Public Utility Financial Analyst

The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin (CUB), an independent not-for-profit working on behalf of residential and small businesses customers of Wisconsin public utilities, is growing its consumer advocacy team. CUB seeks a Public Utility Financial Analyst to lead our financial and operational reviews of the expenses that investor-owned and municipal energy utilities present in support of their applications. In the quest for affordable utility bills, you would be responsible for reviewing and analyzing complex utility accounting and financial information — including sales, operation and maintenance expenses, taxes, depreciation, rate base, and capital expenses — to determine the reasonableness of utility rates. Activities include reviewing and analyzing working papers, reviewing utility applications for rate increases and construction approvals, writing technical expert witness testimony before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, appearing before the PSCW for administrative hearings, and participating in internal and external working groups examining regulatory accounting matters.  

This position requires strong written and verbal communication skills, independent decision making, working independently or collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and a commitment to facts and the public interest.  

Qualifications

Qualified applicants will have experience with the following: 

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting, finance, or business administration from an accredited post-secondary college/university with experience in accounting or auditing preferred.
• Ability to independently analyze reports, forecasts, and other materials.
• Ability to prepare accurate, thorough, and concise written testimony and exhibits on legal, technical, and policy matters.
• Ability to testify orally on cross examination and to discuss legal, technical, and policy matters with diverse stakeholders including other public interest advocates, natural gas and electric utilities, customer groups, policymakers, and the public in various settings.

In addition, well-qualified applicants will also have experience with one or more of the following:

• Electric and natural gas utility accounting issues, including sales forecasting, taxes, depreciation, and practices for fuel procurement and planning.
• Electric and natural gas utility financial management issues, including capital structure, risk management, and financing transactions.
• Utility accounting and the Uniform System of Accounts for natural gas and electric utilities.
• Wisconsin Statutes and the Wisconsin Administrative Code pertaining to utility regulation and the PSCW.
• PSCW procedures and policies, including electric utility tariff filing requirements, rules, laws, and parameters.

How to Apply

Applicants shall submit the following:

• Cover letter outlining your qualifications for the position and why you want to work for CUB.
• Resume.

It is recommended that applicants also submit:

• Writing samples demonstrating experience preparing formal technical documents, such as expert testimony, memoranda, or reports with respect to accounting or finance issues.
• 2-3 professional references.

About CUB

The Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin is an independent, non-profit organization that for the last 45 years has served as the statewide consumer advocate for Wisconsin's residential and small business public utility customers.