Consultant - Utility Finance & Rates - 1898 & Co.

DescriptionAt 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, we help clients navigate the evolving financial and regulatory landscape of the electric utility industry. Our Utility Finance & Rates team supports investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, public power entities, water and sewer utilities, and other industry participants by providing data-driven insights and practical guidance related to financial planning, rate design, regulatory strategy, cost-of-service analysis, and other utility financial matters. We combine deep industry knowledge, analytical rigor, and a collaborative approach to help clients make informed decisions and achieve sustainable results.We are seeking a Utility Finance & Rates Consultant who will contribute directly to the execution of client engagements. This role will analyze utility financial, operational, customer, and regulatory information; develop financial models and rate-related analyses; and communicate findings and recommendations to client and project teams. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, comfortable working with complex data, and able to translate financial and regulatory concepts into clear, actionable insights.What You’ll DoPerform consulting services related to utility financial planning, rate design, cost-of-service studies, revenue requirement analyses, depreciation studies, load forecasting, and regulatory strategy.Collect, organize, validate, and analyze utility financial, operational, customer, load, and billing data to support project objectives.Develop and maintain financial models, supporting schedules, and analytical tools used to evaluate revenue requirements, cost allocation, rate impacts, and utility financial performance.Analyze historical results, forecasts, capital plans, operating expenses, debt and financing assumptions, and other financial inputs to identify trends, risks, and key business drivers.Support the development of cost-of-service and rate design analyses for utility customer classes, including evaluation of billing determinants, allocation methodologies, and customer impacts.Assist with preparation of regulatory filings, testimony support, data requests, exhibits, workpapers, reports, presentations, and other materials for proceedings before public utility commissions or similar oversight organizations.Conduct research regarding utility industry trends, regulatory developments, financial practices, rate structures, and benchmarking information relevant to client engagements.Apply sound analytical judgment and quality control practices to confirm the accuracy, consistency, and traceability of project data, calculations, assumptions, and deliverables.Develop clear reports, presentations, models, and other client deliverables that summarize analyses, findings, and recommendations.Participate in client meetings, interviews, workshops, and project reviews, and communicate analytical results to technical, financial, regulatory, and executive audiences.Collaborate with project managers and multidisciplinary teams to complete assignments in accordance with project scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.Identify project risks, data limitations, and emerging issues, and communicate them promptly to project leadership.Support proposal development, project planning, budgeting, and other business development activities for Utility Finance & Rates opportunities.Contribute to the development of intellectual capital, internal tools, training materials, white papers, and presentations related to utility finance and regulatory trends.Comply with all company policies and quality standards.Perform other duties as assigned.Preferred Experience & SkillsThe successful candidate will possess a strong analytical foundation, experience working with complex data and financial models, and the ability to communicate insights clearly to clients and project teams. Experience within the utility industry is beneficial but not required for candidates with demonstrated financial and quantitative analysis experience.3 to 7 years of experience developing financial models, forecasts, business cases, or other quantitative analyses in a consulting, utility, energy, infrastructure, or related industry environment.Experience analyzing large datasets and translating financial, operational, or customer information into actionable business insights and recommendations.Knowledge of utility finance, rate design, cost-of-service studies, regulatory processes, or other aspects of the utility industry.Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling tools, including the ability to develop and maintain complex analytical models and supporting workpapers.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify trends, risks, and key business drivers.Experience preparing reports, presentations, and client-facing deliverables and effectively communicating complex concepts to technical, financial, and executive audiences.Experience supporting consulting engagements, regulatory filings, strategic planning initiatives, or other data-driven business decision-making processes.QualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering, business, finance, accounting or related degree from an accredited program and 3 years of experience in related industry required.Or master's degree in engineering or business and 2 years of experience required.Prior experience associated with utility operations, planning, or consulting.Experience with building and updating financial models or rate models for utilities or other similar businesses, conducting cost of service and rate design studies for municipal, investor owned, and cooperative utilities, conducting business case analysis of new and existing utility technologies including solar, energy storage, electric vehicles, LTE networks, or cogeneration systems.Ability to execute various utility financial evaluations and studies.Knowledge of financial statements and reporting for municipal, investor owned, and cooperative electric utilities and water and wastewater utilities.Knowledge of electric, water, and wastewater utility infrastructure assets, operations, and business structures.Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem-solving skills.Ability to work methodically and analytically in a quantitative problem-solving environment.Demonstrated leadership skills.Proven ability to lead, educate, and train a team of consultants and analysts in regards to power financial and rate studies.Ability to independently solve difficult problems that require adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.Excellent written and oral communications skills.Demonstrated critical thinking skills.Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines and to be effective in on-site work environments.Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, including identification of critical path items to ensure deliverable deadlines are met.Ability to focus on the big picture to effectively and efficiently provide services that meet client needs, while also having the ability to identify and analyze details that are critical to project outcomes.Willingness to learn new service offerings as client needs and the market requires changes to the service offerings provided by our group.Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PPT).Ability to travel.Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.Job Field: Accounting/FinanceJob Type: ExperiencedSchedule: Full-timeTravel: Yes, 15 % of the Time