Senior Accounting Analyst

NW Natural•Happy Valley, OR

1d•$98,450 - $140,300•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Accounting Analyst is part of a collaborative team responsible for accurate accounting and reporting of significant financial transactions. The role serves as a primary accounting contact and technical resource for gas and water regulatory accounting matters, including financial reporting, forecasting, regulatory filings, and process improvements. The analyst independently owns assigned accounting processes, performs initial technical analysis, coordinates with cross-functional partners, communicates results and recommendations, and escalates significant judgments and risks as appropriate. The position is based at NW Natural’s downtown Portland, Oregon headquarters. Employees work onsite Tuesday through Thursday and may work remotely Monday and Friday, subject to business needs. Candidates must live within commuting distance or be willing to relocate to the Portland metropolitan area. The role supports month-end accounting, financial reporting, regulatory accounting and filings, audits, forecasts, internal controls, and process improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Five or more years of accounting experience.
Experience researching, analyzing, and applying GAAP in a complex business environment.
Experience preparing financial reports, forecasts, reconciliations, variance analyses, and technical accounting documentation.
Experience with internal controls over financial reporting and maintaining audit-ready support.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Strong reconciliation and financial modeling skills, including the ability to trace information between regulatory schedules, source systems, and the general ledger.
Superb analytical and critical-thinking skills, attention to detail, and understanding of broader business impacts.
Ability to identify issues, research alternatives, develop well-supported recommendations, and escalate significant matters appropriately.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical information to diverse audiences and executive leadership.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, collaborate across departments, and meet deadlines.
High ethical standards consistent with company policies, procedures, and practices.
Must reside within commuting distance of the downtown Portland office or be willing to relocate to the Portland metropolitan area.

Nice To Haves

CPA license.
Accounting experience in a utility or other regulated industry.
Experience with regulatory accounting and reporting, including ASC 980.
Experience interpreting commission orders, tariffs, stipulations, or similar regulatory documents.
SAP experience.

Responsibilities

Perform assigned month-end close activities, including preparing journal entries.
Analyze results against budget, forecast, and prior periods, and communicate meaningful variances to management.
Prepare monthly accruals for Renewable Thermal Certificates and renewable natural gas purchases.
Review RTC and RNG invoices and coordinate the purchase order process and payment in accordance with company policies.
Prepare account reconciliations and perform SOX controls to support complete and accurate financial reporting.
Prepare supporting information for SEC financial statement disclosures and other internal and external reporting.
Support internal and external audits by providing timely, accurate, and traceable documentation.
Identify and implement sustainable process, reporting, and control improvements.
Contribute to a collaborative team environment and support a culture of safe work practices.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned to support departmental objectives.
Analyze commission orders, stipulations, tariffs, and regulatory guidance to identify accounting requirements and implementation impacts.
Research and document accounting conclusions under ASC 980 and other applicable GAAP, and develop well-supported recommendations.
Prepare and review journal entries, reconciliations, roll-forwards, and supporting documentation for regulatory assets, regulatory liabilities, and related amortization.
Monitor regulatory balances to confirm recognition, recovery or refund periods, and amortization are consistent with commission authorization and applicable accounting guidance.
Evaluate changes in facts and circumstances that could affect continued application of regulatory accounting or the recoverability of regulatory assets.
Support state regulatory filings, rate cases, and data requests by preparing accurate and traceable accounting schedules and responses.
Coordinate preparation of FERC Form 2 and other federal and state regulatory accounting filings, and reconcile filing information to the general ledger and financial reporting records.
Support forecasts and budgets for regulatory balances, amortization, and related income statement and cash flow impacts.
Maintain audit-ready documentation supporting regulatory accounting conclusions, assumptions, controls, and management judgments.
Identify, communicate, and appropriately escalate regulatory accounting risks, unusual transactions, and significant judgments.
Serve as a regulatory accounting subject matter expert and communicate technical conclusions to management and other stakeholders.