Utilities Principal Finance Specialist

State of Connecticut•New Britain, CT

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) is hiring a Utilities Principal Finance Specialist to provide financial and technical expertise supporting the financial and operational effectiveness and transparency of Connecticut’s regulated utilities. The OCC advocates for consumer interests in electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications matters and participates in state, federal, regulatory, and judicial proceedings. The specialist performs the most complex utility economics and finance work and serves as a team leader for professional technical staff. The role includes financial and economic analyses, rate-of-return and cost-of-capital work, evaluation of utility financial operations and viability, and review of financial statements and statistical exhibits. The specialist represents OCC positions in proceedings before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and potentially other forums; conducts investigations and audits; and may develop and conduct cross-examination of expert witnesses on complex financial, accounting, and economic issues. The position is based at Ten Franklin Square in New Britain, Connecticut, and follows a hybrid telework/office schedule. It is full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday on first shift. The position reports to the Supervisor of Utility Financial Analysis and the Consumer Counsel. Incumbents may be required to travel and may be required to possess and retain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.

Requirements

Eight years of professional experience in business, finance, or quantitative analysis.
Two years of the general experience must involve complex financial analysis, defined as comprehensive, detailed, and difficult financial studies resulting in reports and recommendations to management.
Considerable knowledge of finance principles and practices, especially as they relate to the operation and capitalization of public utilities.
Knowledge of public utilities’ performance in stock and bond markets and the impacts of those markets on utilities.
Knowledge of public utility corporate financial structure; rate-of-return and cost-of-capital analyses, including computer applications; and corporate economics and finance in a regulated environment.
Knowledge of financial aspects of company mergers and divestitures.
Considerable interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Ability to deal effectively with others in circumstances that are often adversarial.
Supervisory ability.
Incumbents may be required to travel.
Incumbents may be required to possess and retain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
College training may substitute for general experience at 15 semester hours for one-half year of experience, up to a maximum of four years for a bachelor’s degree.
A master’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, computer science, or another closely related field may substitute for one additional year of general experience.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, engineering, public utility regulation, or a related field.
An advanced degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, renewable energy, public utility regulation, or a related field.
Experience working in utility regulation, utility finance, or utility accounting.
Experience working on multi-year rate plans, utility grid modernization initiatives, or clean and renewable energy program deployment.
Experience writing technical reports, white papers, position papers, policy papers, or academic articles for a general audience, with findings supported by documented evidence.
Experience conducting quantitative analysis related to utility economics or finance and synthesizing results.
Experience with project management, managing more than two projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines.
Experience using advanced features of Microsoft Office 365 applications.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct financial and economic analyses and studies, including cost-of-capital analyses and recommendations on rates of return on investments.
Conduct rate-of-return analyses, including analysis of the specific costs of all components of capital.
Evaluate utility companies’ financial operations and financial viability.
Oversee or perform analyses and evaluations of complex financial statements, studies, and statistical exhibits.
Develop and conduct cross-examination of expert witnesses regarding complex financial, accounting, and economic issues in rate cases and other proceedings.
Assess proposed utility securities issues in light of current security markets and accepted utility capital structures.
Review past or prospective utility capital operations, including the financial aspects of construction projects.
Examine and audit regulated utilities’ books and records and recommend revisions or new financial accounting methods.
Develop evaluations concerning transfers of public utility assets, mergers, acquisitions, and other divestitures.
Conduct special studies concerning generic financial issues and utility corporate, organizational, and financial structures and conditions.
Design and perform special financial analyses as needed.
Prepare and present comprehensive reports and testimony on financial matters.
Prepare interrogatories and serve as an expert finance witness in court and regulatory proceedings.
Direct the development of computerized financial models.
Prepare and present policy recommendations and develop and recommend final departmental orders on utility economics and finance matters.
Train finance specialists and other lower-grade professional or technical staff.
May assist in preparing briefs and draft decisions.