Application Guide

How to Apply for Utility Financial Consultant I (Job #350) ($76,103 - $83,976)

at Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

🏢 About Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

RCAC is unique for its dedicated focus on supporting rural and tribal communities with essential infrastructure like water and wastewater systems, directly addressing health equity and sustainable development. Working here means contributing to tangible improvements in underserved areas, making it ideal for mission-driven professionals who want to see their work impact community health and resilience.

About This Role

As a Utility Financial Consultant I, you'll help small community utilities analyze rates, manage budgets, and implement financial controls, ensuring their long-term sustainability. This role is impactful because you'll directly enable communities to maintain critical water and waste services, often by training local staff and securing funding for infrastructure projects.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing a small water utility's rate structure via spreadsheets, then hopping on a video call to train its board on financial best practices. Later, you could research grant opportunities for a tribal community's wastewater project and document findings for a client report, all while collaborating remotely with RCAC's regional teams.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Is Looking For

  • Has 1-3 years of hands-on experience in nonprofit accounting, municipal finance, or utility financial management, with practical knowledge of fund accounting or budget development.
  • Demonstrates a genuine commitment to rural communities, drinking water access, or health equity through volunteer work, previous roles, or personal background.
  • Is comfortable both analyzing financial data and communicating complex concepts to utility staff, boards, and the public in training settings.
  • Holds a valid driver's license and is willing to travel occasionally (though remote), as RCAC serves dispersed rural communities.

📝 Tips for Applying to Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

1

Highlight specific experience with small community utilities, municipal budgets, or nonprofit fund accounting—even if from a volunteer role—since RCAC serves under-resourced systems.

2

Emphasize any training or public speaking experience, as the role involves preparing and delivering workshops to utility staff and boards.

3

Tailor your resume to show how you've supported rural or tribal communities, or worked on water/wastewater projects, to align with RCAC's mission.

4

Mention your driver's license and insurance details upfront, as RCAC requires them for potential site visits to remote communities.

5

If you lack a Bachelor's degree, detail your 'qualifying experience' (e.g., years in utility finance) to meet the high-school diploma requirement.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express specific passion for RCAC's mission of improving drinking water access and supporting rural communities, linking it to your career goals.", 'Detail a relevant example where you analyzed rates, developed budgets, or implemented financial controls for a utility or municipal project.', 'Describe your ability to translate financial concepts for non-experts, such as training staff or presenting to boards, as this is core to the role.', "Note your willingness to travel occasionally with a valid driver's license, showing readiness for RCAC's community-focused work."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore RCAC's recent projects or success stories on their website, focusing on water/wastewater initiatives in specific regions like the Southwest or tribal lands.
  • → Review the USDA Rural Development or EPA programs that RCAC often partners with, as these are key funding sources for their clients.
  • → Learn about challenges small rural utilities face, such as aging infrastructure or limited ratepayer bases, to discuss knowledgeably in interviews.
  • → Look into RCAC's training materials or webinars to understand their approach to capacity building for community partners.
Visit Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)'s Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you helped a small organization or community utility improve its financial controls or budget management.
2 How would you explain a complex rate analysis to a non-financial utility board member?
3 What experience do you have with securing grants or funding for infrastructure projects, especially in rural settings?
4 Why are you drawn to RCAC's focus on tribal and rural communities, and how does that align with your values?
5 How do you approach delivering training or workshops to diverse audiences with varying financial knowledge?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't mention rural communities, water access, or health equity—RCAC prioritizes mission alignment.
  • Overemphasizing corporate finance experience without tying it to nonprofit, municipal, or utility contexts relevant to small communities.
  • Failing to address the driver's license requirement or travel willingness, as remote work may still involve site visits to client locations.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC)!

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