Utility Accounting Specialist

Title: Utility Accounting Specialist

Location: Remote (Newark, NJ)

Duration: Long Term

We are seeking an experienced Utility Accounting Specialist with deep expertise in public electric utility accounting standards, specifically in the classification and treatment of Capital vs. Operations & Maintenance (O&M) expenditures. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience applying FERC accounting rules, GAAP principles, and utility regulatory frameworks to determine the appropriate categorization of costs related to utility assets, projects, and operational activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate project activities, expenditures, and initiatives to determine appropriate capitalization vs. O&M treatment in accordance with FERC accounting rules and company accounting policies.
• Guide project managers, engineers, and finance teams on the correct accounting treatment of costs.
• Review and interpret the scope of IT projects, application support, and system upgrades to ensure accurate cost classification.
• Support financial reporting teams in ensuring accurate representation of capitalized and expensed activities.
• Develop and maintain accounting guidelines, documentation, and internal controls related to capital/O&M classification.
• Collaborate with regulatory and audit teams to support regulatory reporting and compliance reviews.
• Train internal staff on accounting classification principles and changes in applicable regulations.
• Stay current on industry best practices, FERC updates, and regulatory rulings impacting cost classification.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in accounting within the electric utility industry.
• In-depth knowledge of FERC and utility regulatory accounting principles.
• Proven experience applying capital vs. O&M accounting rules to IT projects.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills with attention to detail and compliance.
• Experience developing capitalization guidelines, accounting guidelines, or training programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with IT, project management, and regulatory teams.