The Role:

This position is responsible for administration of the Financial Risk departments Middle Office functions including implementation of, and compliance with, the Company’s financial risk policies, SOX compliance, processes, and procedures principally related to derivatives and other natural gas commodity contracts, and associated analytics. This position is responsible for mark-to-market calculations, energy credit risk, and Allegro (ETRM) system usage and reporting.  This position coordinates activities with the Gas Supply and Gas Accounting departments, along with other suppling other departments information on Middle Office activities, among other duties.

Day to Day:

• Assure compliance with the Company’s established financial risk policies and procedures.
• Design and maintain an effective internal control structure over transactions. 
• Perform calculations of MTM and credit exposure for physical and financial gas transactions. 
• Daily use of Allegro’s Horizon system for use in regular duties, increasing functionality and troubleshooting.
• Review and approve all physical and financial transactions to ensure compliance with relevant Company policies, procedures, and SOX controls implementation and review.  
• Identify weaknesses and opportunities for enhancement in the control environment; develop solutions and implementation of strategies.
• Perform Middle Office functions including deal validation, confirmation, valuation, contract administration, derivative credit approval and monitoring. 
• Foster a cooperative working relationship with front and back office, as well as other departments.
• Flexibility to move quickly between tasks and address changing critical requests including inside and outside the department with a positive attitude.
• Attention to detail in a fast-moving environment during tight windows between available data and deadlines.
• Coordinate with management initiatives of the Gas Supply Strategy and Policies Committee.
• Ongoing and new project management duties as new Company and department initiatives arise.
• Assist in selection, development, and implementation of systems to assure accurate, timely, and complete information flow and reporting.
• Assist in the contract administration and review of various contracts to ensure compliance with the Company’s objectives and policies.
• Implement contract terms; facilitate contract approval process. Initiate, coordinate, new ISDA contracts or modifications to existing contracts in coordination with Front Office and Legal Departments.  Ensure new contracts are compliant with existing Company policy and risk tolerance.
• Monitor and report on Company's derivative counterparty credit risk exposures.  Maintain and enhance credit exposure tracking and reporting.  
• Other Middle Office related duties as assigned.
• Coordinate and maintain contracts subject to ASC 815 (FAS133).
• Maintain and operate Financial Risk applications and models.
• Develops models for forecasting.
• System administration of data feeds, trades, and compliance within trading system.
• Apply statistical methods to NW Natural’s Gas Supply planning to optimize management of the natural gas portfolio.
• At-Risk analysis (VaR, CFaR; EaR; simulations) to measure and monitor risks using analytical tools.
• Supports Company’s commitment to a culture of safe work practices.

Come on your first day with:

• Bachelors’ Degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Strong preference for experience with the natural gas product in Allegro’s Horizon ETRM system.
• Understanding of commodity purchase concepts and operations in a utility environment regarding front, middle and back office.
• Natural gas market experience.
• Knowledge of and experience with physical commodities and or financial derivative instruments.
• Working knowledge of ISDA Master Agreements, Schedules, Credit Support Annex and DF 2012 and 2013 Protocols.
• Working knowledge of NAESB Master Agreements and Special Provisions
• Requires a minimum of 5-8 years of relevant experience.  
• Must possess strong decision making and analytical skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail. Demonstrated projects skill and ability to produce effective documentation for a variety of audiences. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work with individuals at all levels of the organization and across departments.  Demonstrated ability to verbally communicate clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work alone on assignments and stay self-motivated.
• Experience providing valid evidence of business activity as part of compliance and reporting duties.
• Advanced skill with Microsoft Excel; and intermediate skill with Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of modeling techniques utilizing applied mathematics and statistics, and database skills.
• Report writing skills (i.e., Power BI, Crystal Report Writer, or SSRS).
• Understanding of market and credit risk measurements: VaR, CFaR, sensitivity, and stress testing.
• Understanding of ASC 815 (FAS 133) accounting rule, and its application to energy transactions.
• SOX and or policy compliance experience.
• Contract administration experience.