Principal Financial Accountant - Sacramento, United States - Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Description

This posting intends to fill one (1) regular full-time vacancy AND establish an eligibility list that may be used to fill future vacancies for up to two (2) years.

This position will supervise and administer the month-end and year-end closing activities of SMUD's consolidated financial statements. This includes performing and overseeing the SAP closing process including setting up new general ledger accounts and orders and mapping to the SAP reports as needed. Responsibilities will also include:

• Overseeing the preparation of SMUD's consolidated financial statements in accordance with SMUD standards, GAAP, FERC and GASB guidelines
• Analysis of the financial statement variances
• Preparation and review of the monthly executive summary to the Board of Directors
• Implementation of new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements and accounting research, with assistance from the Assistant Controller and support from the Senior Accountant
• Assisting with the preparation and review of the year-end audited financial statements, audit schedules and coordination with our external auditors
• Overseeing the response to various financial surveys throughout the year, reviewing the monthly and quarterly utility user tax returns, and the preparation of the annual non-cash budget

This position supervises a Senior Accountant and a shared Accountant, and reports to the Manager and Assistant Controller for Financial and External Reporting.

Purpose

To supervise and administer the day-to-day activities and operations of the SMUDs financial accounting section to ensure the timely and accurate provision of accounting records and disclosure statements in compliance with the SMUDs guidelines and applicable laws and regulations and to provide SMUD with data for making informed management decisions.

Nature and Scope

Serves as a technical or functional expert or consultant providing expertise and/or direction in one or more areas of a professional discipline and assumes responsibility for resolving complex problems and overseeing complex projects. May also serve in a Lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and developing lower-level personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, and guides work activities with work-unit employees to meet established task objectives and deadlines by following established policies and precedents; communicating with team members and incorporating their input to processes and techniques; providing staff training; promoting staff safety and a safe work environment; assisting in selecting and orienting new personnel; assisting in evaluating work performance results; participating as a team member in accomplishing objectives; and referring problems to supervision where solutions are not readily achievable. To provide leadership and participate in assigned tasks of a work unit in order to meet defined unit goals and schedules and comply with SMUD schedule, quality, quantity, safety and performance standards.
• Supervises the general accounting unit by overseeing the proper reporting of revenues, expenses, receivables and payables; guiding the analyses and resolution of accounting problems and discrepancies; overseeing the preparation of disclosure statements and other financial accounting documents; and overseeing the preparation of SMUDs General Ledger and Annual Report in accordance with SMUD standards and GAAP, FERC, GASB and FASB guidelines. To ensure the accurate recording and reporting of general accounting and financial data and the provision of relevant analyses for management decision-making.
• Supervises the analyses and reporting of financial data, including monthly power statistics related to the SMUDs energy purchases, generation and sales; investment and commercial paper transactions; and cash flow projections. To provide management and the Board of Directors with relevant financial information for management decision-making.
• Oversees the preparation of financial accounting analyses and reports for various external agencies, the Joint Power Agency boards (COTP, TANC, BANC) and other external bodies. To meet legal and regulatory requirements for financial disclosure and reporting.
• Assists in administering the department budget by participating in planning, monitoring and revising schedules, work plans, expenditures and assignments. To support the achievement of unit objectives in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews and conducts work activities associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract. To ensure assigned work activities successfully contribute to the overall completion of department projects.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

• BS/BA degree from an accredited college or university majoring in Accounting, Finance or other closely related field

Required Experience Qualifications

Seven (7+) or more years of progressively responsible financial accounting experience including three (3+) or more years of lead or supervisory responsibility.

Knowledge Of

Advanced principles and practices of public agency financial management including general and governmental accounting, budgeting, auditing, and reporting functions as well as GAAP, GASB and FASB guidelines; advanced principles, systems and concepts related to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accounting; SMUD accounting systems (SAP) and procedures, both manual and automated; procedures and practices related to business law, Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations; advanced principles and practices of automated financial systems; federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations related to accounting, financial reporting and rate regulation issues; principles of budget preparation and control; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; principles and procedures of record keeping; principles of business letter writing and report preparation; techniques and concepts related to team management; characteristics and operational needs of various organizational units; interrelationships between SMUD's operations and relevant external entities; procedures and practices for monitoring and managing projects; office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Read the full posting.