Staff Accountant - Operating

This position is responsible for various General Ledger journal entries, including labor and overhead, purchased power, and short and long-term debt. This position is also responsible for the preparation of monthly financial and statistical reports.

Union Affiliation: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Pay Grade A3: $66,622.40 - $109,220.80 Annually

Remote Tier 3: Up to two (2) days remote/week

Please note, BED is looking to hire one Staff Accountant - Operating. Applications for Staff Accountant - Operating and Senior Staff Accountant - Operating will be considered to fill this opening.

Essential Job Functions

Oversight of Accounting Software:

• Manages all additions, edits, and presentation of accounting structure within the current accounting software modules.
• Ensures proper coding of accounts for accounting system report writing.
• Assures proper/protected interface with other accounting software modules, including BECs payroll, work order systems.
• Assures interface with all fund reporting, including McNeil (50%), Highgate, grant accounting, and others.
• Creates accounting system reports and/or spreadsheets as needed.
• Provides IT the General Ledger accounts and receivable code relationship to be used by BECS.
• Performs monthly analyses and reconciles applicable general ledger accounts
• Monitors the interfacing of sub-system software/transactions, including analyses and reconciliations of applicable general ledger accounts.
• Assists other employees with general ledger information, including but not limited to, running reports, financial inquiries, etc.
• Institutes and maintains appropriate internal controls in the General Ledger Accounting system in accordance with department procedures.
  
  

• Prepares monthly BED financial statement, including the monthly “blue book”.
• Prepares monthly statistical information report known as the “pink book”. Accounts for retail sales information, including but not limited to, billing summary, statistical information, such as, KWH sources & uses, cost/KWH, average revenue, etc.
• Executes all monthly BECS reports and revenue reports.
• Completes related reports, forms, and surveys, including but not limited to, VDPS Small Electric Company Annual Report, Department of Energy’s EIA-412, EIA-861 and EIA-826, Vermont Energy Efficiency Utility Reports, etc.
• Ensures general and subsidiary 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).
• Directs and coordinates the annual financial audit including scheduling, preparation of schedules, and assures reports are completed in a timely manner.
• Key provider of audit support work with the preparation of audited financial statements (BS, IS, Cash Flow, draft notes to the financial statements, and Management Discussion and Analysis), and interact with field auditors.
• Responsible for annual financial statement analysis.
• Prepares monthly Burlington City Franchise Fee filings to Burlington City Hall.
• Prepares monthly sales tax and revenue tax filings to the VT Department of Taxes.
• Calculates Account Receivable Aging report and adjustments to uncollectible reserves.
  
  

• Cash Management:
  • Reconciles BED’s operating bank accounts, including the general operating account, various investment accounts, and payroll account.
  • Prepares weekly payroll deposit.
  • Performs monthly cash forecast with daily status monitor.
  • Prepares all electronic in-bank transfers, schedules all ACH payments and outgoing Wire transfers.
  • Prepares monthly funding for payments of all debt service obligations, with all related documentation.
  • Prepares all internal cash transactions as required and associated journal entries.
  • Audits, updates, and reconciles other miscellaneous operating cash receipts, including BECS receipts to General Ledger.
  • Responsible for establishing Cash Management Policy and procedures for the Department.
  • Assists the Director of Finance and Administration with banking relationships including but not limited to reviewing fees, investments, electronic commerce, etc.
• Revenue:
  • Reviews BECS adjustments for accuracy and determines unbilled revenue implications, and records revenue adjustments to GMBA as applicable.
• Purchased Power:
  • Reconcile monthly purchased power costs and demand/energy statistics, including calculation of company use.
• Monthly Accounting Entries:
  • Reconciles and transfers all payroll transactions (labor, accrued labor and labor overhead) to the Department’s General Ledger.
  • Prepares accounting entries for purchased power, sales for resale and transmission service, including KWH statistics, wire payments, receipts.
    • General obligation bond interest and principal payments and accruals.
    • Revenue bond interest and principal payments and accruals.
    • Line of Credit principal and interest activity, and other short term debt service.
    • All operating electronic funds transactions, interest, and miscellaneous cash receipts.
      • Prepaid insurances, software maintenance fees, accrued indirect costs, trustee/bank fees, and other miscellaneous prepayments.
        • Reconciling items of monthly customer billing system (BECS) summary to the General Ledger.
        • Monthly amortization of debt premium, discount, cost of issuance, incurred losses, and other deferred debt related charges/credits.
        • Prepares estimate and accounting entries for unbilled revenues.
        • Accounting entries with regard to city Franchise Fees, VT Department of Taxes, and VEEU Fiscal Agent transactions.
        • Record monthly adjustments to Uncollectible Reserves.
        • Calculates and enters monthly closing entries for funds 101-110
• Other Miscellaneous:
  • Responds to auditor inquiries during fiscal year-end audit and related accounting issues.
  • Develops and maintains this position’s Accounting Procedures Manual.
  • Creates and maintains appropriate files and reports.
    • Initiate, facilitate, and lead group discussions no less than annually involving other staff on process improvements pertaining to respective areas of responsibility using lean principles of management when determined to be appropriate.
    • 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 Director of Finance and Administration.
    • Performs other responsibilities in the absence of coworkers and during periods of high volume as directed.

• Performs other duties as required.
  
  

• 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. Attend a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of training approved by the Director of administration every two (2) years.
• Ability to work in a Windows based environment using spreadsheet, word processing and database software is required.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Excel spreadsheet skills is required.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyze data with particular attention to detail.
• The incumbent's successful performance will reflect a high level of personal creativity, problem solving, initiative and enthusiasm to work within a team environment in a constantly changing organization.
• 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 accurate.
• Ability to be able to establish and maintain good relations with co-workers.
• Ability to be able to listen to and appropriately react to a supervisor's feedback and incorporate said feedback to improve employee performance.
• Ability to recognize general ledger software problems and to effectively communicate to IS department and/or vendor technical support.
• Ability to work beyond the normal forty (40) hour work week as needed consistent with the provisions of the BED/IBEW Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  
  

The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services.

In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing diversity to apply.

Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online t hrough our Government Jobs website.

For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at 802-540-2505 or careers@burlingtonvt.gov .