Financial Consultant

The Financial Consultant supports companywide financial planning and analysis, with primary responsibility for O&M budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, and financial performance analysis. The role partners with business leaders and senior management to evaluate financial results, identify risks and opportunities, and translate complex financial and operational information into actionable insights and recommendations. This position also supports regulatory filings, cost of service analysis, and investment decisions by applying an understanding of utility economics, cost allocation, revenue requirements, and customer rate impacts. The Financial Consultant contributes to continuous improvement of FP&A models, tools, reporting, and processes to strengthen the quality and efficiency of financial decision-making.

• Develops and supports annual companywide operating budgets, forecasts, and long-term financial plans, with primary responsibility for O&M expenses including payroll, non-payroll, shared services and other operating cost categories. Evaluates assumptions, coordinates inputs, and ensures financial plans are reasonable, supportable, and aligned with company objectives.
• Performs monthly and year-to-date O&M and FTE variance analysis, including comparisons of actual results to budget, forecast, and prior periods; identifies key drivers, investigates significant variances, and identifies financial risks and opportunities.
• Prepares and presents financial analysis, budget and forecast results, variance explanations, and recommendations to senior management; translates complex financial, operational, and regulatory information into clear, actionable insights to support decision-making.
• Develops and maintains financial models, reports, queries, and analytical tools used for budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, cost of service analysis, and management reporting; identifies opportunities to improve data quality, standardization, automation, and reporting efficiency.
• Will lead and perform forecasting and modeling for regulatory filings and testimony development, primarily related to O&M expenses. Develops an understanding of revenue requirements, cost of service, rate case schedules, workpapers, and supporting documentation. Applies knowledge of utility regulation, cost allocation, regulatory accounting, and the relationship between operating expenses, rate base, and customer rates to support regulatory proceedings and other requirements.
• Leads and performs complex financial assignments requiring analysis, judgment, and evaluation, including developing and supporting cost of service models and financial analysis for projects and investments.
• Evaluates revenue requirement impacts, cost allocation, financial assumptions, and customer rate implications; develops alternatives, assesses financial and regulatory impacts, and makes recommendations to support project economics and investment decisions.
• Collaborates with business partners and department leaders to understand financial results, validate assumptions, explain variances, and support the development of financial plans, forecasts, and regulatory analyses.
• Proactively identifies financial risks, emerging trends, and opportunities; actively seeks resolution of known problems; communicates and escalates issues as needed.
• Provides financial guidance, analysis, and support to management on O&M-related initiatives, business decisions, and other financial planning activities.
• Contributes to the development and improvement of FP&A processes, tools, and team capabilities; identifies opportunities to improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of financial planning and analysis and supports implementation of those improvements.
• Supports the preparation, validation, and loading of financial information, including forecasts, into the long-term planning model.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related business field. Advanced financial knowledge, demonstrated through relevant experience, professional certification, or advanced education is desirable.
• Minimum three years of financial analysis experience required for Level 2 position. Minimum five years of financial analysis experience in a related job required for Level 3 position.
• Progressively responsible experience and demonstrated proficiency in complex financial analysis, financial planning, and business partnering are required for a level 3.
• Superb analytical and critical thinking skills, with demonstrated understanding of financial analysis concepts, financial planning techniques, and the ability to evaluate financial and operational information.
• Understanding of regulated utility economics, including revenue requirement, rate base development, cost allocation, and the relationship between operating expenses, capital investment, and customer rates.
• Research and analysis skills, including the ability to obtain relevant data, evaluate complex situations, identify key drivers, and develop sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Experience working with financial statements and developing and utilizing financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and management reporting.
• Demonstrated curiosity and commitment to continuous learning, with the ability to seek out new information, develop knowledge of the business and industry, and apply new insights to improve financial analysis, planning, and decision-making.
• Financial modeling skills and experience using Microsoft Excel. Experience with financial planning and reporting systems, including UI Planner software, is preferred.
• Experience with SAP or other integrated financial systems is preferred.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exhibiting sound business judgment, managing competing priorities, and delivering high-quality results.
• Capable of meeting tight schedules and demanding targets while effectively managing competing priorities and reconciling divergent expectations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and present financial analysis, budget and forecast results, variance explanations, and recommendations to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain productive business partnerships and develop a high degree of credibility and trust across the organization.
• Proven ability to develop innovative and resourceful solutions to complex issues, improve financial planning and analysis processes, and support new projects and initiatives.
• For level 3, demonstrates the ability to independently lead complex financial planning, analysis, and modeling assignments, apply advanced financial and regulatory knowledge, exercise sound judgment, develop recommendations, and serve as a trusted financial advisor to business leaders.
• The position will be filled at the level commensurate with the successful candidate's skills, experience, and demonstrated proficiency.