SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst I, II, III or Senior

Position is a dual-functioning role.  Responsible for assisting in the development, implementation, and maintenance of management’s annual Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance program and business partnership relevant to internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) and supporting the development and production of monthly internal and external financial statements (SEC, FERC, other regulatory as required).  Test the design and operating effectiveness of ICFR across the enterprise and facilitate remediation efforts for control deficiencies. Prepare and file industry reports, assist in researching potential impacts of new accounting standards and regulations on financial statements and disclosures, while providing technical direction to the Corporate Accounting team as needed. 

Note: There is one position available, and this position will be filled at one of four job grade levels: SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst I; job grade 7; SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst II, job grade 8; SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst III; job grade 9 or Senior Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst, job grade 10. This decision will be based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate and Tri-State business needs at the time of hire.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes : Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 40%, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance, Retirement Option, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits.

Senior SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst 

Hiring Salary Range: $113,000-$143,000

SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst III

Hiring Salary Range: $101,000-$128,000

SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst II

Hiring Salary Range: $91,000-$114,000

SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst I

Hiring Salary Range: $82,000-$102,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education and/or skill level.

• SOX Responsibilities: 
  • Support the SOX Compliance Manager by performing roles and responsibilities within the master SOX compliance schedule, including but not limited to:  testing and documenting the design and operating effectiveness of ICFR, interviewing process owners and documenting changing internal processes, maintaining current year process flows/narratives, providing guidance to business owners, assisting with the remediation of identified gaps and deficiencies, and documenting control changes or updates as necessary, all in accordance with professional standards (i.e. COSO 2013 framework) and overall SOX program methodology.
  • Risk and control guidance and support of ongoing business activities and business change initiatives, including implementation and integration of SOX processes for these activities.
  • Test and provide guidance on controls to ensure they are effective in design, in place, and operating as intended in accordance with SOX program methodology.
  • Maintain a complete library of electronic SOX project documentation.
  • Preparation and distribution of test of control requests (i.e., PBC).
  • Serve as a liaison between business control owners, IT control owners, and internal and external auditors with respect to the progress of the annual SOX program. 
  • Develop partnership and alignment with organizational leaders and key stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with the SOX Compliance Manager in developing risk assessments, materiality analysis, and deficiency evaluations; providing strategic direction related to ICFRs.
  • Initiate, document, and report on deficiency evaluation.
• Financial Reporting Responsibilities: 
  • Support monthly financial reporting by alternating monthly financial report preparation responsibilities for internal reporting to the Board of Directors, management, and staff.
  • Support the quarterly and annual FERC, GAAP, and SEC external financial reporting by assisting with consolidation accounting, data gathering and reporting, and developing and revising Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) language in filings for the FERC Form 1 and 3Q, SEC Forms 10K, 10Q and other external filing documents. 
  • Research potential impacts of new accounting, FERC, and SEC standards on financial statements and disclosures to assure compliance with FERC, US GAAP, and SEC reporting requirements.
  • Draft audit memos to document the enterprise position related to accounting standards impacts.
  • Collaborate and work closely with FERC and SEC Research and Reporting Specialists to obtain the necessary information to draft the appropriate descriptions and wording for footnotes and other disclosures related to the FERC Form 1, 3Q and the SEC 10K and 10Q.
  • Develop and maintain a method to catalog evidence to support changes made in financial reporting, tying evidence to respective footnotes and financial data. 
  • Prepare and file industry-specific reports
  • Manage and maintain accounting Master Data, including reporting hierarchies.
  • Support financial reporting through report development and report maintenance.
  • Conduct balance sheet reconciliations as needed; review reconciliations for accuracy and completeness as requested.
  • Resolve management and auditor review comments.
  • Work with external auditors in conjunction with the annual year-end audit and interim reviews. 
  • Continuously assess financial reporting and accounting processes for process improvements.

  • Ensure that all subsidiary systems and records are in agreement with general ledger control accounts and monitor reporting designs to stay in sync with requirements.

  • Provide technical guidance to team members and act as liaison to other areas to facilitate flow of information. 

• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures and attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of regulations, laws, standards, and best practices applicable to functional area.

• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

Education and Training

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related area. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and corresponding requirements, specifically SOX Section 404(a).

• Working knowledge of the COSO 2013 framework or ability to learn and apply fundamentals of the COSO 2013 framework.

• Demonstrated experience identifying and evaluating risks and controls.

• Demonstrated experience performing walkthroughs and testing of controls in complex subject areas such as Asset Retirement Obligations, regulatory assets and liabilities, fuel inventory, and taxes.

• Working knowledge of FERC Uniform System of Accounts (USofA), FERC accounting principles and practices, and US GAAP accounting principles and practices.

• Demonstrated experience researching FERC accounting and compliance subjects. 

• Working knowledge of accounting allocation procedures, account validation rules and system interrelationships with general ledger.

• Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations, as applicable to accounting; knowledge of FERC and SEC reporting; Electric Utility accounting desired.

• Ability to research accounting issues and draw conclusions for and implement the appropriate accounting treatment

• Ability to plan and organize workload.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally with other employees at all levels of the company.

• Extensive working knowledge of computers and software for accounting systems (Oracle EBS and/or Oracle Cloud preferred).

• Ability to perform detail work with a high degree of accuracy.

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.

Experience:

• Eight (8) + years of related professional level accounting experience in general ledger and financial or compliance audit environment.  Note: The above requirements describe the experience and education qualifications for the Senior SOX Compliance and Financial Reporting Analyst. Those with less experience will be hired at the I, II or III job grade level.

Other:

• Must be able to demonstrate that he/she/they can perform all the essential functions of the position.

DESIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Three (3) years of senior or lead accountant or audit experience.

• Experience with Oracle EBS and Oracle Cloud, and report writer applications.
• Experience in utility accounting, desired
• Demonstrated experience with Workiva WDesk, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with AuditBoard’s SOXHUB, preferred.
• CPA or progress towards CPA preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.