Accountant-Operational, Sr.

Primary Purpose:

Responsible for accurate and timely recording of financial transactions to maintain compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) guidelines, including interpretation and application of applicable FERC regulations, as well as preparation of regulatory financial statements (including balance sheet, P&L, equity and cash flow statements). 

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Participate in the month-end closing process including preparation of journal entries and review of journals to ensure FERC compliance.

• Manage and maintain the FERC fixed asset register, ensuring accurate recording and tracking of company assets in accordance with the system uniform of accounts.

• Prepare regulated reporting (quarterly and annual) for interstate natural gas and oil pipeline companies.

• Research and stay up to date on FERC reporting requirements, audit risks, and reporting changes as well as participate in training and education programs to enhance knowledge of FERC regulations and accounting principles.

• Identify, monitor, evaluate, analyze, and interpret legislative and regulatory developments and initiatives on matters affecting the business.

• Provide support related to appropriate accounting coding for FERC assets and spend; provide subject matter expertise on FERC regulatory issues and direct the integration of FERC regulatory matters into other functional activities.

• Interface with Regulatory department to ensure proper compliance and aid in preparation of compliance requests and regulatory proceedings.

• Interact with various levels of accounting personnel (e.g., Accountants to Senior Management) and respond to inquiries on reporting. 

• Assist in the development and implementation of accounting policies and procedures in alignment with FERC requirements. 

• Establish, implement and/or maintain strong internal controls in areas of assigned responsibility to provide reasonable assurance of effective and appropriate resource use, accurate financial information, and adherence to contractual obligations and agreements, policies, procedures, and external regulatory requirements.

• Proactively identify and implement internal process improvements to optimize efficiencies, improve the quality of analysis, and develop new reports for Senior Management. 

• Foster a positive open work environment, systems approaches and disciplined execution of all assigned tasks. 

• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills and listen carefully. 

• Maintain a regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance. 

• Will work non-traditional hours as needed. 

• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public. 

• Other daily, weekly, monthly or special project duties as identified and defined. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting or a related discipline. 

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• A minimum of 5 years of previous accounting experience.
• Must have a fundamental understanding of GAAP.
• Ability to research, interpret and document the applicability of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations. 

• Strong Excel skills and ability to adapt to various financial reporting systems. 

• Advanced proficiency level in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent technical accounting, analytical, written communication and organizational skills. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with various levels of finance staff and management. 

• Ability to multi-task and adhere to strict deadlines and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment. 

• Express a high degree of intellectual curiosity. 

• Ability to analyze financial data and clearly and concisely document the interpretation of financial analysis. 

• Effectively escalate issues and keep managers and peers well informed on an ongoing basis. 

• Attentive to details, diligent and proactive. 

• Ability to research, interpret and document understanding of complex accounting matters. 

• Excellent customer service skills and ability to work with all levels of management as well as employees in corporate and field offices. 

• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job. 

• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules. 

• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines. 

• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work. 

• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience and skill sets of the successful candidate. 

Physical Demands:

All the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout the facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting to 25 lbs.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours. 

• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed. 

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None.

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

Above the minimum requirements, not required but advantageous in this position: 

• Familiarity with FERC chart of accounts and regulatory accounting preferred. 

• Certified Public Accountant preferred. 

• Experience with consolidations of multiple business units that include inter/intra-company transactions. 

• Accounting/financial system experience is a plus:  e.g. Oracle, Workiva. 

Compensation:

• The annual salary range for this position will be $85,000-$110,000/yr.

Other Responsibilities: 

• The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. This position may perform other duties as assigned.