Utility Analyst

Summary

Working under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Utilities Analyst coordinates the five-year capital plans and annual budget process for the Enterprise (Utility) Funds and provides monthly financial reports and other ad hoc reporting to the Public Utilities General Manager.  Works both independently and collaboratively while prioritizing a diverse workload.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Prepares monthly Utility Statistics Report for Electric, Gas, Water, Wastewater, Sanitation, and Drainage Funds;

• Coordinates preparation of 5-year Capital and Personnel budgets for the Enterprise Funds;

• Assists the Budget Analyst with the Personnel model for the Enterprise Funds by providing up-to-date information and reviewing final calculations for accuracy and reasonableness;

• Works with the Budget Analyst on preparation of the annual budget document for the City of Brenham;

• Prepares weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial reports as needed for staff and management, and researches and responds to inquiries related to line item deviations;

• Conducts research and analysis, compiles historical financial data, and forecasts trends and other issues concerning local, state, and federal issues;

• Assists with creation of presentation materials for City Manager and council meetings;

• Monitors budget performance of the Enterprise Funds and evaluates fluctuations due to unexpected changes in economic conditions, policy, and administrative adjustments or in patterns of consumer demand; 

• Provides requested data and other information to assist in utility cost of service rate studies conducted by third party consultant;

• Provides leadership and direction in the development of short- and long-range plans; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports, and recommendations; coordinates department activities with other departments;

• Monitors electric, gas, and water supply contracts and assists in contract renewals and/or negotiations;

• Calculates monthly Power Cost Recovery Factor (PCRF) and Gas Cost Adjustment (GCA) pricing adjustments for electric and gas utilities to ensure proper pass-thru and recovery of supply costs;

• Assists with annual Audit including producing work papers and reports for Management and Statistical section in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report;

• Attends budget workshops, necessary council meetings, and all other relevant board meetings;

• Assists with budget data input into accounting software including budget initialization, budget amendments and adjustments;

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This is a non-supervisory position.

Qualifications 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Associate’s degree in accounting, finance or other relevant field required, and three or more years of professional experience performing accounting, budgeting or financial management reporting and analysis.  Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or other relevant field preferred.

Knowledge Of

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and standards; management principles; budgeting principles and procedures; advanced understanding of Excel, PowerPoint and Word; knowledge of public sector accounting, budgeting and financial accounting practices is required. Some knowledge of Utilities operations and/or financial reporting preferred.

Skill/Ability

The successful candidate must be detailed oriented with strong analytical skills, able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers, and capable of working both independently and as part of a team.  Intermediate to advanced Excel skills required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid Texas driver’s license or available alternate means of transportation required.

Physical Demands 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to operate office equipment, including telephone and computer keyboard, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk; and the employee may be required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as books and stacks of records. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee has frequent contact with other employees in the assigned department, and frequently interacts with employees outside of the department, and must remain calm and professional in tense, emotionally charged, and stressful situations. The employee may face difficult and stressful situations and may be required to work under time pressures to meet deadlines, to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, to change tasks frequently, to perform tedious and exacting work, and to work closely with others as part of a team. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.