ABOLISHED 11/20/2014 PER PAY LETTER 15-08 - Principal Public Utility Financial Examiner
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: JG20
Class Code: 4497
Established: 11/08/1963
Revised: 11/08/1968
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under general direction, to plan, organize, and direct the activities of a branch of the Finance and Accounts Division in the Public Utilities Commission; to supervise the financial and accounting studies on the regulations of public utilities and carriers; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
Plans and organizes the work and directs the staff of a branch of the Finance and Accounts Division concerned with the earnings, financial condition, accounting practices, rates and capitalization of public utilities and carriers, including presentations before the Public Utilities Commission, all Federal regulatory agencies and the courts; evaluates staff performance and takes or recommends appropriate action; ensures uniform application of agency policies, procedures and reports, and recommends revisions; confers with the Chief and Assistant Chief, Finance and Accounts Division, the Commissioners, the heads of other divisions and branches on matters pertaining to the regulation of utilities and carriers; participates in hearings and testifies as an expert witness in proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission, Federal regulatory agencies, and courts; upon assignment, represents the Finance and Accounts Division in formal matters before the Public Utilities Commission and Federal commissions; at a hearing, may examine and cross-examine witnesses for the purpose of developing the record; supervises the performance of very difficult financial and accounting studies relating to the regulation of utilities and carriers; acts for the Assistant Chief, Finance and Accounts Division, in his/her absence; supervises the compilation of data on earnings and financial condition of public utilities from reports filed with the Commission and from other sources; carries out special assignments and studies including those pertaining to taxes based on income; meets with officials of utilities, Federal, State, county and city governments, civic organizations and representatives of investment firms on matters dealing with utility regulation and financing; dictates correspondence and prepares reports.
Minimum Qualifications
Either I
One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Public Utility Financial Examiner IV, or two years performing the duties of a Public Utility Financial Examiner III.
Or II
Experience: Five years of broad and extensive accounting or auditing experience preferably in a large public utility or transportation concern, or in the regulation of public utilities, at least one year of which shall have been in a responsible administrative capacity. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must have included one year performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility not less than that of Public Utility Financial Examiner IV.) and
Education: Either
1. Completion of a prescribed professional accounting curriculum given by a residence or correspondence school of accountancy including courses in elementary and advanced accounting, auditing, cost accounting, and business law. or
2. Completion at a collegiate-grade residence institution of the equivalent of sixteen semester hours of professional accounting courses, including courses in elementary and advanced accounting, auditing, and cost accounting; and three semester hours of business law.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Provision of the law governing the public utilities in California, related legal opinions and court decisions, and orders of the Public Utilities Commission applicable to public utility regulation; accounting and auditing principles and practices including those pertaining to determination of taxes on income; uniform systems of accounts used in the regulation of public utilities and carriers; financial organization and practices of public utilities; the various sources of data regarding corporate securities and ability to gather, analyze, correlate, and develop data from these sources; specialized financial examining practices and procedures as used in public utility financial examining; rate making procedures, including development of plant costs, revenues, expenses, taxes and rate of return; the various acts concerned with Federal regulation of public utilities, including those pertaining to the Securities and Exchange Commission; procedures of conducting hearings before the Public Utilities Commission and other regulatory agencies; the principles of public administration and personnel management; Commission's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.
Ability to: Creatively plan, organize, and direct the work others; perform very difficult financial and accounting studies on the regulation of public utilities and carriers; prepare and present evidence and testify in complicated cases before the Commission, Federal regulatory agencies and the courts; analyze situations accurately, adopt an effective course of action and work cooperatively with others; prepare clear and comprehensive reports; effectively contribute to the Commission's affirmative action objectives.