Technical Accounting Manager

Otter Tail Corporation Careers•Fergus Falls, MN

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Otter Tail Power Company is seeking a strategic and collaborative accounting professional to serve as our primary technical accounting and accounting policy resource. In this role, you'll provide accounting guidance on complex transactions, emerging accounting standards, regulatory matters, and strategic business initiatives while helping ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, FERC accounting requirements, and financial reporting obligations. This position plays a critical role in supporting informed business decisions across the organization. You'll partner with accounting and business leaders to evaluate accounting implications, develop accounting analyses and recommended accounting positions, and provide guidance on complex transactions, regulatory matters, contractual arrangements, and strategic initiatives. This position reports to Controller.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
Eight or more years of progressive accounting experience, including experience in technical accounting, financial reporting, audit, regulatory accounting, or related accounting functions.
Advanced knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting requirements, and accounting research methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to research, interpret, and apply accounting standards, regulatory guidance, and industry practices to complex or non-routine transactions.
Experience developing and documenting accounting positions, technical accounting memorandums, accounting policies, or accounting guidance.
Ability to evaluate accounting implications of strategic initiatives, contractual arrangements, regulatory proceedings, capital investments, and other complex business activities.
Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound professional judgment and develop practical recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to communicate complex accounting concepts and build productive working relationships across business functions.
Experience supporting financial reporting, audit activities, accounting compliance functions, or other complex accounting and reporting processes.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the utility industry or another regulated, capital-intensive industry, including familiarity with utility operations and business processes.
Knowledge of FERC Uniform System of Accounts, utility accounting principles, regulatory accounting concepts, utility financial reporting requirements, and cost recovery mechanisms.
Experience supporting regulatory reporting, rate cases, regulatory proceedings, or other regulatory accounting matters.
Experience evaluating complex technical accounting matters, including revenue recognition, lease accounting, capital investments, renewable energy projects, environmental credits, asset retirement obligations, or other specialized accounting topics.
Experience partnering with business leaders to evaluate accounting implications of contracts, strategic initiatives, infrastructure investments, or large-scale projects.

Responsibilities

Research, interpret, and apply U.S. GAAP, FERC accounting guidance, regulatory accounting requirements, and emerging accounting standards.
Develop accounting analyses, recommended accounting positions, technical accounting memorandums, accounting policies, and implementation guidance for complex or non-routine transactions to support management decision-making.
Advise business partners on the accounting implications of strategic initiatives, customer agreements, capital investments, contractual arrangements, and other complex business activities.
Evaluate accounting matters involving revenue recognition, lease accounting, capitalization, cost recovery mechanisms, regulatory proceedings, rate cases, settlement discussions, and other regulatory accounting matters.
Provide technical accounting guidance related to utility-specific topics, including renewable energy projects, environmental credits, asset retirement obligations, government incentive programs, joint ownership arrangements, and emerging industry developments.
Partner with Accounting and Financial Reporting teams on accounting conclusions, financial statement disclosures, regulatory reporting requirements, audit activities, and other complex reporting matters.
Monitor emerging accounting, regulatory, and industry developments and assess potential impacts to the Company.
Promote consistent application of accounting policies, accounting governance practices, regulatory requirements, and industry accounting standards across the organization.