Senior Accountant (Environmental Liabilities)

Position Description

Seattle City Light (SCL) is seeking a Senior Accountant to help account for our environmental liabilities and related legal costs. In this position, you will use your strong accounting background to manage tracking of SCL’s Environmental Liability Estimate (ELE). You will coordinate with other City departments on cost tracking and cost sharing, as well as process/system improvements. You will use your meticulous attention to detail to document and maintain these processes in the ELE workbook. This position reports to the Cost Accounting Manager

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Job Responsibilities

Here Is More About What You’ll Be Doing

• Perform accounting and tracking for environmental costs including:
• Environmental and legal costs
• Determination of capitalization as appropriate
• Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and other environmental grants
• Deferred environmental costs
• Recoveries (realizable and unrealizable)
• Preparation of the internal environmental accounting reporting
• Tracking for all legal environmental expenditures
• Use the UI (Utilities International) Planner database and Master ELE file to meet accounting, financial reporting, and budgeting requirements for the ELE
• Prepare and maintain amortization schedules for deferred costs
• Develop monthly variance analysis for project teams, meeting monthly to review variance analysis with project/program managers and SME’s
• Prepare grant submittals and related documentation for environmental grants
• Maintain environmental-related work orders used for recording environmental liabilities and reimbursable/grant work
• Perform annual review and update of GASB 49 policy in coordination with Environmental Management
• Document and maintain accounting policies and procedures related to environmental costs
• Prepare year-end financial statement disclosures and footnotes associated with SCL’s environmental liabilities.
• Month- and year-end closing tasks
• Participate in improvement of accounting processes and methods
• Coordinate and work with internal and external auditors as required, including preparation of PBCs and other auditor information requests.
• Work and coordinate with Environmental, Land & Licensing staff for environmental-related requirements, reports, etc.
  

Qualifications

In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field (requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter credit units in accounting with no substitution allowed) plus three years’ professional experience in general or governmental accounting (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• CPA or CMA preferred
• Experience working cross-functionally within a large organization, preferably utility and/or public sector
• Strong background in project costing
• Previous work with grants (or related experience)
• Solid experience in General Ledger accounting
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Experience researching and implementing GAAP, including GASB or FASB standards, as well as industry-specific regulatory requirements (e.g., FERC)
• Effectively communicate technical accounting data to non-accountants
• Experience auditing, and preparing financial reports, footnotes, and financial schedules
• Experience developing and streamlining policies and procedures
• Strong MS Excel skills, including pivot tables and functions
• Experience with integrated process costing, asset management, and workflow systems
• Experience with Peoplesoft financial system and the use of data-mining tools
  
  

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information

The full salary range for this position is $46.40to $54.02 per hour.

Application Process

Please Submit The Following With Your Online Application

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.
  
  

Incomplete applications may not be accepted.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA , people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.