Financial Analyst - Settlements & Energy Analysis

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Pay Details:

Salary Grade 58

Minimum: $1,618.87/ week

Midpoint: $2,023.60

Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Job Description:

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

Under the direction of the Manager-Settlements & Energy Analysis, performs financial, operational, and regulatory analysis related to wholesale electric market activities, purchased power transactions, and transmission expenses. Collects, analyzes, reconciles, and verifies market settlement and accounting data from the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), The Energy Authority (TEA), and City Utilities systems. Perform settlement analysis, financial reporting, forecasting support, and variance analysis associated with electric market operations and power supply activities, including participation in the forecasting of purchased power prices, off-systems sales, and volumes, in collaboration with TEA. Interprets applicable market rules, accounting guidance, regulatory requirements, and reporting standards, including FERC, GAAP, and related protocols. Provides analysis and reporting to support management decision-making, risk oversight, compliance, budgeting, and financial planning activities. Participates in system implementations, process improvements, and cross-functional coordination related to energy accounting and settlements operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Performs and supports daily and monthly energy market settlement analysis, including shadow settlements, pre-settlements, and reconciliation of SPP market transactions using the Energy Accounting System (EAS). Applies established methodologies to validate billing determinants, identify variances, and ensure accuracy of settlement results. Supports timely reporting of settlement outcomes and related financial impacts.

2. Validates SPP daily, weekly, and monthly settlement statements by identifying, researching, and resolving discrepancies between market data, TEA reports, and City Utilities records. Coordinates dispute resolution activities, including documentation, tracking, and communication of settlement issues through resolution in accordance with SPP market protocols.
3. Analyzes settlement variances, market results, and operational drivers to determine root causes and financial impact. Monitors SPP charge types and develops insight into trends, anomalies, and performance drivers. Communicates findings to Power Marketing, Finance, and other stakeholders to support decision-making, forecasting assumptions, and operational adjustments.

4. Partners with Power Marketing, Power Traders, and Finance teams to evaluate deviations from expected settlement outcomes, contract performance, and market conditions. Provides analytical support to identify causes of variances and recommend corrective actions or process improvements related to market participation, bidding strategies, and settlement accuracy.

5. Develops and maintains short-term and long-term forecasts of wholesale energy market sales and purchase positions, including expected settlement outcomes, market prices, and transaction volumes. Supports financial planning and analysis processes by providing forecast inputs, assumptions, and variance explanations related to market activity. Monitors actual versus forecasted results and identifies key drivers impacting deviations.

6. Assists with economic feasibility and financial impact analysis of new developments and capital projects, including post-approval performance review. Supports development of forecasting and financial modeling frameworks and provides analysis to inform long-term planning and decision-making.

7. Monitors daily generating unit compliance with SPP instructions, logging real-time unit trips, derates, and Reliability Unit Commitment (RUC) requirements to verify make whole payments, SPP eligibility flags, and regulation credits.


8. Assists in the review and verification of the next day, current, and future months' energy transactions and helps maintain accurate accounting of such transactions.


9. Provides near real-time feedback to Power Traders on the effectiveness of bidding strategies and impact of penalties so corrective action can be taken.


10. Responsible for staying aware of current and future market prices and conditions by maintaining contact with CU power traders, The Energy Authority (TEA), and SPP.

11. Creates monthly journal entries to record SPP activities in accordance with FERC mapping of SPP charge types to GL accounts. Responsible for the proper netting of SPP charge types in the EAS system on an hourly basis for day-ahead market charges and five-minute basis in the real-time market, including the maintenance of the associated EAS reports. Responsible for recording the value of Auction Revenue Rights (ARR)/Transmission Congestion Rights (TCR) assets as necessary and in accordance with GAAP and/or FERC.

12. Provides information, assumptions, and analytical support to forecasting, budgeting, and financial planning functions as requested.

13. Provides reporting, support, and analysis to the City Utilities Risk Oversight Committee (ROC) and Management regarding electric power market risks and results. Primary lead responsible for update and compliance reporting for CU's Integrated Marketplace Risk Management Policy.

14. Works with Power Marketing and EAS software to develop reliable and timely profit and loss analysis including generating asset and operating costs. Works closely with the Power System Scheduler and Power System Analyst to determine profit or loss from daily electric energy market transactions and monitors results to help mitigate losses.

15. Suggests acceptable market risk limits and thresholds with the Power Marketing Team and works with Information Technology to log risk program exceptions and develop exception reports. As directed by the ROC, communicates risk policy limits and thresholds to CU and TEA employees and helps resolve risk program exceptions.

16. Works with Information Technology or the software vendor to maintain the integrity of the settlements modules of the energy accounting systems and implement changes to these modules as needed. Develops user specifications and serves as functional lead during implementations, upgrades, and modification testing for all settlements related systems. Provides technical expertise for the selection, design, and development of future energy accounting packages.


17. Identifies, recommends, and assists in implementing process improvements related to settlement analysis, reporting, reconciliation procedures, financial controls, and energy accounting systems.

18. Collects, analyzes and verifies all purchased power transactions based on current energy contracts.

19. Responsible for recording all partnership transactions and reconciling partnership equity accounts between CU and TEA.
20. Provides backup to the Manager - Settlements & Energy Analysis.

21. Participates in cross-training, knowledge-sharing, and cross-functional collaboration opportunities as both an instructor and learner.

22. Participates in cross-training opportunities as an instructor and a student.

23. Performs other related duties as required or assigned by management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business, or related field is required.
• Five years of recent progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, or other analytically focused roles is required.
• Experience should include financial reporting, journal entry preparation, reconciliations, and interpreting accounting, regulatory, or operational frameworks such as FERC, GAAP, GASB, ISO/RTO market protocols, or similar utility and energy industry standards.
• CPA, MBA, MA, or CMA may be considered in lieu of one year of the experience requirement.
• Experience with ISO/RTO settlements analysis is preferred.
• Experience with an electric system power marketing environment is preferred.
• Proficiency in the use of spreadsheets and word processing software applications is required;
• Experience with MCG software or other energy accounting software is preferred.

Licensing/Certification:

CPA, CMA, MA, or MBA is required.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge orexperience with wholesale power market techniques and procedures, as they relate to electric power markets and/or RTO's/ISO's.
• Strong technical and analytical aptitude, including advanced spreadsheet development and the ability to utilize financial, energy accounting, and data analysis systems effectively.
• Comprehensive understanding of FERC regulations, along with a foundational knowledge of internal controls and compliance requirements within a municipal utility environment.
• Considerable responsibility commensurate with demonstrated ability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to:
  • Prepare and present financial, operational, and settlement information in a clear and understandable manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Perform in-depth market, financial settlement, and system analysis.
  • Effectively utilize a range of digital tools and platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, enterprise software, artificial intelligence-enhanced applications, and self-service systems. Must possess a willingness and capacity to learn and adapt to emerging technologies, including mobile devices, cloud-based systems, and data-driven platforms relevant to utility operations.
• Possess strong analytical skills to investigate and problem solve discrepancies.
• Maintain adherence to all company policies.

Physical Requirements:

Typically, sedentary work. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and receive detailed information through oral communication. Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, and close visual acuity to operate a computer is required.

Working Conditions:

Duties are primarily performed in an office environment.


Miscellaneous Requirements:

• Must be able to work successfully with diverse groups of people.
• Employee must remain alert and aware of their surroundings at all times and maintain the ability to respond to changing circumstances in a timely manner.

TESTING

Testing may be required.

EEO

City Utilities offers equal employment opportunities to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, genetic information or marital status. Learn more about CU and EEO.