Manager, Capital Budget

California Water Group•San Jose, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

California Water Service Group (Cal Water) is seeking a Manager, Capital Budget to lead the annual capital budget process for Cal Water districts and subsidiaries. The position oversees preparation, forecasting, administration, review, and approval of capital budgets and projects, and provides strategic oversight of the Company’s capital cost-estimating program. The role reports to the Director of Capital Planning and Budgeting and works on site in an assigned office in San Jose, Torrance, Chico, or Bakersfield, California. The manager serves as the company’s technical lead for budget standards and processes; administers the PowerPlan budgeting system; works with districts, departments, engineering, operations, consultants, and the Rates team; and provides capital budget information and support for General Rate Case proceedings. The position supports budgets exceeding $1.2 billion over three years, annual budgets of approximately $450 million, and more than 1,200 project approvals every three years. It also manages staff and supports training, reporting, forecasting, and continuous improvement activities.

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 operation of water and wastewater utility facilities.
Ability to present budget figures and analysis to management.
Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication 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 capabilities using Microsoft Office applications to create spreadsheets, presentations, and written documents.
Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated time-management and organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Maintain, update, forecast, and improve company budget standards and processes.
Assist in developing the Capital Planning team’s long-range vision, mission, and strategic planning.
Oversee the capital budgeting process and entry of project information into budgeting software; assemble, present, and manage annual subsidiary budgets and three-year budgets for California General Rate Case filings.
Manage staff by prioritizing and assigning work, conducting performance reviews, overseeing training and development, and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
Coordinate staff 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 approved annual capital and rate case budgets for each business unit.
Serve as primary PowerPlan Budget Administrator, reviewing and approving specific capital funding projects and non-specific work orders with capital budget cost components, communicating and training on program changes, and supporting upgrades.
Oversee, review, and approve non-specific and blanket work orders; forecast and recommend how to manage those programs and identify ways to reduce non-specific spending.
Oversee the capital cost-estimating program, including estimating standards and methodologies, consultant coordination, cost databases, cost catalog governance, and quality assurance of estimates used for budgeting and GRC filings.
Support cost-estimating program growth for each GRC, including providing high-level costs for the nine-year list of district capital projects and updating GRC Cost Catalog costs.
Respond to data requests from the California Public Advocates Office and CPUC during GRC proceedings and prepare rebuttals as needed for capital budgets and projects.
Support the Rates department and provide budget information for General Rate Case submissions.
Represent capital budgeting in support of the Rates team during GRC settlements, including creating, updating, and communicating the Master Spreadsheet of projects.
Co-lead the annual Project Manager validation process, working with staff and consultants to gather project data and estimate annual investment and close targets.
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 staff, direct reports, operations staff, and other departments regarding 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 project close, and monitor actuals against targets to ensure annual goals are met.
Prepare presentations for and interact with Company Officers and Board members regarding the proposed annual capital program and associated budgets.
Prepare written announcements and training documentation, and provide training 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.