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 six states.

About the role

The Principal Accountant serves as the go-to resource 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example, providing guidance and support to ensure compliance with 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 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 reporting as required.
• 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.
• 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 GAAP.
• Analytical capability with sophisticated understanding of financial information and metrics to model potential outcomes from regulatory processes.
• Leadership skills to articulate clear business outcomes and drive organizational achievement.
• Excellent communication skills to clearly and credibly articulate complex information to diverse internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated values consistent with Summit Utilities, including high integrity and commitment to appropriate governance.

Pay

$89,102 to $111,377 USD annually, based on experience.

Benefits

Summit offers competitive pay and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits designed to support employees both at work and at home.