PUC Jobs Board

DIVISION - RATE REGULATION          DEPARTMENT/SECTION - ACCOUNTING                                                                                                                        

About the Rate Regulation Division

The Rate Regulation division is the branch of the PUCT that is most involved in the agency's traditional regulatory rate-setting function. The Rate Regulation division consists of three sections: Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Tariff and Rate Analysis.

The Accounting section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in accounting; these staff members evaluate the legitimacy and reasonableness of a utility company's expense levels.  The allowable amounts must be reasonable and necessary to provide utility service to the public.  Additionally, the recoverable expenses must be just and reasonable to consumers and the utility.

The Financial Analysis section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in finance; these staff members develop estimates of an appropriate rate of return on the utility company's capital investment.  The rate of return provides a reasonable opportunity for a utility to earn its authorized return but does not provide a guarantee that the rate of return will be achieved. 

The Tariff and Rate Analysis section includes staff members with educational backgrounds primarily in economics and finance; these staff members develop the specific rates that a utility company charges its customers and address issues related to the proper allocation of a utility's costs to different customer groups, such as residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

The Rate Regulation Division also leads and participates in various rulemaking proceedings and works on other projects involving rate-related issues for electric, water, and telephone utility companies.

Looking to take the next step in your career? Ready for a meaningful career in public service? The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has an opportunity for a motivated professional to help advance the agency's mission and support critical work for the state of Texas.

Rate Regulation is seeking a Regulatory Accountant to perform routine to highly complex accounting work in the Accounting section of the Rate Regulation Division, including the review of rate change and other applications filed with the Commission.  Work involves analyzing utility reports, accounting records, contracts, and other pertinent information for regulated and unregulated utilities subject to Commission oversight for compliance with accounting standards, state laws, and Commission regulations, and reasonableness of costs.  Work involves preparing written recommendations with attention to mathematical accuracy of financial calculations, clarity, precision, and grammatical accuracy.  Works under general to limited supervision with limited to considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

SALARY RANGE

Salary commensurate with qualifications.

 Financial Examiner IIIFinancial Examiner IVFinancial Examiner V

Min

$75,000 ($6,250)$80,004 ($7,001)$90,252 ($7,521)

Max

$83,004  ($7,254)$90,000 ($7,500)$108,000 ($9,000)

The ideal candidate should possess the following minimum qualifications. Applicants must meet all the required minimum qualifications to be considered for this position.

Financial Examiner III

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance, or business administration.

Financial Examiner IV

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance, or business administration plus either (1) two years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting.; or (2) an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Financial Examiner V 

An undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance or business administration; plus either (1) two years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting and an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license; or (2) six years of full-time experience in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, finance, or public accounting.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also possess one or more of the following preferred qualifications:

• An active CPA license.

• Experience in utility or regulatory accounting, including electric, telecommunications, or water and wastewater utilities.

• Experience with rate regulation, cost of service analysis, or financial modeling in a regulatory environment.

• Experience preparing or supporting expert testimony, regulatory filings, or contested case proceedings.