Accountant - Senior (Rate Case Accounting)

GRADE LEVEL : 51 – 53 
DEPARTMENT: Rate Case Accounting
STARTING SALARY: $62,200 to $108,176, annually. Salary is commensurate with experience.

JOB PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of Rate Case Accounting Management, the Accountant / Senior Accountant – Rate Case Accounting provides accounting and financial support related to regulatory filings, including Texas and New Mexico rate cases, Distribution Cost Recovery Factor (DCRF), Transmission Cost Recovery Factor (TCRF), and Transmission Formula Rate (TFR) filings. 

This role participates in the preparation, analysis, review, and support of rate base, cost of service, rate of return, and regulatory accounting schedules to ensure accurate, timely, and well-supported regulatory filings. The position supports the development of accounting workpapers, testimony exhibits, requests for information (RFIs), and related documentation used in regulatory proceedings.  Other assigned responsibilities may range from schedule preparation and analysis to review, coordination, and technical leadership of assigned regulatory accounting workstreams.

The Accountant / Senior Accountant works closely with Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Regulatory Accounting, Energy Accounting, Tax, Payroll, Plant Accounting, FP&A, Rate Case Management, Rates, Legal, and external stakeholders to support regulatory filing requirements and maintain audit-ready documentation.

 EDUCATION AND/OR SPECIAL TRAINING:

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university.

Certified Public Accountant or Masters Degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), and State Commission accounting procedures, reporting practices, and accounting control procedures.
2. Understanding of accounting concepts, financial reporting, and financial statement preparation.
3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
4. Ability to prepare reconciliations, schedules, analyses, and supporting documentation.
5. Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data analysis, and financial reporting.
6. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint preferred.
7. Experience with enterprise systems such as Oracle Fusion, PowerPlan, or similar financial applications preferred.
8. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
9. Ability to effectively communicate financial information to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
10. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with officers, managers, fellow employees, and external stakeholders.
11. Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet critical deadlines.
12. Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
13. Interest in utility accounting, regulatory accounting, ratemaking, and regulatory proceedings.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Support the accounting workstream for regulatory filings, including but not limited to Texas and New Mexico base rate cases, Distribution Cost Recovery Factor (DCRF), Transmission Cost Recovery Factor (TCRF), and Transmission Formula Rate (TFR) filings.
2. Development, analysis, and support of Rate Base, Cost of Service, Rate of Return, Test Year and Pro Forma Adjustments.
3. Prepare and/or review schedules, workpapers, testimony, responses to requests for information (RFIs), and supporting documentation to ensure accurate and timely filings.
4. Prepare, review, and validate accounting components included in regulatory filings.
   • Rate Base - Plant in Service, Accumulated Depreciation, Deferred Taxes, Working Capital, Construction Work in Progress (CWIP), Regulatory Assets and Liabilities.
   • Cost of Service - Operating & Maintenance Expenses, Depreciation Expense, Taxes Other Than Income Taxes, Return on Rate Base, and Income Taxes.
5. Ensure compliance with FERC Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) and applicable state regulatory requirements.
6. Prepare and/or review responses to regulatory requests for information (RFIs), data requests, and audit inquiries.
7. Maintain thorough, audit-ready documentation supporting all filings and accounting positions.
8. Maintain effective controls over regulatory data, schedules, and supporting workpapers.
9. Support process standardization and continuous improvement related to rate case and rider filings.
10. Serve as a liaison between Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Plant, Tax, Regulatory Accounting, FP&A, Rate Case Management, Rates, Legal, and external consultants.
11. Support timelines, deliverables, and data requirements to meet filing deadlines and regulatory proceedings.
12. Support preparation and/or review of testimony, exhibits, and regulatory schedules, as needed.
13. Support regulatory accounting activities and collaborate with team members to achieve departmental objectives.
14. Provide assistance to ensure high-quality deliverables.
15. Perform other duties as assigned in support of regulatory, financial, and organizational objectives.