Project Accountant, Sr.

Primary Purpose:

Support the full lifecycle of capital project accounting for Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP, with a primary focus on project setup, project maintenance, cost tracking, forecasting support, and reporting within the Oracle Fusion Project Accounting (PPM) module. Serve as a key contributor to the accuracy and integrity of capital project financial data across the enterprise, collaborating with Project Controls, Engineering, Operations, and FP&A to ensure timely and accurate project cost reporting in compliance with U.S. GAAP and FERC requirements.

  Essential duties and responsibilities:

  Project Accounting & Cost Management:

• Perform project setup, maintenance, and closure activities within the Oracle Fusion Project Accounting (PPM) module in accordance with company policy and AFE authorization
• Review and analyze project costs, commitments, and expenditures to ensure proper coding, classification, and alignment with approved AFE budgets
• Monitor project spending against authorized budgets and flag variances for management review
• Coordinate and process monthly project cost accruals and related journal entries to ensure accurate period-end cutoff
• Review project transactions for proper capitalization in accordance with U.S. GAAP and FERC regulations, ensuring costs are appropriately classified as capital or operating expenditures
• Support the setup and review of capitalized interest and capital overhead rate applications at the project level
• Collaborate with project managers, Project Controls, and Operations teams to validate project cost data and ensure accuracy of project financial records
• Assist in the review of AFEs (Authorities for Expenditure) to assess appropriate project accounting treatment and system setup
• Coordinate project closeout activities, including verification of cost completeness, final capitalization review, and preparation for transfer to fixed assets
• Support the enterprise capital forecast and budget process by gathering, consolidating, and validating monthly forecast updates from project stakeholders
• Build, maintain, and enhance capital project reports and dashboards within Oracle Fusion and other reporting tools to support management decision-making
• Prepare and distribute recurring capital expenditure reports, including variance analyses comparing actual spend to budget and forecast
• Assist in the preparation of monthly and quarterly capital expenditure summaries for internal reporting and management review
• Identify trends and anomalies in project cost data and communicate findings clearly to the Manager – Project Accounting.

Capital Forecast & Reporting:

• Support the enterprise capital forecast and budget process by gathering, consolidating, and validating monthly forecast updates from project stakeholders
• Build, maintain, and enhance capital project reports and dashboards within Oracle Fusion and other reporting tools to support management decision-making
• Prepare and distribute recurring capital expenditure reports, including variance analyses comparing actual spend to budget and forecast
• Assist in the preparation of monthly and quarterly capital expenditure summaries for internal reporting and management review
• Identify trends and anomalies in project cost data and communicate findings clearly to the Manager – Project Accounting

Period Close & General Ledger:

• Assist with the monthly close of the Oracle Fusion Project Accounting subledger, including reconciliation of project costs to the general ledger
• Prepare and/or review project-related journal entries, ensuring proper support and documentation in accordance with internal control requirements
• Support the preparation of audit schedules and supporting documentation related to capital projects for internal and external auditors
• Maintain organized and thorough work papers in support of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities
• Ensure all project accounting activities are performed in compliance with U.S. GAAP, FERC regulations, and Tallgrass internal accounting policies
• Assist in the maintenance and periodic review of project accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Identify opportunities for process improvements in project accounting workflows and reporting and communicate recommendations to the Manager – Project Accounting
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders including Project Controls, Engineering, Operations, FP&A, and external auditors
• Provide support for inquiries and special requests from management, auditors, and other internal customers
• Perform varied and complex accounting-oriented duties in support of capital project requirements with a moderate level of supervision
• Contribute to non-routine projects and initiatives as needed
• Maintain a regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance
• Will work non-traditional hours as needed during peak close and audit periods
• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public
• Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined
• Other duties as assigned

Compliance & Policy:

• Ensure all project accounting activities are performed in compliance with U.S. GAAP, FERC regulations, and Tallgrass internal accounting policies
• Assist in the maintenance and periodic review of project accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Identify opportunities for process improvements in project accounting workflows and reporting and communicate recommendations to the Manager – Project Accounting

Other:

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders including Project Controls, Engineering, Operations, FP&A, and external auditors
• Provide support for inquiries and special requests from management, auditors, and other internal customers
• Perform varied and complex accounting-oriented duties in support of capital project requirements with a moderate level of supervision
• Contribute to non-routine projects and initiatives as needed
• Maintain a regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance
• Will work non-traditional hours as needed during peak close and audit periods
• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public
• Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined
• Other duties as assigned

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Accounting (preferred), Finance, or a related discipline.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• A minimum of 3–5 years of project accounting or related accounting experience; experience in the oil and gas, pipeline, or energy industry is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience with capital project cost tracking, AFE management, and project lifecycle accounting
• Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP as it relates to capital project accounting and the capitalization of costs, including interest capitalization
• Familiarity with FERC accounting regulations and reporting requirements preferred
• General understanding of natural gas and crude oil transportation and storage operations and the associated accounting considerations
• Experience working within Oracle Fusion Project Accounting (PPM) module or a comparable cloud-based ERP project accounting platform
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in MS Office applications including Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis), Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and communicate complex financial data clearly and concisely
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain financial reports and dashboards; experience with Oracle Fusion reporting tools (OTBI, Smart View, or equivalent) is a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings to non-financial stakeholders
• Highly detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
• Capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a team environment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize daily work effectively

Physical Demands:

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel.  The employee is required to talk and listen.  The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit reports for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• No

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Above the minimum requirements, not required but advantageous in this position:

• Prior experience with Oracle Fusion Project Accounting (PPM) and Oracle Fusion General Ledger in a mid-to-large enterprise environment
• Prior experience supporting capital forecast and budget processes in an oil and gas, midstream, or pipeline company
• Familiarity with construction-in-progress (CIP) accounting, asset in-service processes, and the transition from project costs to fixed assets
• Knowledge of FERC Uniform System of Accounts as applied to natural gas pipelines and storage facilities
• Experience working with Project Controls or Engineering teams in a capital-intensive industry

Compensation:

• The annual salary range for this position will be $88,000-$110,000/yr.

Other responsibilities:

• The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  This position may perform other duties as assigned.