Principal Accountant

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice, including Best Places to Work awards in multiple states and Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023). Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable, and clean-burning natural gas service to homes and businesses across Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

About the role

The Principal Accountant serves as the go-to person for the Shared Services and Operations Accounting team, supporting the Senior Accounting Manager with reviewing and approving journal entries, reconciliations, research, analysis, and special projects. This role may be hybrid-based in one of our offices in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, or Maine, or remote in Texas.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example, providing guidance and support to the team while ensuring compliance with all company and accounting policies.
• Assist with research and compliance of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) rules.
• Prepare and/or review journal entries in accordance with policies and the month-end close schedule to accurately reflect financial accounts in the general ledger for service companies, debt holding entities, and utility entities.
• Prepare and/or review reconciliations of balance sheet accounts monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Review monthly variance analysis and assist in preparing the monthly financial statements package and other required reporting.
• Support the successful completion of interim and annual financial statement audits.
• Collaborate with FP&A, Regulatory, Operations, Engineering, and Program Management to research and resolve issues with operating results.
• Assist with regulatory rate filings, including data requests.
• Handle ad-hoc requests for the Shared Services & Operations Accounting team and their support to other departments.
• Serve as the primary systems knowledge resource, leading resolution processes for system issues and enhancements.
• Assist with training new employees and implementing new systems.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of accounting experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a regulated utility preferred, preferably in either the regulatory department or on the accounting staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; advanced degree preferred.
• CPA or CPA candidate preferred.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Analytical Capability – Strong analytical and processing skills with a sophisticated understanding of how to prepare and use financial information and metrics to model potential outcomes from regulatory processes.
• Leadership Skills – Ability to articulate clear business outcomes and enroll the organization in achieving extraordinary results.
• Communication Skills – Ability to clearly and credibly articulate complex information to a variety of internal and external constituencies.
• Personal Values – Demonstrated values consistent with those of Summit Utilities, including high integrity, commitment to appropriate governance, and a well-respected, solid reputation.

Benefits

Summit offers competitive pay and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits designed to provide flexibility, choice, and support when employees need it most. Our benefits are structured to support both work and home life.