EPCOR Careers

Highlights of the job

EPCOR Water Services (EWS) is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Advisor to join our Regulatory & Business Planning team on a permanent full-time basis working out of our Rossdale Water Treatment Plant site in Edmonton, AB. In this role, you will play a key part in developing regulatory applications, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, influencing regulatory policy, and supporting the development and implementation of regulatory strategies for our regulated water business.

We are accepting applications from both current EPCOR employees and external candidates at this time. EPCOR employees please ensure you are using your “@epcor.com” email address.

In the role of Senior Advisor, Regulatory you will be providing specialized, subject matter financial and regulatory expertise to support the compilation, filing, defense and implementation of EWS’ Water, Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection (Drainage) Performance Based Regulation (PBR) rate applications. You will also be providing specialized and subject matter expertise on regulatory matters concerning the Water, Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection business and managing workflows across cross-functional teams within EWS in preparing the financial, operational and technical aspects of regulatory applications by establishing, maintaining and managing relationships across departments.

If the successful candidate is interested, they may have the option to participate in the hybrid Where We Work program after completing 6 months in the role and upon meeting the eligibility requirements.

What you’d be responsible for

You are accountable to the Senior Manager, Regulatory and will have the following key accountabilities (but are not limited to these):

• Ensuring the delivery of optimal results against appropriate performance measures through effective cross-functional accountability.
• Developing timely and accurate PBR regulatory filings, reports, and applications for submission to the regulator.
• Providing subject matter expertise and recommendations for the development of regulatory applications and modernizing Rates Design processes for Water, Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collection to ensure compliance with City Bylaws, regulatory principles, AWWA and WEF manuals of practice, policies, standards, applicable regulatory requirements, with a focus on mitigation of risks.
• Developing and recommending solutions for optimal service delivery. This includes activities such as:
  • Developing and maintaining highly complex financial rate models that accurately functionalizes, allocates and distributes the utility revenue requirement to the various customer classes.
  • Developing various customer specific rate structures and rates.
  • Performing financial analysis for non-routine adjustments and special rate adjustments.
  • Preparing regulatory financial schedules and supporting narrative to enable on-time submission of the annual PBR Progress Report to the regulator.
  • Coordinating regulatory initiatives such as cost of service studies and depreciation studies with external consultants.
  • Quantitative and strategic analysis to support utility rates and pricing strategies; and review of other supporting materials submitted by Business Unit managers and specialists ensuring that regulatory applications are consistent, accurate, understandable and align to strategic objectives and regulatory principles. In addition, must demonstrate the ability to show discretion with confidential and sensitive information.
  • Development of EWS’ billing determinant forecasts including development and updating of consumption forecast methodologies, reviewing of forecasts, analysis of forecast to actual variances and communication of forecast results to stakeholders within EWS.
  • Leading and coordinating the preparation of information responses, undertakings, written argument and reply.
• Leading the development and review of EWS’ regulatory financial models to inform Budget and Long-Term Plan.
  • Including assessing the impact of forecasted costs on Net Income (Return), assessment against allowed Return on Equity (ROE), impact of the forecasted costs on rates, customer bill and bill increases.
• Acting as a subject matter expert by providing specialized advice on highly complex regulatory matters. Applying professional knowledge and expertise to ensure innovative results. Providing subject matter expertise in the development of sound business cases for major capital projects and programs.
  • Including development and review of robust business case financial models to objectively evaluate the merits/demerits of individual project alternatives, analysis of financial and non-financial measures, identifying concerns and recommending solutions.
• Representing EPCOR in regulatory proceedings, hearings and stakeholder consultations.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on regulatory matters to senior management and other stakeholders by utilizing strong knowledge of regulatory principles and methodologies, finance and accounting.
• Collaborating with internal teams to ensure regulatory requirements are integrated into business operations by utilizing effective communication and inter-personal skills.

What’s required to be successful

Qualifications, experience and behaviours you possess are:

• Completion of a DEGREE in Engineering, Economics, Business, Accounting (or similar) from a recognized post-secondary educational institute.
• Professional designation as a CPA or CFA is a strong asset to have and is very beneficial for the successful candidate.
• Experience that includes:
  • 7+ in the utility industry supporting the rates application process and developing utility rates.
    • OR
  • 7+ years in a regulatory, finance or accounting field.
  • Working in a management position.
  • Proven success leading a cross-functional team.
  • Highly proficient project management skills.
• Demonstrable understanding of financial and regulatory process.
  • EPCOR related understanding of the financial and regulatory process is a valuable asset.
• Well-developed communication skills both written and verbal combined with the ability to present complex information to a variety of stakeholders.
• Exceptional level of financial modelling and analytical skills – ability to analyze large sets of data.
• Excellent computer skills with a focus on the MS suits of Office Products and SharePoint.
• Ability to assess effectiveness of internal controls over regulatory reporting processes and implement improvements as needed.
• Understanding of water cycle utility systems is an asset.

As the ideal candidate, you have strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with the ability to identify issues and address them quickly. Other demonstrated competencies required to be successful in this position include your ability to learn quickly, adapt to change and your flexibility to respond to a variety of challenges that can arise for you at this level.

In addition to the above, as the successful candidate you will demonstrate the following:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills: exercises influence strategies when advising business unit leadership of the impacts of operational decisions.         
• Excellent time management skills combined with superior planning and organizing skills.   
• People leadership ability: demonstrating you are an engaging, motivational leader able to build capacity through others.     
• Ability to create supportive and collaborative relationships between team members as well as other Business Units.         
• Proactive thinking with a focus on optimizing opportunities, finding solutions and providing advice that supports quality business decisions.         
• Fully engaged in managerial work, making improvements on an ongoing basis.        
• Proven financial acumen: able to develop budgets, build business cases and manage.

Other important facts about this job

This is a professional level position and that typically works Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).

EPCOR may provide relocation assistance for the successful candidate and is based on the candidates requirements and meeting the eligibility requirements as outlined in EPCORs Relocation guide. Please note that the relocation lump sum is paid out in two installments – 25% on your first paycheck (following CRA guidelines) and the remaining 75% of the relocation lump sum amount, payable upon Payroll’s receipt of the employee’s proof of relocation in the form of a government-issued ID with the employee’s name and updated address.

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Please note the following information:

• A requirement of working for EPCOR is that you are at least 18 years of age, successfully attained a high school diploma (GED, or equivalent level of secondary education) and legally entitled to work in Canada. (A copy of a valid work permit may be required.)
• If you are considered for the position, clearance on all applicable background checks (which may include criminal, identity, educational, and/or credit) and professional reference checks is required. Some EPCOR positions require an enhanced level of background assessment, which is dictated by law. These positions require advanced criminal record checks that must also be conducted from time to time after commencement of employment.
• A technical/practical assessment may be administered during the selection process and this exercise will be used as a part of the selection criterion.
• To meet the physical demands required of some positions, candidates must be in good physical condition and willing to work in all weather conditions. Clearance on pre-placement medical and drug and alcohol testing may be required.
• Prior infractions for unsafe driving behaviours will be evaluated and considered for non-selection regardless of current demerits on file.