Application Opening: 11/30/2022
Application Filing Deadline: 12/15/2022 
Annual Salary:  Range A compensation for this classification is between $163,800 and $209,118
Recruitment ID: (PBT-0933-126811) (RTF0126810-01099695)

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

WHO ARE WE?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality.

To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc

About the Financial Services Division

Financial Services supports the SFPUC Enterprises and Bureaus in being the best financial steward for rate payer revenues. Services provided include accounting operations, asset management, audit oversight, reconciliation and financial reporting, budget management, debt management, fleet management, purchasing support, and rates administration. Accurately communicating the financial position of the SFPUC to rate payers, City departments, rating agencies, investors and other stakeholders is the central mission of the department.

The SFPUC Financial Planning Director serves in a key leadership role and is responsible for developing, implementing and updating all SFPUC rates and charges, generating $1.8 billion annually in revenues across the agency's three utility business lines. Additionally, the Director oversees the development of the agency's 10-year financial planning as well as its revenue budget and forecast.

Under general direction, the Financial Planning Director assists in directing the day-to-day operations of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Financial Services Bureau, with responsibility for agency rate administration, and financial planning activities. Oversight and management will emphasize rate setting, financial forecasting and modeling, planning and analysis, and fleet administration. Additionally, the position provides financial oversight, coordination, and direction on the SFPUC's water sales contract with suburban wholesale customers including an annual audit.

This critical leadership role is a key member of Business Services Bureau and department management team, advising agency staff daily on how best to meet changing business needs within established citywide policies and procedures. The role requires both technical proficiency and political savvy to be successful.

Essential Functions:

1. Leads a team of professionals at the agency, serving as a mentor, coach and problem solver in a highly technically proficient work area.
2. Serves as a leader within Financial Services to assist with critical decision making year-round.
3. Directs staff in the development of utility rates, fees, cost of service studies, revenue forecasting, and utility cost of service studies.
4. Directs the coordination of revisions to utility rates and regulations.
5. Develops, monitors and projects all enterprise revenue budgets throughout the year, including the drivers for variance including utility sales volumes.
6. Plans, organizes, directs, and participates in the preparation of the department's annual financial plans, utility rates, fees and charges development studies while making recommendations as appropriate.
7. Contributes to SFPUC strategic planning of complex projects spanning a number of agency divisions, including developing and directing the development of complex, highly technical financial and cost benefit analysis as well as alternative analysis.
8. Provides oversight to fleet administration activities.
9. Provides financial oversight, coordination, and direction on the SFPUC's water sales contract with suburban wholesale customers including an annual audit.
10. Other related duties as required.

COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record and ability to exercise the following competencies:

• Knowledge of Federal, State and Local rules and regulations pertaining to agency rate administration and financial planning activities.
• Set Vision and Direction - Envisions what the future looks like at a defined point, communicates this vision with authentic conviction, and inspires and engages others in creating that future; implements policies and procedures to support the organizational vision, goals, and objectives.
• Accountability - Acts with integrity, honesty, and fairness; inspires trust; clearly defines roles and responsibilities for self and others; holds staff accountable for measurable, high quality, timely, and cost effective results; complies with legal and ethical guidelines; acts as a responsible steward of the resources entrusted to the SFPUC.
• Motivation - Creates an environment where people are inspired to pursue their highest levels of performance; identifies and promotes methods for motivating self and others; eliminates barriers to success for staff.
• Adaptability - Adjusts, perseveres, and succeeds in meeting objectives despite rapidly shifting environment, demands, and resources; reacts appropriately to unexpected and changing conditions or priorities; alters approaches to most effectively address different situations and people; responds positively to tasks and situations outside of comfort zone.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving - Takes ownership of problems and makes responsible, transparent, and clear decisions; involves others in addressing problems and seeking solutions; gathers relevant information and conducts appropriate analyses; utilizes creative problem-solving skills; understands the impact of decisions.
• Relationship Management -  Builds open, honest, and respectful relationships through effective communication and collaboration techniques. Develops networks and lasting partnerships across boundaries to maintain strategic relationships and achieve common goals. Utilizes a variety of communication approaches to successfully gain support, influence others, and strengthen relationship. 
• Talent Management -  Builds and develops a highly-skilled workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited and provides resources and support to ensure that the workforce is able to meet current and future business needs.

Education: Possession of baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND

Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible financial experience in a combination of the following areas: financial policy analyses; financial planning and development; risk management; rate setting; financial, economic and statistical analyses, projections, and evaluations, which must include three (3) years of experience supervising professional staff in the areas listed. 

SUBSTITUTION

Experience Substitution: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, or a related field may substitute for one (1) year of the required professional experience. 

Education Substitution: May substitute up to two years of education with additional years of experience on a year-for-year basis. One (1) year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with utility rate development and implementation.

Verification: Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ): Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Online Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight: 100%) Exam: The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) is to evaluate the experience, knowledge, skills and abilities that candidates possess in job-related areas, which have been identified as critical for this position and include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of Federal, State, and local rules and regulations pertaining to agency rate administration and financial planning activities; Setting Vision and Direction; Decision Making and Problem Solving; Relationship Management; Talent Management; Accountability; Motivation; and Adaptability.

Qualified candidates will be sent email notices to complete the MQSQ and SQ exam. Failure to complete these steps by the established deadlines will result in disqualification.

A passing score must be achieved on the exam to be placed on the eligible list and continue in the selection process. Additional selection processes, like interviews, may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ .

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

·       Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst Janina Villanueva at [email protected].

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.