State of Oregon
Initial Posting Date:
03/23/2026Application Deadline:
04/12/2026Agency:
Public Utility CommissionSalary Range:
$6,900 - $10,634Position Type:
EmployeePosition Title:
AccountantJob Description:
Join the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) for an opportunity to shape Oregon’s evolving energy landscape!
We are in search of an Accountant who will evaluate electric and natural gas regulated utility expense forecasts, capital investment decisions, electric generating plant variable operating costs, and purchased natural gas costs.
The successful candidate will join the PUC’s Energy Rates and Regulatory Strategy (ERRS) Division, which provides in-depth, holistic accounting, economic, financial and statistical analysis on the costs, financial structures, equity, reliability, resilience, and quality of service of six, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities regulated by the PUC.
In this role, you will utilize your technical and collaborative skills working with other experts to develop and formulate recommendations on emerging economic and policy issues. You will provide expertise on a range of issues aligning utility investments and operational decisions with the public interest.
If you are seeking a rewarding employment opportunity that harnesses and grows your skills and talents, positively shapes regulatory policy, and impacts the public good while collaborating with a team of dedicated professionals, the PUC could be your next exciting career. Apply now!
The PUC sets utility rates and terms of service through broad delegated legislative powers and must balance the interests and rights of multiple organizations and individuals representing divergent and conflicting business, consumer, and public interests. Investor-owned utilities currently receive approximately $4 billion in revenues annually from 2.9 million Oregon consumers. The PUC’s decisions on individual issues may be more than $100 million in annual revenues paid by Oregon consumers. The PUC receives no General or Lottery funds and instead is funded through a dedicated per-month fee on regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utility bills.
Our mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law.
More information about the PUC can be found online at: www.oregon.gov/PUC.
Conduct a wide range of applied accounting and budgeting research as well as financial modeling concerning the revenue requirement (the total cost paid by customers of a utility), rate spread (allocation of total revenues across different types of customers—residential, commercial, and industrial), rate design, pricing of services between affiliated companies, and emerging policy issues that may arise in this time of transition in the industries and markets.
The Accountant leads multi-disciplinary staff to develop recommendations for Commission action primarily tasked to:
Review, analyze, and work with financial and budgeting models of the cost to supply utility services to customers.
Review forecasts and develop alternative forecasts of utility costs by utility function or operations.
Review forecasts of different types of costs utilities incur to operate and serve customers.
Review utility accounting and tax records and costs for reasonableness and prudence.
Review proposals to sell property.
Review and develop pricing frameworks for transactions between the regulated utility and non-regulated affiliates.
Gather and compile data representing the utility’s cost of operations, develop projections of the overall expected costs to serve customers, as well as develop and recommend the rates for retail classes of customers.
Specifically, this job will:
Serve as a technical and/or policy expert on diverse regulatory matters related to utility operations and rate recovery, regulatory policy, accounting, taxes, financial analysis, and utility compliance with Commission customer service standards and requirements.
Evaluate the appropriateness of various modelling and accounting techniques to forecast or model costs and analyze issues by both independently developing and utilizing existing complex spreadsheets, statistical, and financial models.
Lead and participate in teams conducting contested cases, other complex investigations, identify necessary data to conduct analysis and request information from utilities or gather independently, develop recommendations consistent with agency policies and statutes and proposals for settlement.
Facilitate stakeholder engagement processes that broaden participation, inclusion, and diverse perspectives in regulatory and policy decisions.
Communicate findings and recommendations through clear, concise, and well written testimony, comments, memos, and whitepapers; present and defend recommendations before various audiences including the Public Utility Commissioners.
If you are hired, you will become a critical part of an important state agency at a dynamic time.
Play a crucial role in protecting Oregonian ratepayers and achieving climate objectives set for the agency by the legislature, while balancing the competing demands of utilities and stakeholders.
Utilize your skills and serve as expert resource within the Commission’s executive office.
Colleagues who are innovative and passionate about public service.
Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the State of Oregon.
Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
The PUC’s offices are located downtown Salem, near the State Capitol, and we maintain a Portland satellite office. Currently, employees who live in the State of Oregon may request approval for a hybrid work option (generally from the employee’s personal residence).
The ability to report to the Salem and Portland offices is required when business or operational needs are necessary for onsite activities. Hybrid work is evaluated periodically by the agency to ensure business needs are being met and can be adjusted at any time.
A skilled professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field, AND four years of professional-level experience in accounting or finance.
OR
Seven years of work experience in accounting or finance; four of which must have been at a professional level.
A Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field, will substitute for one year of the professional-level work experience.
A Doctoral degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field, will substitute for two years of the professional-level work experience.
(Note: It is not necessary to have each of the requested skills to be considered for this position)
Graduate-level degree in Accounting or Finance.
Work experience that demonstrates professional-level application of accounting practices, such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), depreciation, and tax accounting.
Work experience that demonstrates an understanding of finance, including building financial models in Microsoft Excel.
Work experience that demonstrates specific expertise in energy utility finance and accounting and/or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accounting.
Work experience analyzing issues that require balancing tradeoffs between competing objectives.
Work experience that demonstrates the ability to quickly develop a detailed understanding of complex policy and technical concepts.
Work experience that demonstrates the ability to develop clear, concise written recommendations based on economic and policy analysis.
Work experience that demonstrates the ability to provide clear and persuasive presentations to decision makers.
Work experience that demonstrates the ability to coordinate multiple projects and priorities at the same time.
To submit a complete application, you must use the State of Oregon “Workday” recruitment system. Using the Workday system:
1) Click “Apply” at the top of this job announcement;
2) Create a new Workday account OR login to your existing Workday account;
3) Complete and submit your electronic application; and
4) As an attachment to your Workday application upload a resume detailing how you meet the “Minimum Qualifications” and “Requested Skills” for this position.
The PUC will consider only complete applications submitted online by the closing date/time posted on this announcement.
**If you are a current employee of the State of Oregon, you MUST apply through your internal State of Oregon employee Workday account and attach the requested materials.**
Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application, including your resume, as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. If you are hired, your application materials will be used to determine salary based on an equal pay calculator. For further information, please visit the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Equal Pay homepage.
Qualified candidates whose training and/or work experience most closely match the requested skills of the position may be eligible for an interview. Applications will be screened for consistency of information and professional communication skills (i.e., clarity, conciseness, attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.).
Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers Resources. NOTE: If requesting preference, please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.
If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact PUC Human Resource Analyst Jessica Leedham at 503-580-5740.
The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.
The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduations dates from an educational institution during the application process.
United States Employment Eligibility: The PUC does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The PUC is an E-Verify employer. If you are a successful candidate, you must present your I-9 acceptable documents for employment verification.
If you are hired, you may be required to provide facts about past employment and present financial interests if they could be connected with the businesses regulated by the PUC.
Hybrid work may be provided to PUC staff in accordance with DAS statewide policy, 50.050.01. Currently, employees may request approval for hybrid work (generally from the employee’s personal residence). Requests are evaluated based on the agency’s business needs. Staff with approval for hybrid work must demonstrate suitability for hybrid work, have access to a high/speed internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements, and maintain a workspace supporting confidentiality of protected/sensitive information.
This is an unrepresented, exempt position and is not eligible for overtime. This position is classified as Utility and Energy Analyst 3.
The salary listed is the non-Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%. Employees new to State of Oregon employment, or who are not yet an Oregon PERS participating member, will receive the 6.95% increase upon meeting PERS eligibility, generally, after completion of six-months of qualifying State of Oregon employment.
This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates; this list will be used to fill the current opening and may be used to fill other openings as they occur.
The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.
The PUC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce.