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INTRODUCTION

The State of Connecticut, Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), has an exciting opportunity for a Utilities Principal Finance Specialist in our New Britain office, who will play a critical role in ensuring financial and operational effectiveness and transparency of Connecticut’s regulated utility companies in Connecticut.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance!
• Thirteen (13) paid holidays each calendar year.

Position Highlights

• The position will be located at Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 016051, and offers hybrid (telework/office) work schedule. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week position, schedule is Monday-Friday on first shift.
• This position will report to the Supervisor of Utility Financial Analysis and the Consumer Counsel.
• The selected candidate will play a crucial role providing financial and technical expertise and will represent the OCC’s positions in a wide range of proceedings before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and potentially other forums to conduct investigations and audits into the regulated electric, gas, and water utilities, telecommunications companies as well as third-party suppliers, and other energy providers.
• The Utilities Principal Finance Specialist will support the work of OCC by performing complex tasks relating to utility economics and finance and for serving as a team leader for technical staff.
• The Utilities Principal Finance Specialist independently performs the most complex duties relating to a full range of utility economics and financial issues such as conducting rate of return analyses, forecasting and economic analysis to evaluate multi-year rate plans; evaluation of financial operations and financial viability of utility companies through analysis of complex financial statements, studies and statistical exhibits; evaluations concerning transfer of public utility assets, mergers, acquisitions and other divestitures.
• The Utilities Principal Finance Specialist should be comfortable developing and conducting cross-examination of expert witnesses regarding complex financial, accounting and economic issues in rate cases and other proceedings.
• The Utilities Principal Finance Specialist will participate in auditing and evaluating management audits of utilities for internal structures, corporate governance, affiliate transactions and operational compliance.

About us

The OCC is an independent State agency that acts as the advocate for consumer interest in matters which may affect Connecticut consumers relating to electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications. The OCC works on cutting edge energy policy issues as the voice of the consumer. We are a statutory party to all proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) and are authorized to appear and participate in any regulatory or judicial proceedings, federal or state, in which the interests of Connecticut utility consumers may be involved.

In addition to representing consumer interests before PURA and the courts, the OCC:

• Participates in proceedings before federal agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC);
• Promotes the interests of consumers at the Connecticut legislature and in regional and national forums and conferences;
• Serves as a voting member of New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), as the representative of Connecticut ratepayers.
• Promotes and supports public transparency and understanding of complex regulatory and ratemaking concepts.

Our work covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Energy infrastructure (e.g., electric transmission lines, non-wires alternatives);
• Renewable energy, distributed generation, and grid modernization;
• Energy efficiency and demand response;
• Wholesale and retail electric and gas markets and rates;
• Water rates, infrastructure, and resource planning;
• Utility service quality and storm response;
• Utility financial management and corporate structure; utility financing, credit ratings, and financial risk analyses;
• Electric vehicles and energy storage;
• Telecommunications service, service quality, and infrastructure, broadband access, and telecommunications policy.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
• For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
• This employer may participate in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Nicholas Naples at Nicholas.Naples@ct.gov.

Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority this class is accountable for performing the most complex tasks relating to utility economics and finance and for serving as a team leader for professional technical staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Performs a full range of tasks in the planning and conducting of financial and economic analyses and studies, analyses of cost of capital, and recommending rates of return on investments;
• Independently performs the most complex duties relating to a full range of utility economics and financial issues such as conducting rate of return analyses including specific costs of all components of capital;
• Evaluates financial operations and financial viability of utility companies;
• Oversees or performs analyses and evaluations of complex financial statements, studies and statistical exhibits;
• Develops and conducts cross-examination of expert witnesses regarding complex financial, accounting and economic issues in rate cases and other proceedings;
• Exercises independent judgment as to propriety of proposed issues of securities by utilities in light of current security markets and accepted utility capital structures;
• Reviews past or prospective capital operations of utilities including financial aspects of construction projects;
• Examines and audits books and records of utilities subject to regulation and recommends appropriate revisions and/or new financial accounting methods;
• Develops evaluations concerning transfer of public utility assets, mergers, acquisitions and other divestitures;
• Performs special studies including those regarding generic financial concerns, utility corporate, organizational and financial structure and conditions;
• Designs and performs special financial analyses on an as needed basis;
• Prepares and presents comprehensive reports and testimony on an array of financial matters;
• Prepares interrogatories;
• Serves as an expert finance witness in court and regulatory proceedings;
• Directs development of computerized financial models;
• Prepares and presents policy recommendations regarding utility economic and financial matters;
• Develops and recommends final departmental orders on utility economics and finance matters;
• Trains finance specialists and other professional or technical staff of lower grade;
• May assist in the preparation of briefs and draft decisions;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• principles and practices of finance especially as related to operation and capitalization of public utilities;
• public utilities performance in stock and bond markets and impacts of those markets on utilities;
• public utility corporate financial structure;
• rate of return and cost of capital analyses including computer applications;
• philosophies and practices concerned with corporate economics and finance in a regulated environment;
• financial aspects of company mergers and divestitures;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Considerable ability to deal effectively with others under circumstances often adversarial;
• Supervisory ability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years of professional experience in business, finance or quantitative analysis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have involved complex financial analysis.

NOTE: Complex financial analysis is interpreted as performing comprehensive, detailed and difficult financial studies resulting in reports and recommendations to management.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in finance, economics, accounting, business, mathematics, computer science or other closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, engineering, public utility regulation, or a related field; and
• 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 deployment of clean and renewable energy programs.
• Experience writing technical reports, white papers, position papers, policy papers, and/or academic articles for a general audience that make findings supported by documented evidence.
• Experience conducting quantitative analysis related to utility economics/finance and synthesizing results.
• Experience with project management, working on more than two (2) projects simultaneously, while adhering to deadlines.
• Experience using advanced features of Microsoft Office 365 applications.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.