Principal/Utility Regulation and Finance (Energy practice)

About Charles River Associates

Since 1965, Charles River Associates has been a premier consulting firm that offers employees a place to learn from a diverse group of consultants, industry experts, and academics. At CRA you will be exposed to leading minds who use economic, financial, and business analysis to solve complex world problems for an impressive roster of clients, including major law firms, Fortune 100 companies, and government agencies. Through a collegial environment, formal and informal training opportunities, and a broad array of professional development resources, your experience at CRA will open doors for you as you your career.

Position Overview

Our consultants in CRA’s Energy Practice advise clients in the regulated energy space on the issues most crucial to their businesses. Our experts are recognized leaders in their areas of specialization and combine decades of experience with top consultancies and in senior in-house roles. They offer clients access to the industry insights they rely on to navigate complexity and achieve competitive advantage. We represent utilities and other energy firms before their regulators, lend our expertise to the resolution of disputes, support investors on complex transactions, and help plan and build the energy grid of the future. We provide advice and expert testimony on state and federal rate cases, and we partner with stakeholders across the supply chain to develop strategies that will create value and reduce risk for customers and shareholders. We work in the electric, gas, and water in jurisdictions throughout North America and Europe.

CRA’s Energy practice is seeking to expand its existing regulatory team with the hire of senior-level consultants with industry expertise in areas spanning finance associated with utility transactions and rate regulation. In particular, we expect that candidates will have experience demonstrated by a record of success in one or more of the following practice areas:

• Utility revenue requirements, cost of capital, cost of service, or rate design;
• Project management involving all aspects of utility state and/or federal rate cases and similar docketed proceedings;
• Alternative regulation, including performance-based regulation, multi-year rate plans, energy decoupling and incentive regulatory mechanisms;
• Transactions involving regulated utilities or infrastructure;
• Strategic advisory for utilities or the owners of regulated infrastructure.

CRA values candidates with relevant expertise acquired in consulting roles as well as in-house with utility companies, banks, developers, and regulatory agencies.

Senior-level candidates applying for the role of Principal must have more than 10 years of utility industry/consulting experience, proven team leadership skills as well as subject matter expertise with the capability to become trusted advisors to our clients. Principals lead the critical technical aspects of each project. Additionally, all senior-level hires are expected to support growth of our practice through business development, both independently and in partnership with senior colleagues. Experience as a testifying witness is considered an advantage but not required.

Desired Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in the relevant financial/economics/business discipline is required. A master’s degree is strongly desired.
• The ability to independently manage consulting teams and complex assignments with limited oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop junior staff.
• Excellent writing and communication and presentation skills that include the ability to convey complex, technical concepts with impact. Publications that demonstrate positioning as a thought leader in the industry would be considered a strong asset.
• Familiarity with ratemaking proceedings, disputes, or other docketed matters.
• Comfort working in an unstructured environment.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and resourcefulness.