Closes: November 13, 2024
Starting Range: $81,672 to $106,174
Full Range: $81,672 to $118,425

Job Description

Assist in planning, organizing, and directing the activities of the company’s credit operations to enable the company to effectively manage credit risk while being actively engaged in energy market operations with customers and suppliers. Takes steps to minimize credit losses and compensate for credit exposures with appropriate contracts and collateral. Provides leadership in establishing terms for wholesale energy contracts. Represents the company on credit matters with all significant counterparties. Reduces risk of financial loss and implements strategies to preserve capital related to transactions in the wholesale energy markets. Analyzes counterparty creditworthiness to identify credit risks. Recommends and approves prudent credit limits and conditions that balance Avista’s wholesale market objectives and risk mitigation goals. Monitors counterparty dynamics and portfolio positions to communicate credit risks and intervention strategies with Avista’s wholesale marketers and counterparty representatives. Interacts with counterparties to manage and mitigate credit risk. Reviews and negotiates Wholesale Energy Contracts including negotiating credit provisions in master trading contracts, while working with internal stakeholders to ensure contract language affords Avista adequate protection. Administers collateral calls to counterparties and calls received from them, including handling terms of cash collateral agreements and letters of credit. Prepares reports for management and external parties, including banks and rating agencies. Provides support to Risk Management.

Responsibilities Monitors credit exposure with counterparties in order to minimize credit risk through proper collateral coverage by negotiating letters of credit, guaranties, and cash transfers. Receives and defends margin calls with the goal of protecting Avista’s capital. Makes margin calls in order to minimize default exposure risk. Conducts financial analysis of counterparties’ financial statements to assess their creditworthiness. Analyzes credit risk trends and makes or approves credit limit recommendations within established guidelines when necessary. Gathers and assess information on the market and counterparties in order to recommend strategies in regards to credit issues. Maintains and updates the credit files on counterparties. Completes corporate special analysis projects and reports for management as requested. Review Wholesale Energy Contracts. Identify and recommend needed changes to existing contracts. Analyze and recommend the type of contract to be entered into, after considering such factors as market liquidity needs and credit risk. Supports utility retail business needs related to credit risk, such as developers who may be extended credit by Avista for infrastructure and suppliers that the company intends to develop long-term reliance upon. Actively engages in the company’s risk energy management and credit process including participating in the development and implementation of policy decisions. Takes steps necessary to assure that credit policies are maintained. Makes direct contact with counterparties to assert Avista’s interests and respond to external demands for credit assurance. Provides support for daily risk functions, such as physical/financial position reports, support for risk management system users, performing daily review and investigative processes to ensure accuracy, integrity and validity of system data and inputs, and other risk management functions. Requirements Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university in business, finance or related field.  3+ year of relevant experience in credit management or a related field is required. Requires a broad understanding of all aspects of credit management and the ability to work effectively within the organization to perform the functions outlined above. Skilled in effective and flexible written and verbal communication. Effective interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to handle tight deadlines and emerging critical issues, often under pressure.

Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Hybrid work options are available for this role. The successful candidate will be required to work at our Spokane, Washington headquarters at least 3 days per week including Mondays and Tuesdays with an additional day determined by the employee and manager.

To Apply
We encourage you to apply as many of our positions have step progressions to account for an incoming employee’s various levels of knowledge, skills, and experience.

Complete an online application and attach your resume and cover letter to your profile. All documents must be attached to your application at the time of submitting your application for review. No documents can be attached after you click "Submit".

Benefits
At Avista, we believe our employees are essential. Through them we deliver value to our customers and the communities we serve. The physical, mental, and financial health and well-being of our employees and their families are important to us. We are committed to offering a comprehensive total rewards program comprised of an externally competitive, internally equitable compensation structure and a benefits package that allows us to retain and attract a diverse, engaged, and skilled workforce. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage, retirement benefits, incentive plans, wellness resources, time-off programs and much more. In addition to our total rewards program, the Pacific Northwest offers abundant outdoor recreation, four distinct seasons, and all the amenities and activities an individual or family might be interested in. To learn more, please visit our benefits website at https://avistabenefits.com/.

Pre-employment screening requirements
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a drug test, background check and motor vehicle records review.   

Avista’s Commitment to Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Avista is a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds, and we are committed to Equal Opportunity Employment, Affirmative Action efforts, and Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, protected veterans, and all others. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, sensory, mental or physical disability (unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification), Veteran status or any other classification protected by nondiscrimination laws.

Equity and diversity in our workplace is important to us. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you require any special accommodations to participate fully in our recruitment process. Avista will make reasonable accommodation to assist a qualified person with a disability in the job application, interview process, and to perform the essential functions of the job whenever possible, where undue hardship would not be created for Avista. Please contact us at humanresources@avistacorp.com if you would like assistance.