3) Resume and Letter of Interest

The selection process will begin with an employment application package screening, with the best qualified candidates being invited to participate further in the assessment process. This process may include any combination of written, performance, and oral assessments to evaluate job-related education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Those who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on the eligibility list for this classification.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING ASSESSMENTS:

If you are selected to move forward in the assessment process, you may be required to self-schedule your appointment. You will be notified via email of your status and provided with self-scheduling instructions. Please check your email regularly following the closing date of this recruitment.

Positions that require, or may require, a California Commercial Driver’s License are considered Safety Sensitive and are monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Any candidate being considered for a Safety Sensitive position must submit authorization forms to the City immediately upon request to begin the pre-employment process.

It is the responsibility of candidates with a disability requiring accommodation in the assessment process to contact the Human Resources Department in writing to request such accommodation prior to the closing date of this recruitment.

Appointment may be subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment background investigation, drug screen, and/or medical/physical examination.

NOTE: The City reserves the right to modify selection devices and test instruments in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, and professional standards. Candidates may reapply when there is a posting to establish an eligibility list.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Proof of education listed in your application will be requested at the time of conditional offer. Acceptable documentation consists of transcripts or degree, if applicable, by the accredited U.S. college or university.

Education obtained outside the United States (US) require one of the following options:

1. An equivalency statement from an evaluation company certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at http://www.naces.org/members.html or the Association of International Credential Evaluators Inc. (AICE) at http://aice-eval.org/members/.
2. An advanced-level degree from an accredited US college or university.

All applicants will be notified via e-mail or telephone of their application status and the assessment dates/times/locations after the closing date of this announcement.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT.