Accounting Processes and Controls Manager

Job Summary

The Manager, Accounting Processes and Controls leads process assessment, improvement, standardization, and automation initiatives across financial processes and supports control design in partnership with the SOX Project Management Office. The position works with Accounting leadership and control and process owners to provide practical guidance and training on control design and the evaluation of control matters, and to assess the accounting process and control implications of business and system changes.

Essential Functions

• Assess accounting processes and prioritize improvement opportunities, partnering with Accounting leadership and process owners to evaluate current workflows, identify unnecessary complexity and manual effort, and establish the scope and priorities for improvement initiatives.
• Lead the design and implementation of accounting process improvements, resolving process bottlenecks and improving the consistency and quality of financial processes.
• Support accounting control design and partner with the SOX Project Management Office, working with control and process owners to facilitate walkthrough preparation, participation, and follow-up, simplify control execution, and maintain effective controls.
• Drive standardization and automation across Accounting, establishing consistent approaches where appropriate and collaborating with Accounting teams and technology resources to reduce manual activities and improve the use of existing systems and tools.
• Provide practical guidance and training to accounting control and process owners, promoting a consistent understanding of control responsibilities, review expectations, and supporting documentation.
• Support control and process owners across financial processes in control deficiency significance evaluation, mitigation, and remediation, as well as development of any management action plans derived therefrom.
• Evaluate the accounting process and control implications of business and system changes, partnering with affected teams to incorporate accounting requirements into revised processes and maintain a strong control environment in a dynamic landscape.

Education Description

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• CPA preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant accounting experience required; public accounting experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and its application to accounting processes and controls.
• Experience with SOX and internal controls over financial reporting, including control design, walkthroughs, and the evaluation of control matters.
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, standardization, or automation initiatives from assessment through implementation.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to build consensus and drive adoption of process and control changes across Accounting.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with attention to detail and a proven ability to analyze issues and solve problems.
• Utility, energy, or rate-regulated accounting experience, including FERC accounting, preferred.
• Experience with accounting systems and automation tools, such as SAP, preferred.