LEAD, ACCOUNTING

Versant Power • Bangor, ME

178d

About The Position

The Lead, Accounting plays a critical role in driving operational excellence across key accounting functions, including cash management, accounts payable, and payroll. This position serves as a subject matter expert and strategic partner, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in financial processes. The Lead collaborates closely with internal teams and external partners to support regulatory reporting, cost tracking, and event-specific financial analysis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent work experience will be considered.
• Three or more years of experience in accounting, finance, or a related operational role.
• Experience leading projects, mentoring peers, or serving as a go-to resource within a team environment.
• Familiarity with US GAAP and/or FERC accounting principles is a plus.
• Exposure to mid- to enterprise-level financial systems (e.g., Oracle Financials, Cognos, TM1) is beneficial.
• Comfortable working with financial data and systems beyond basic accounting software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Office applications, with the ability to work with and interpret large data sets.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a lead resource and mentor within the accounting operations team, supporting training and knowledge sharing.
• Coordinates daily work priorities and collaborates with team members to ensure timely and accurate completion of tasks.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Facilitates cross-training and knowledge sharing to build operational flexibility.
• Leads the execution and continuous improvement of accounts payable operations, supporting the processing of approximately 28,000 invoices and $370 million in annual payments.
• Reviews and validates cash disbursements, ensuring alignment with internal controls and compliance standards.
• Manages the abandoned property process in accordance with state and regulatory requirements.
• Reviews weekly payment batches, including voids and cancellations, to ensure accuracy and policy adherence.
• Maintains and enhances payment templates and banking protocols to support secure and efficient disbursement processes.
• Performs and analyzes bank reconciliations to ensure the integrity of financial records.
• Recommends and implements enhancements to payment and procurement procedures to drive efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
• Provides leadership and oversight for weekly payroll processing for approximately 550 employees, totaling $55M annually.
• Ensures confidentiality and compliance with payroll policies and labor agreements.
• Serves as a key liaison between Payroll, Human Resources, and business units, offering expertise on time entry, payroll inquiries, and issue resolution.
• Maintains a strong understanding of the company’s Bargaining Agreement and its implications for payroll operations.
• Leads the tracking and financial review of internal and mutual aid storm event costs, including invoicing where applicable.
• Supports regulatory filings and compliance with accounting orders through data collection, analysis, and report preparation.
• Partners with business units to promote financial literacy and adherence to accounting policies and procedures.
• Contributes to special projects and performs ad hoc financial and administrative tasks in support of departmental goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree