ACCOUNTANT- ASSOC-STAFF

El Paso Electric Company•El Paso, TX

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Manager - Plant Accounting, this role is responsible for performing complex and various non-routine professional accounting functions supporting both financial and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities include the preparation of internal and external reporting; accounting research and analysis; and specialized areas such as capital project (CapEx) accounting, capital lease accounting, and asset retirement obligation (ARO) accounting. The role maintains and supports key systems, including Oracle Project Portfolio Management and PowerPlan (Asset Management, Project Management, and Depreciation Modules), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and integrity of accounting records. The position ensures compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and regulatory accounting standards, including implementation of new FASB standards, SEC regulations, jurisdictional rate case orders, and Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) requirements. It provides support for regulatory activities, including rate case orders as well as other state and FERC filings, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely submission of financial and plant-related data. The role is responsible for accounting for capital expenditures projects, including tracking and analysis of project costs, calculation of depreciation expense, collaboration with project managers to ensure accurate cost classification, capitalization, and compliance with Company capital policy and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a BBA in Accounting
Experience with progressive responsibility as a professional accountant or similar capacity, preferably with a utility company or regulated industry. Graduate degree may apply in lieu of one year of experience.
Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), and State Commission accounting procedures, reporting practices, and accounting control procedures.
Prepares financial reports and statements, conducts research analysis, interpretation of accounting pronouncements and regulatory rules and regulations (State Commissions, FERC, and etc.) and applies guidance to Company accounting practices.
Knowledge of accounting systems required; advanced proficiency in Excel required including financial interpretation, data transformation, and the use of advanced formulas and functions to support financial reporting and analysis.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present financial and technical information and convey complex accounting matters to non-financial stakeholders in a clear, concise, and meaningful way.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with officers, managers, fellow employees, and external stakeholders.
Ability to exercise sound judgement and maintain a high level of discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Word preferred.
Experience in enterprise systems such as Oracle Project Portfolio Management (PPM) and PowerPlan strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs and/or supervises the professional plant accounting and reporting functions.
Plans and assists in providing continuous training to lower level staff members on all accounting aspects of fixed asset accounting processes, systems, and regulatory requirements.
Performs and oversees project (capital) accounting across the full project lifecycle, including partnering with project managers to ensure costs are recorded accurately and in accordance with Company capital policies; monitoring project costs from initiation through close-out; recording Allowance for Funds Used During Construction (AFUDC); placing assets in service; and ensuring timely and accurate calculation of depreciation expense.
Plans and provides technical direction of the plant accounting components of federal and state regulatory filings, including Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Form 1 and Form 3, jurisdictional rate case filings, and other required regulatory submissions, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with applicable requirements.
Plans, supervises, assists, and provides technical direction in the preparation of the internal reports of the company such as the Plant Accounting Report, other recurring and ad-hoc reports as assigned.
Review and supervise or assists in the month-end close process of the Oracle PPM and PowerPlan Asset Management and Project Management systems, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Works with GAAP (including implementing new FASBs), the FERC Regulations and Uniform System of Accounts, any new FERC orders, final orders issued by regulatory commissions; and Company accounting systems and procedures with respect to the maintenance of the PowerPlan Asset Management and Project Management systems and related accounting records in compliance with Company policies and procedures to insure compliance.
Assists in the preparation of accounting schedules included in the rate filing for the Texas, FERC and New Mexico jurisdictions including the review of rate filing requirements and assuring adherence to regulatory accounting principles.
Assists in the preparation of other regulatory areas such as testimony, interrogatories cross examinations questions, review of orders, requests for information, etc.
Performs and oversees accounting for asset retirement obligations (ARO), including recognition, measurement, and ongoing compliance with applicable accounting standards; preparation of related journal entries; and coordination with internal and external stakeholders as needed.
Prepares work papers and other information provided to the outside audit firm for their quarterly reviews, annual audits, compliance reviews and various consulting activities.
Monitors and evaluates accounting pronouncements, regulatory updates, and other professional publications to ensure ongoing compliance and applicability to Company practices.
Prepares and supports documentation and responses for FERC audits, ensuring timely and accurate communication with auditors.
Provides Manager with assistance in performing various administrative responsibilities, including budget development, forecasting, and variance analysis.
Assist and enhances the development of policies and procedures to maintain and improve internal controls, including plans to document internal controls under COSO principles.
Ensures compliance with Company policies, procedures and code of ethics, as well as all applicable governmental laws and regulations to include employment, safety and environmental requirements.
Perform other related tasks that are not included, but are within the context of the duties defined.