TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 0425000

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

Brief Description of Class Series

Positions in this series perform a variety of tasks to ensure that the utility companies under Public Service Commission (PSC) jurisdiction comply with PSC rules, regulations, policies, and orders. They manage teams of lower-level auditors, accountants and financial analysts, prepare audit-related reports and statements, develop financial and operating statistics, and present expert testimony at public hearings. These positions are classified only at the Department of Public Service.

Distinguishing Characteristics

SUPERVISOR UTILITY ACCOUNTING & FINANCE: managerial level; under the direction of a Chief Utility Accounting & Finance, supervises Auditors 2 and 3 (Public Utilities) and staff in the Office of Accounting & Finance.

          cHIEF uTILITY aCCOUNTING & fINANCE: managerial level; under the direction of a Deputy Director or Director, manages a program or section consisting of Supervisors Utility Accounting & Finance and other professional, technical and support staff.

RELATED CLASSES

Auditors 3 (Public Utilities) plan and manage fiscal audits of New York State utilities involving finance cases, mergers, and the utilities’ compliance with Public Service Law, Uniform Systems of Accounts, Accounting Technical Releases and Rules of Procedure.  These positions function as administrative supervisors of multiple audit teams led by Auditors 2 (Public Utilities).

Utility Financial Analysts analyze the financial condition, financing mechanisms, risk, cost of debt, cost of equity, diversification, and relative cost position/competitive position of utilities. Assignments typically involve rate cases, financing proposals, and special projects; staff testify at public hearings, and make presentations inside and outside the agency

illustrative duties

SUPERVISOR UTILITY ACCOUNTING & FINANCE: analyzes and adjusts petitions for various financial transactions proposed by regulated utilities; determines revenue requirements in formal cases or special studies; conducts fuel adjustment clause audits; ensures utilities’ compliance with generally accepted accounting procedures, Public Service Law, PSC rules, regulations and policies, Internal Revenue Service Code, and the Commission’s Uniform Systems of Accounts; conducts financial examinations of books and records in Commission proceedings; and represents the Office of Accounting, Audits and Finance at senior staff and PSC meetings; supervises subordinates, including subordinate supervisors, assigns work and sets priorities, and ensures that subordinates stay current on financial and technical issues in the areas of regulation, PSC policy, economics, accounting, and finance; oversees or prepares testimony as an expert witness at hearings; and may perform all duties and responsibilities of lower-level Utility Accounting & Finance staff.

          cHIEF uTILITY aCCOUNTING & fINANCE: advises the agency’s Directors, Commissioners, and Chair on accounting and financial issues pertaining to the electric, gas, steam, water, and communications utilities; ensures that utility companies under PSC jurisdiction comply with rules, regulations, policies, and orders; provides technical support, supervision, and guidance to staff in matters pertaining to rate issues, tariff analysis, corporate structure and governance issues, communication studies, and electric, gas, steam and water utility construction programs; oversees and/or prepares testimony and testifies as an expert witness at hearings before the PSC, other New York State agencies, the Legislature, and federal agencies; helps formulate, analyze, or mediate proposed legislation and make recommendations to the Commission on tax law changes, competitive restructurings and initiatives; represents the Accounting & Finance Management Team and the Director at senior staff and Commissioner meetings; reviews workload reports and provides feedback to the unit leader; ensures the professional development of staff; maintains/ensures compliance with internal controls; leads negotiations or settlement talks between utilities, intervenor parties, Energy Service Companies, marketers, consumers, and staff; leads and advises staff teams in major rate cases, policy proceedings and other significant PSC proceedings/matters; performs the full range of administrative supervisory duties; and may perform all duties and responsibilities of lower-level Utility Accounting & Finance staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

SUPERVISOR UTILITY ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as an Auditor 3 (Public Utilities) or Principal Utility Financial Analyst.

Open Competitive: Bachelor’s degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in accounting and/or auditing courses, OR 18 semester credit hours in finance, economics, and/or accounting with at least 9 of these credit hours in finance; AND seven years of professional accounting/auditing or financial internal or field audit experience. This experience must include two years of the supervision of both projects and individuals.

CHIEF UTILITY ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Promotion: one year of permanent competitive service as a Supervisor Utility Accounting & Finance.

Open Competitive: Bachelor’s degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in accounting and/or auditing courses, OR 18 semester credit hours in finance, economics, and/or accounting with at least 9 of these credit hours in finance; AND eight years of professional accounting/auditing or financial internal or field audit experience. This experience must include three years of the supervision of both projects and individuals AND one year advising agency, utility, or regulated company management.

Date: 8/2019

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.