Lead Corporate Accountant - Hawaii Island

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

Applications will be screened based on the information provided; in order to assist us in determining qualifications, please upload a current resume and take some time to update your employment information, certifications, etc. The information will flow over to your profile.

Posting End Date: This position will remain open until filled. Early applications are highly encouraged. 

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P AC CORPORATE ACCOUNTING Department of the P GENERAL ACCOUNTING Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: Professional)

JOB FUNCTION:

Leads the department in reasonable evaluations of journal entries and assists the Manager of Corporate Accounting in coordinating the daily activities of the Corporate Accounting staff.  Ensures timely financial reporting, develops and maintains ERP system, and provides guidance to the Corporate Accounting staff and Operations. Assists in ad-hoc special projects related to financial transactions, system implementations, provides financial accounting advice to Utilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Coordinates the timely financial closing process for Hawaiian Electric and, its subsidiaries, including the outreach to other process areas to obtain required information for the preparation of various required internal and external financial reports. 
  • Gathers, interprets, and summarizes various transactions and information, and prepares and enters journal entries which reflect that information in accordance with GAAP in the general ledger. 
• Treats information received in the course of performing these responsibilities as confidential.

• • Prepares and maintains process documentation on internal controls for the department in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
  • Coordinates the timely completion of the reconciliations of general ledger accounts (before the end of the month following) and analyzes the reconciliations to ensure that the accounts at each month-end are properly stated.

• Analyzes recorded information for financial reporting and disclosures.  Meet financial and statistical information needs of various users, both internal and external to the Company (HEI, Department Managers, Project Managers, Engineers, Board of Directors, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC), legislators, etc.) through data obtained from various accounting and other sources.  This may include ad hoc reports, data access, and database queries.  Ensures that those reports reflect GAAP. 
• Serves as an expert resource for the Company by maintaining an elevated level of knowledge of utility accounting concepts and principles. 
• Maintains the Company’s financial reporting system and recommends improvements to the overall policies and procedures. 
• Provides analytical information of recorded information for rate cases and other regulatory proceedings.

• Provides guidance and assistance to the Corporate Accounting staff as necessary, including Operational areas requesting assistance with financial accounting treatment. 
• Assists the Manager with evaluating the effectiveness of internal accounting controls for existing or new systems and procedures and recommends changes, as necessary. 
• Collaborate directly with internal/external customer requests for financial/statistical information to ensure timely delivery; provides advice on proper recordation of transactions; may serve as a lead on project teams to provide accounting guidance and input.
• Provides technical financial accounting guidance to Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Electric Light and Maui Electric employees, for significant agreements, and special projects as appropriate, drafts testimony on behalf of the manager and others for such things as rate case dockets, IRs and other regulatory proceedings.
• Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

• Extensive knowledge/understanding of:

• • Accounting standards (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
  • Thorough understanding of financial statements (i.e. balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, consolidations)
  • Able to relate/interpret working knowledge of Process Area functions (including operations & maintenance and capital areas) to ensure the related transactions are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principle.
• Thorough knowledge/understanding of:
  • Personal computers and/or ERP systems and related software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Internal control concepts and procedures.
• Working knowledge of:
  • Regulatory accounting and ratemaking concepts.
  • Regulatory accounting practices and decisions by the PUC, normally acquired through courses, self-education, and dealings with PUC-related matters.

Skills Requirements

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate and work with all levels of the organization, both verbally and in written communication.  Ability to provide actionable and corrective suggestions to others in a positive manner.
• Excellent analytical skills to determine reasonableness of transactions
• Demonstrate in-depth analytical, organizational, and conceptual skills to manage various projects and programs.
• Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
• Excellent ability to lead (analyze, propose, and execute) process improvement recommendations within Corporate Accounting and the areas of responsibilities.

Experience Requirements

• Several years (8+) of experience in such areas as:
• The financial closing process is preferable.
• The analysis and application of generally accepted accounting principles, preferably with respect to the electric utility industry is preferable.
• Reasonable understanding of regulatory accounting and ratemaking practices and procedures is desirable.
• The evaluation and application of accounting internal controls is preferable.
• Cash flow statement preparation is preferable.
• Variance analysis experience is preferable.
• CPA designation public accounting experience and/or accounting experience in consolidations preferable but not required.
• Accounting experience in the electric utility industry is preferable.
• Previous supervisory or training staff is preferable.
• Experience in regulatory matters before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission or equivalent agency with ratemaking jurisdiction for electric utilities is desirable.

Role: Professional 

Number of Vacancies: 1 

Location: Hilo – Hawaii Island

Hiring Range: The hiring range for the Lead Corporate Accountant [Req ID 10416] position is $89,100.00 to $113,700.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications. 

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us at http://hawaiianelectric.com.

Interested individuals should apply online. The application must clearly indicate the demonstrated experience/knowledge/skills/abilities the candidate possesses which specifically qualifies him/her for the position.

Applicant Certification
By submitting an application for the position, candidates:
1. Authorize the Hawaiian Electric Companies to confirm all statements contained in the application and/or any materials submitted and made a part of the application as they relate to the position and to the extent permitted by law;
2. Authorize and consent to, without reservation, the Hawaiian Electric Companies sharing any and all information regarding previous or present employment, educational training or personal information from their records and from any other source with the hiring department or subsidiary company;
3. Release, discharge, and hold harmless, Hawaiian Electric Companies, from any and all liability for any damage which may be claimed as a result of furnishing such information to the hiring department or subsidiary company;
4. Authorizes release and transfer of all personnel records to be maintained by the hiring company in the event of an inter-company transfer; and
5. Authorize, direct, and consent to Hawaiian Electric Companies and/or its authorized agents to conduct investigations into candidates' background. These investigations may include, but are not limited to searches for information about applicants; record of criminal convictions to the extent permitted by law, education records, professional certifications, personal character references, and employment history.

EEO Statement
Hawaiian Electric Companies is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status. 

Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with all applicable laws, including Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at (808) 543-4848.
 

Affiliate Disclaimer
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light (“Company”) are Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) regulated companies. The disclosure relating to Affiliate Transaction Requirements that follows is made pursuant to the PUC’s Decision and Order No. 35962, issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019 in Docket No. 2018-0065.

By submitting your application, you understand and acknowledge that, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate, said Affiliate will be required to make a one-time payment to the Company in an amount up to twenty-five percent (25%) of your base annual compensation.  

In addition, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate or an Affiliate-Related Entity, for a period of one year, you cannot appear in negotiations or otherwise interact directly with the Company or work on the same matter that you worked on while with the Company. 

Affiliate is defined as “any person or entity that possesses an ‘affiliate interest’ in a utility as defined by section 269-19.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”), including a utility’s parent holding company, except as otherwise provided by HRS section 269-19.5(h).”

Affiliate-Related Entity is defined as “a third party that provides electricity-related services in a regulated utility’s service territory that has a material financial, operational, or ownership interest with an unregulated affiliate of the utility and of whom the utility has reasonable knowledge.” 

For a current list of all Affiliates and Affiliate-Related Entities, please see:
https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/about-us/key-performance-metrics/financial/affiliate-transactions

This list may be amended, updated or revised from time to time without notice.