Manager, Capital Budget

California Water Service Group•Torrance, CA

1d•$104,800 - $230,800•Onsite

About The Position

California Water Service Group (Cal Water) is hiring a Capital Budget Manager to lead the annual capital budget process for all Cal Water districts and subsidiaries. The role is responsible for preparing, forecasting, administering, and overseeing annual capital budgets for business units; reviewing and approving capital funding projects and work orders; and providing strategic oversight of the Company’s capital cost estimating program. The position supports three-year budgets exceeding $1.2 billion, annual budgets of approximately $450 million, and more than 1,200 project approvals in each three-year General Rate Case (GRC) cycle. The Manager administers the PowerPlan budgeting system, works with districts and departments to develop and maintain capital and rate-case budgets, and manages a team, including work assignment, performance reviews, training and development, and personnel recommendations. The role also supports GRC filings and proceedings, responds to California Public Advocates Office and CPUC data requests, and represents capital budgeting in the GRC settlement process. It provides capital spending forecasts and reporting, cost-estimating standards and quality assurance, and recommendations to management and districts. The position reports to the Director of Capital Planning and Budgeting. It is located in the company’s San Jose, Torrance, Chico, or Bakersfield, California office and performs work on site at the assigned office location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Financial Management, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in capital budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, reporting, capital portfolio management, or related fields.
Valid California driver license.
Knowledge of supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
Knowledge of capital project budgeting and budgeting techniques.
Knowledge of forecasting, tracking, and reporting projects and programs of varying sizes and budgets.
Knowledge of CPUC rules, regulations, and rate-case filings.
Ability to set priorities, exercise sound and independent judgment, select and evaluate supervisory staff, analyze and prepare reports and presentations, identify problems, propose alternative solutions, and develop and execute goals.
Broad knowledge of cost-estimating principles, standard practices, and software programs.
Broad knowledge of capital project planning.
Broad knowledge of engineering and project management practices related to planning, design, construction, and operations for water and wastewater utility facilities.
Ability to present budget numbers and analysis to management.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with contractors, vendors, consultants, regulators, and staff across districts, departments, and engineering.
Ability to write clear and concise general and technical policies, procedures, and instructions.
Strong ability to use Microsoft Office applications to create spreadsheets, presentations, and written documents.
Demonstrated troubleshooting, problem-solving, leadership, time-management, and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Management experience is desirable.
Experience administering or supporting PowerPlan or similar enterprise capital budgeting systems is strongly preferred.
Knowledge of capital project budgeting and high-level capital cost-estimating principles is desirable.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable.

Responsibilities

Maintain, update, forecast, and improve company budget standards and processes as the technical lead.
Assist with long-range vision, mission, and strategic planning for the Capital Planning team.
Oversee the capital budgeting process, including project information in budgeting software and preparation, presentation, and management of company, subsidiary, annual, and three-year GRC budgets.
Manage staff by prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance reviews, overseeing training and development, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
Coordinate training workshops and events for districts and departments on PowerPlan and the budgeting process.
Partner with districts and departments to review, prepare, update, and maintain annual company-approved capital and rate-case budgets for each business unit.
Administer PowerPlan, including reviewing and approving specific capital funding projects and non-specific work orders with capital budget cost components, communicating and training users on changes, and supporting program upgrades.
Oversee, review, and approve non-specific and blanket work orders; forecast and recommend how to manage these programs and identify ways to reduce non-specific spending.
Oversee the capital cost estimating program, including standards, methodologies, consultant coordination, cost databases, cost catalog governance, and quality assurance of estimates used for budgets and GRC filings.
Support cost-estimating program growth for each GRC, including providing high-level costs for nine-year district capital project lists and updating GRC Cost Catalog costs.
Respond to California Public Advocates Office and CPUC data requests during GRC proceedings and prepare rebuttals as needed for capital budgets and projects.
Support the Rates department and provide budget information for GRC submissions.
Represent capital budgeting in the Rates team’s GRC settlement process, including creating, updating, and communicating the Master Spreadsheet of projects.
Co-lead the annual Project Manager validation process, gathering project data with staff and consultants to estimate yearly investment and close targets.
Gather and compile annual budgets for Hawaii Water, Washington Water, New Mexico Water, Travis AFB, other operating districts, and acquisitions.
Compile carryover project totals for Officer and GRC filings.
Analyze Earnings Test impacts for each district and recommend district projects to help meet GRC Earnings Test requirements.
Coordinate with engineering, operations, direct reports, and other departments on capital project parameters and estimated costs.
Oversee reporting of completed project performance against budget and schedule, and recommend improvements to estimating and scheduling techniques.
Report progress and forecasts for capital spending and close, and monitor actuals against targets to support annual goals.
Prepare presentations for and interact with Company Officers and Board members regarding the proposed annual capital program and budgets.
Prepare written announcements and training documentation, and train staff on budget processes, changes, and project creation and execution best practices.
Participate on project teams and advisory committees on behalf of the Engineering Department.
Participate in and support the Company’s Continuous Improvement program and projects.
Perform work on site in the assigned office location and other similar duties as assigned.