Operations Accountant

BED Operations Accountant

This position is responsible for maintaining Burlington Electric's general ledger and accounting structure; monthly and yearly financial accounting entries and reconciliations; cash, grants, and energy efficiency utility management; and internal and external financial reporting, including external audit support.

Union Affiliation: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Pay Grade A3: $66,629.26 - $109,227.66 Annually Remote Tier 3: Up to two (2) days remote/week

Essential Job Functions

Oversight of Accounting Structure & Software:

• Manages changes in accounting structure within accounting software modules.
• Ensures reasonableness of and use of appropriate General Ledger accounts for transactions posted from various enterprise software applications such as customer information system (CIS) and work order and asset management system (WAMS).
• Creates accounting system reports and/or data exports as needed.
• Assists other employees with general ledger information, including but not limited to, running reports, financial inquiries, etc.
• Institutes and maintains appropriate internal controls within the accounting software in accordance with written policies and procedures.

Internal/External Financial Reporting:

• Prepares monthly BED and McNeil financial statements and supporting statements.
• Prepares monthly BED statistical report for sales information, billing summaries, KWH sources and uses, and average cost/KWH.
• Prepares monthly McNeil statistical report for generation information, fuel purchases, and fuel consumption.
• Executes and reviews monthly revenue reports from CIS.
• Completes monthly, quarterly, and/or annual reports, forms, and surveys, including but not limited to, DPS Small Electric Company Annual Report, Department of Energy's EIA-412, EIA-861, EIA-826, and EIA-923, Vermont Energy Efficiency Utility Reports, etc.

Routine Operations:

• Cash Management:
• Monitors cash balances daily, including reconciliation of operating cash receipts posted by CIS and miscellaneous cash receipts received electronically.
• Reconciles all bank accounts monthly, including general operating accounts, various investment accounts, and payroll account.
• Prepares electronic internal bank transfers and purchased power ACH/Wire payments.
• Prepares monthly funding for payments of debt service obligations, with all related documentation.
• Responsible for monitoring, and following Cash Management Policy and procedures.
• Grant Management:
• Maintains accurate financial records for grant spending, grant receipts, etc.
• Develops appropriate reimbursement invoices for grants based on agreement terms and conditions.
• Records grant income based on applicable accounting guidelines.
• Energy Efficiency Utility (EEU) Fiscal Agent:
• Responsible for updating and following process and procedures for fiscal agent accounting procedures.
• Prepares monthly entries to properly account for EEU-related costs, calculates BED reimbursement, and ensures appropriate transfers of funds.
• Ensures accurate and timely monthly financial reporting (Fiscal Agent Reports) to the Public Utility Commission.
• Provides EEU financial data to BED regulatory staff as necessary for various filings.
• Responsible for annual EEU financial audit, including but not limited to, financial statement preparation, supporting document preparation, and responding to inquiries from auditors.
• Monthly Accounting Cycle:
• Ensures accounting functions are performed in a timely and accurate manner and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• Prepares monthly City of Burlington Franchise Fee filings.
• Prepares monthly BED and McNeil sales & use tax, and BED revenue tax filings to the VT Department of Taxes.
• Calculates and records adjustments to uncollectible reserves based on Accounts Receivable Aging reports.
• Prepares allocation schedules and analysis for the Building Services Account.
• Responsible for invoicing and distribution of sales and purchases of Renewable Energy Credits on behalf of BED and others.
• Reconciles and records all payroll transactions (labor, accrued labor and labor overhead) to the General Ledger.
• Prepares accounting entries for purchased power and transmission costs.
• Records all debt-related entries (interest, current and long-term principal, amortization of premiums, discounts, gains or losses, etc.).
• Prepares journal entries, wire transfer letters, and monthly reconciliations of restricted fund accounts, including but not limited to Debt Service Reserve, Debt Service, and Renewal & Replacement (R&R) Funds.
• Records electronic funds transactions, including internal bank transfers, miscellaneous cash receipts, and in-transit transactions at month end.
• Records prepaid insurances, software maintenance fees, accrued indirect costs, trustee/bank fees, and other miscellaneous prepayments.
• Reconciles monthly items from CIS to the General Ledger, such as on-bill rebates, water assistance credits, etc.
• Prepares estimate calculation and accounting entries for unbilled revenues.
• Prepares monthly miscellaneous billing and journal entries as necessary (street lighting, parking ban lights, security cameras, miscellaneous fees, solar fees, etc.).
• Reviews and records City of Burlington cost allocations charged to BED, including indirect costs and workers' compensation.
• Coordinates the accounting associated with EDA grant funds and BED-controlled PACE lending. Monitors receivable payback through on-bill methodology and accounting entries.
• Prepares accounting entries for the McNeil Station, both at the 100% and 50% ownership levels, including but not limited to, schedules and other supporting documentation, reconciliation of related accounts, etc.
• Acts as BED's Accounting liaison to the McNeil Station Joint Owners and attends their quarterly meetings.
• Prepares monthly McNeil Joint Owner billings, quarterly tax billings, and various others, including all supporting documentation.
• Supports annual allocation of McNeil calendar year budget information for Joint Owners and financial statement reporting purposes.
• Calculates and enters monthly closing entries and closing procedures.
• Other Miscellaneous:
• Contributes to the annual financial audit process, including preparation of schedules and responding to auditor requests and questions.
• Responsible for annual financial statement analysis as assigned.
• Develops and maintains this position's Accounting Procedures Manual.
• Creates and maintains appropriate files and reports.
• Participates as assigned in cross-functional project teams.
• Initiates, facilitates, and participates in process improvement initiatives pertaining to respective areas of responsibility.
• Responsible for maintaining and updating process improvement flowcharts and other documentation pertaining to areas of responsibility.
• Cross-train in other accounting positions as determined by the Controller.
• Performs other responsibilities in the absence of coworkers and during periods of high volume as directed.

Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements

• Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field, and three (3) years of experience in a responsible accounting position required. Experience in electric utility accounting is preferred.
• Additional experience may be substituted for a degree requirement on a two-for-one basis.
• Ability to understand and comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) chart of accounts.
• Ability to work in a Windows-based environment using spreadsheet, word processing, and database software is required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Excel spreadsheet skills is required.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and inwriting.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyze data with particular attention to detail.
• Regular attendance is necessary and is essential to meeting the expectations of the job functions
• Ability to understand and comply with City standards, safety rules, and personnel policies.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of initiative in problem-solving.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workflow and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to be consistent and