Lead Utility Finance Specialist; Hybrid

Starting Salary Range: $101,504 - $120,000

The State Corporation Commission (SCC or Commission) seeks a Lead Utility Finance Specialist to join our Division of Utility Accounting & Finance (UAF), which regulates public utilities that provide essential services such as energy and water to Virginians. The Division of UAF provides the Commission with accounting and financial information to use when deliberating utility cases involving rates and services. Utility rate making is the formal regulatory process by which public utilities set the prices they will charge consumers.

The Lead Utility Finance Specialist position’s work will involve responsibility for the examination, research, and analysis of large utility companies.

The job responsibilities of the Lead Utility Finance Specialist position will include the following:

• Provide cost of capital analysis and testimony in rate cases.
• Conduct a thorough review and analysis of routine to complex utility company financing, affiliate, and transfer applications filings.
• Provide general research and support on cost of capital, and other financial issues in addition to rate cases.
• Lead overall development of staff policy.
• Monitor and stay abreast of financial market information and developments.
• Review utility finance schedules, send interrogatories, conduct financial research, and run complex cost of equity models.
• Present UAF staff's recommendation and justification in a well-written testimony.
• Provide oral testimony to support UAF staff's position under cross-examination, as required.
• Support cost of capital calculations in rate adjustment clauses filings.
• Review case history and develop and send data requests needed to provide thorough analysis.
• Provide draft reports, action briefs and orders in a timely manner to meet any statutory deadlines.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for action.
• Perform related work as required.

• 5 or more years of professional experience in financial analysis and/or financial modeling.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Statistics, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field.
• Utility experience is strongly preferred.
• CPA, CRRA, or CDP certification is considered a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail and editing skills.
• Strong initiative and the ability to use sound judgement when evaluating and investigating complex issues.
• Ability to draft well-written testimony to communicate and synthesize complicated concepts in a way that a non-finance professional can understand.
• Ability to think quickly and respond to cross-examination in hearings.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Commission staff, utility companies, and industry personnel.