Utility Accountant III

The individual in this position provides detailed financial and accounting support for Energy Management including analysis of Energy consumption, verification and processing of Utilities paid to external vendors, development of forecasting models for use in budgeting and project planning, preparation and execution of monthly utility billing to all University departments. The position provides customer service and reporting for various customers, manages the relationship with key utility vendors and provides operational support to units within Facilities Management for billing.
The position requires an advanced level of problem solving, decision making and independent judgment. Employee receives minimal guidance and is expected to work independently.

Responsibilities

30% - Monthly Energy Analysis and Billing. Review Utility invoices for accuracy or irregularities using tariff (rate) schedules and other tools, confirm that volumes look reasonable. The complexity of these invoices requires care and precision from this employee during the verification and analysis. Manage the dispute process with vendors from initial contact to resolution, which can often take several months. Research discrepancies, provide explanations and obtain estimates when necessary, replace reported meter readings with quality estimates in order to bill correctly. Create, maintain and update data entry templates as necessary to record details of Utility bills. Create call lists used by the Utility crews to direct their investigations; maintain communication with those groups and record the results of their efforts.

25% - Assist with annual budget by analyzing complex and detailed Utility Data and creating future projections and models. Provide critical and complex financial and consumption modelling, scenario building and report programming as part of annual Energy Management budget process. Develop ROI and Cost savings modelling upon request for proposed projects.

15% - Project Accounting. Perform accounting tasks and reporting relating to capital projects, including project set up and closeout, capitalization of assets, reconciliation of subsidiary systems to the general ledger. Set up and close out projects in a timely manner upon initiation/completion. Respond to staff and customer requests for project accounting information.

30% - Reporting. Develop, maintain, adapt, enhance and prepare periodic reporting on both financial and consumption data at various levels from the extremely granular to a high level rollup used by management to make strategic and operational decisions. Prepare Utility reports to provide consumption data to tie to general ledger financial data. Ad-hoc reporting and analysis as requested.

Essential Functions of Position:
Monthly Utility billing
Budget modeling and projections
Reporting and data analysis


Work Environment
Work is performed in an office setting