Utility Rates and Capital Finance Manager

Utility Rates and Capital Finance Manager

KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER & LAND RESOURCES

Seattle, Washington, United States

Posted:
May 06, 2026

• Salary: $ - $ Annually USD Annually

This position is open to all qualified candidates. It leads a high‑functioning team through a period of unprecedented growth in capital costs under affordability constraints in the region. The successful candidate will lead conversations with peers, Department and County leaders, and staff on strategy, best‑practice, and innovation in capital financing including rate‑setting.

You will serve in a key Finance & Administration leadership role that reports to the Chief Financial Officer and collaborates with Finance unit managers and supervisors to ensure the suite of Finance services are provided with unified and coordinated excellence. You will be called upon to make recommendations and decisions in a high‑stakes environment, requiring sound judgment and exceptional communication skills.

Leads a unit of high performing, strategy and analytics professionals who will look to you to bring both strong technical competencies and the leadership skillset that prioritizes building positive work culture, effective communication, empathy, accountability, and professional development.

Collaborates with finance unit managers covering budget development and oversight, procurement and contracting, accounting and audit, technology and administrative services, and utility billing; works closely with the Capital Portfolio Planning and Analysis Manager.

• Prepares all Division financial modeling and analysis
• Prepares all utility rate analyses including revenue requirements, cost of service analysis, and rate design
• Works with the Division Director’s Office staff to prepare rates and finance proposed legislation
• Prepares presentation materials and presents topics to various committees that represent the 34 agencies that contract for conveyance and treatment with King County
• Prepares ad‑hoc economic and financial analyses to support initiatives throughout the Division
• Leads policy initiatives related to financial equity and household affordability in utility rate setting, including assessing household impact, regional impact, and mitigation approaches such as customer assistance programs
• Acts as project manager to collaborate with consultant resources
• Partners with the Portfolio Planning & Analysis Unit Manager to ensure capital project prioritization is closely coordinated with financial planning and capital finance strategies

• Manages a debt portfolio of $3.6 billion, including optimization activities, variable rate debt, and a commercial paper interim financing program
• Leads financing activities for a capital program projected to fund and finance over $14 billion in the coming decade
• Leads a team to identify capital project candidates and apply for subsidized loan opportunities with the State Revolving Fund, Public Works Board, and EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
• Researches opportunities to expand the utility’s access to new or innovative funding sources or approaches
• Collaborates with the County’s central debt management team, financial advisor, and bond counsel on debt strategy and transactions
• Works with the Division’s accounting team and the County’s financial advisor to prepare the Official Statement for bond transactions
• Prepares rating agency presentations
• Serves on the County debt team

• Supervisory or people‑leader experience
• Experience with rate setting and/or utility financial planning
• Experience with infrastructure debt financing
• Experience with large governmental agencies
• Experience presenting to external audiences

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a related field including finance, economics, business administration, or public administration. Experience with wastewater utilities.

Customer Focus:
Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer‑centric solutions

Decision Quality:
Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward

Action Oriented:
Taking on…