Staff Accountant

Job Description

Job Description

About JW Water Holdings, LLC

 

JW Water is a regulated utility company that owns, operates, develops, and maintains a portfolio of water and wastewater systems serving more than 50,000 customers across the State of Arizona. The company is focused on strategic expansion and long-term growth, supported by an active pipeline of rate cases and a multi-year capital investment program.

JW Water’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable water and wastewater services to the communities it serves. The company is committed to providing high-quality customer service and engaging collaboratively and productively with communities, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Position Overview

The Staff Accountant is responsible for core accounting responsibilities as well as ensuring accurate classification, tracking, and capitalization of costs in accordance with regulatory requirements and company policy. This role plays a critical function in supporting rate recovery by ensuring that capital and operating expenditures are recorded appropriately, defensibly, and in alignment with regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Core Accounting Responsibilities

• Prepare asset, liability and capital account entries by compiling and analyzing account information
• Document financial transactions by entering account information
• Recommend financial actions by analyzing accounting options
• Summarize current financial status by collecting information and preparing reports
• Substantiate financial transactions by auditing documents
• Maintain accounting controls by preparing and recommending policies and procedures
• Reconcile financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing account information
• Secure financial information by completing database backups
• Verify, allocate, post, and reconcile transactions
• Produce error-free accounting reports and present their results to management
• Analyze financial information and summarize financial status
• Analyze capital vs. expense items and identify misclassification risks
• Participate in financial standards setting and the forecast process
• Provide input into the department’s goal-setting process
• Assist with audits and regulatory filings
• Support month-end and year-end close process
• Develop and document business processes and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls
• Ensure compliance with GAAP principles
• Develop standard operating procedures that meet AICPA level requirements

• Track and record invoices and record month-end accruals for non-invoiced items.
• Act as a dedicated resource on Accounts Payable and the accrual process
• Capable, accurate high quality data entry into the Sage Intacct accounting system ensuring no duplication

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Experience

• This is a staff level role and must demonstrate fundamental accounting skills included advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities
• 1–4+ years of experience in:
  • Utility accounting, regulatory accounting, or project accounting
• Experience in a regulated utility environment strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and utility accounting practices (including FERC/NARUC guidance if applicable)
• Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to accounting practices
• Strong analytical and independent problem-solving skills
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and compliance
• Ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams
• Strong communication skills, especially in explaining accounting concepts to operations teams
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Sage Intacct) and project accounting tools

Why This Role Matters

This role ensures that the company maximizes appropriate cost recovery while maintaining regulatory compliance , directly impacting financial performance, rate outcomes, and audit success. Accurate capitalization is essential to building a defensible rate base and sustaining long-term infrastructure investment.

Reports To:  This will report within Finance team and the Controller

Location: 

• Hybrid – 3 days in office with one common day