Public Advocate Utility Analyst 1 (PCN 086071)

State of Alaska • Anchorage, AK

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Law, Civil Division is recruiting for a Public Advocate Utility Analyst in Anchorage. This position serves as an expert witness representing the public interest in complex and precedent-setting utility, pipeline carrier, and Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) cases before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) and in related legal proceedings. The role involves preparing, presenting, and defending advanced written and oral testimony grounded in expert financial, engineering, and economic analysis. It also includes conducting independent investigations of rate proposals, operational practices, reliability standards, and financial records to develop defensible regulatory policy recommendations. The analyst will develop technical exhibits, cost-of-service studies, revenue requirement analyses, and other materials to support expert testimony in contested cases. Collaboration with attorneys on litigation strategy, discovery, cross-examination preparation, and settlement negotiations in adversarial regulatory matters is also a key part of the role. Additionally, the position requires engaging with utility, pipeline, and ERO representatives to gather information, resolve issues, and support the development or review of reliability standards and integrated resource plans.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in economics, accounting, finance, engineering, or business administration, OR current licensure as a CPA or PE.
• Competencies in Auditing: Knowledge of generally accepted auditing standards and procedures for conducting financial and compliance, economy and efficiency, and program audits.
• Competencies in Decision Making: Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
• Competencies in Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, tax law and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Competencies in General Engineering: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of engineering and their practical applications.
• Competencies in Oral Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
• Competencies in Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a brief, clear, and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Professional experience performing audits, financial examinations, or research and analyses of regulated utilities, pipeline carriers, and electric reliability organizations and/or business or governmental policies or operations.
• Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Knowledge of the guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with investigation, including interviewing, evidence detection, locating, gathering, and handling, and drawing appropriate factual inferences and conclusions. Provide oral or written reports of findings. Presenting evidence and providing testimony.
• Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced professional experience in regulated utilities, pipeline carriers, electric reliability, or complex financial/engineering analysis.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an expert witness representing the public interest in complex and precedent-setting utility, pipeline carrier, and Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) cases before the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) and in related legal proceedings.
• Prepare, present, and defend advanced written and oral testimony grounded in expert financial, engineering, and economic analysis.
• Conduct independent investigations of rate proposals, operational practices, reliability standards, and financial records to develop defensible regulatory policy recommendations.
• Develop technical exhibits, cost-of-service studies, revenue requirement analyses, and other materials that support expert testimony in contested cases.
• Collaborate with attorneys on litigation strategy, discovery, cross-examination preparation, and settlement negotiations in adversarial regulatory matters.
• Engage with utility, pipeline, and ERO representatives to gather information, resolve issues, and support development or review of reliability standards and integrated resource plans.

Benefits

• State health benefits (including dental and vision)
• Life insurance
• Generous leave accrual
• 12 paid holidays
• Potential eligibility for the Public Loan Forgiveness Program
• Routine professional development through training by subject matter experts and other providers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior