Accounting Manager

Accounting Manager

H2O America is actively seeking talented, driven and effective applicants for the position of Accounting Manager to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

H2O America is the parent organization of the following subsidiary companies: San Jose Water, Connecticut Water, Maine Water, and Texas Water. We sustain life by delivering high-quality water and exceptional service while investing in the health and vitality of the communities we serve.

Job Description

This role is responsible for managing day-to-day accounting operations to ensure accurate preparation of financial deliverables (e.g. journal entries, reconciliations, reports, close activities) and maintain compliance across multiple jurisdictions within H2O America. This role oversees accounting staff, reviews complex reconciliations and journal entries, and serves as the primary liaison in audit processes with internal departments and external stakeholders. They assist in developing strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, support forecasting and budgeting, and minimize financial risk while ensuring internal and regulatory policy adherence. This role will balance leadership and tactical responsibilities to enable team success. This role also requires strong leadership, advanced accounting expertise, and strategic thinking to drive operational excellence and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day accounting operations to ensure accuracy and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Oversees complex reconciliations and preparations across subsidiary and general ledgers. Acts as escalation point for complex discrepancies and establishes standards for escalation and review.
• Conducts reviews for complex journal entries, including accruals and adjustments, to ensure accuracy and compliance. Posts journal entries as needed.
• Directs and schedules month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes (incl. general ledger maintenance, reconciliations, adjustments, complex schedules).
• Manages data requests from external stakeholders (e.g. actuaries, insurance representatives, insurance providers, asset holders).
• Assists in the accurate and timely completion of regulatory filings (e.g. SEC and the public utility authority in each respective state) as needed.
• Assists in financial forecasting, modeling, and scenario planning.
• Manages a team of accounting staff in the production of accounting deliverables. Performs hiring, mentoring, and performance decisions to build high-performing teams.
• Leads development and review of complex financial reports to support strategic decisions (e.g. cost reports, forecast reviews, revenue projects, grant reporting, audit documentation).
• Prepares complex accounting deliverables, when needed.
• Develops strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, and minimize potential gaps in controls.
• Supervises complex audit procedures (e.g. developing audit plans, coordinating audit activities, preparing responses to complex inquiries). Provides analysis and reports and presents data as requested to various groups, including leadership.
• Verifies cost allocations are made according to company procedures.
• Serves as primary liaison with internal department and external agencies in order to present information, provide recommendations, and support coordinated fiscal operations.
• Assists in development of financial strategic plan as needed.
• Leads O&M budget process and communicates analysis of actual versus budget variances to management.
• Educates managers in development and analysis of departmental budgets.
• Provides support in obtaining new long term debt (incl. Responding to inquiries), as needed.
• Regularly educates stakeholders and senior leaders on complex accounting topics and financial insights to inform strategic decision making.