Project Manager – Utility Finance %26 Rates – 1898 %26 Co.

At 1898 & Co., a part of Burns & McDonnell, we help utilities navigate the evolving financial and regulatory landscape of the energy industry. Our Utility Finance & Rates team partners with investor-owned utilities, public power entities, electric cooperatives, and other utilities and energy organizations to provide strategic guidance related to financial planning, rate design, cost-of-service studies, regulatory support, revenue requirements, and long-term utility sustainability.

We are seeking a Project Manager within our Utility Finance & Rates team who brings a strong combination of financial expertise, project leadership capability, and client relationship skills. This role is ideal for a seller-doer who enjoys leading consulting engagements, managing multidisciplinary teams, and helping utilities address complex financial, regulatory, and business challenges. The successful candidate will lead projects from proposal development through project execution while supporting the continued growth of 1898 & Co.'s Utility Finance & Rates practice.

What You’ll Do

As a Project Manager, you will lead all phases of Utility Finance & Rates consulting engagements, from business development through project execution. You will manage scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client relationships while guiding teams of consultants and analysts to deliver actionable, high-quality results. You will also contribute to the growth and development of the Utility Finance & Rates practice through mentoring junior staff and supporting business development efforts. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Business Development & Sales

• Cultivate and strengthen client relationships through project delivery, strategic engagement, and ongoing communication.
• Identify and pursue new consulting opportunities related to utility finance, rates, regulatory support, and long-term financial planning.
• Lead proposal development efforts, including project scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and resource planning.
• Develop project approaches and work plans that align with client objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Support contract development, negotiations, and project initiation activities.
• Represent 1898 & Co. at client meetings, conferences, and industry events to promote thought leadership and expand market presence.

Project Execution

• Manage the full lifecycle of utility finance and rates projects, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk management, and client communications.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams responsible for financial analyses, rate studies, forecasting efforts, and regulatory support engagements.
• Ensure project deliverables are completed on time, within budget, and in accordance with client expectations and company quality standards.
• Monitor project financial performance and proactively manage scope, staffing, and project risks.
• Coordinate resources across multiple projects and communicate staffing needs to leadership as necessary.
• Communicate project status, issues, risks, and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Oversee QA/QC reviews, documentation, and reporting processes to ensure technical accuracy and consistency.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to consultants, analysts, and other project team members.
• Support the professional development of staff through coaching, technical guidance, and project management training.
• Foster a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and client service.
• Promote company culture and values while encouraging teamwork and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and retention initiatives as the practice continues to grow.

Technical Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee consulting engagements involving utility financial planning, revenue requirement analyses, retail and wholesale cost-of-service studies, rate design analyses, depreciation studies, valuations and appraisals, DSM studies, and load forecasting.
• Provide technical oversight of financial models, forecasts, and analytical tools used to evaluate utility financial performance and customer rate impacts.
• Guide the analysis of utility financial, operational, customer, and billing data to support strategic decision-making.
• Support preparation of regulatory filings, testimony support, exhibits, workpapers, and responses to regulatory data requests.
• Evaluate financial and regulatory risks, identify key business drivers, and develop actionable recommendations for clients.
• Present technical findings, financial analyses, and strategic recommendations to utility executives, regulators, governing boards, and other stakeholders.
• Support development of new methodologies, analytical tools, training materials, and thought leadership related to utility finance and regulatory strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience & Skills

The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, project management, and analytical capabilities, along with experience leading complex financial and consulting engagements. Experience within the utility industry is preferred; however, candidates with demonstrated financial modeling, consulting, and business analysis experience in related industries are encouraged to apply.

• 5-10 years of experience leading financial, regulatory, utility, energy, infrastructure, or related consulting engagements.
• Experience managing project scope, budget, schedule, client expectations, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, business case development, and quantitative analysis experience.
• Knowledge of utility finance, revenue requirements, cost-of-service studies, rate design methodologies, regulatory proceedings, or related utility business functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling tools, including development and review of complex analytical models.
• Proficiency in data analysis, automation, and modeling using various platforms such as Python, R, SQL, and JavaScript.
• Strong client relationship, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical and financial concepts to executive audiences.
• Experience developing proposals, scopes of work, and project approaches that support business development and consulting growth initiatives.