Accountant

Primary Role

Responsible for the compilation and analysis of accounting/financial information within the Fixed Assets (Plant Accounting) Department for the American Water subsidiaries as assigned, and the maintenance of complete and accurate subsidiary general ledgers. Assists in the consolidation process and provides reporting support and other services to the External Reporting, Financial Analysis and Decision Support, Budgeting and Internal Reporting, Tax and Rates Support/Regulatory Operations teams. 

Key Accountabilities

• Provide accounting for all fixed asset related activity to include asset additions,   retirements, depreciation, cost of removal, and salvage.
• Prepares journal entries and assists in analyzing financial results and variances, ensuring completeness and accuracy of the subsidiary general ledgers.
• Prepares account reconciliations, including the timely investigation and resolution of discrepancies and reconciling items.
• Provides reporting support, information and analysis to assist in consolidation and the External Reporting team’s fulfillment of the Company’s quarterly and annual SEC reporting requirements.
• Assists in the preparation of quarterly and annual subsidiary financial statements and state commission reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with US GAAP, state-specific utility regulation, internal controls and Company policies and practices.
• Assists the Rates Support team in fulfilling rate case requests and analyses for filings and/or other reporting requirement reports.
• Interfaces/liaises with the Capital Administration, Financial Analysis and Decision Support, Budgeting and Internal Reporting, Cash/Treasury, Accounts Payable, Call Center Operations and Tax teams, providing information on accounting and reporting matters.
• Assists with special projects and initiatives to optimize the effectiveness of existing business applications, technologies and systems and to build efficiencies/improvements into current business processes.

Knowledge/Skills

•   Prior public accounting, corporate and/or multi-subsidiary company experience a plus.
•   Prior experience working in the utility industry and knowledge of regulatory accounting a plus.
•   Knowledge and prior experience working with SAP, PowerPlan, Hyperion, Blackline, SharePoint a plus.   Knowledge of fundamental accounting/analytical concepts and financial analysis.
•   Knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); knowledge of advanced Microsoft Excel functionalities (i.e. pivot and look-up tables, etc.) a plus.
•   Strong written and oral communication skills.
•   Excellent analytical, systemic and problem solving skills, including the ability to work in teams or effectively work independently.
•   Strong interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on initiative, knowledge sharing, team building and decision making.
•   Know, understand and follow departmental and company policies and procedures, and contacts that govern the work environment.
•   Assist in creating a positive, predictable work environment by communicating effectively with colleagues, supervisors, and managers.
•   Participate in and contribute to the culture and environment in a positive and professional manner by collaborating with colleagues, offering suggestions, accepting feedback, resolving problems and being productive with the strategies of the organization in mind.
•   Strive to achieve agreed upon goals, accept direction, offer and receive feedback in a constructive manner and communicate effectively to the betterment of the work environment.
•   Possess the acumen of the subject matter and capacity to expand this knowledge based on professional dynamics.
•   Collaborate with the team, disseminate essential communications and delegate tasks and follow ups to ensure desired results, driving toward meeting deadlines.
•   Communicate with collaborators and follow up, and ensure operational effectiveness within the department.
•   Involved with acclimating, assisting, developing and mentoring other lesser experienced professional within the department.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• Modern day professional office environment.
   

Competencies