Sr Accountant Defined Benefit Plan

Job Description

NRECA is a unique national trade association providing advocacy, financial services, and business support services to over 900 consumer owned electric cooperatives across the country.  NRECA employees are united by our mission, inclusive culture, collaborative workplace, and commitment to service excellence.  As a “best place to work” employer, we operate with integrity, transparency, and a spirit of innovation.

Summary of Position

NRECA’s Finance department manages the accounting, financial planning/budgeting, and procurement operations across a broad range of entities and businesses that support NRECA and its affiliated organizations, trusts, and other entities. We are a team of dynamic individuals collaborating across NRECA to implement best practices and provide innovative business solutions. We enable the good stewardship of member funds across NRECA by diligently embracing our core values of transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Primary accountant for the NRECA Retirement Security Plan, a defined benefit retirement plan for our cooperative members. Completes full cycle accounting and financial reporting duties and serves as the accounting liaison and financial advisor to the Insurance and Financial Services Department on matters related to the Retirement Security Plan. Ensures financial statements are GAAP compliant and completed in a timely and efficient manner. Assists with the overall tax compliance strategy including compliance with all federal and state regulations and filings. Directs the preparation of all financial reports and tax returns in accordance with GAAP, ERISA, and IRS code. Conducts in-depth review and analysis of expenses within the Insurance and Financial Services Department to ensure an accurate administrative bill is created and submitted.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversees the full cycle accounting and financial reporting duties for the NRECA Retirement Security Plan. Applies best practices and accounting standards to manage the daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting, financial reporting, audit and tax reporting requirements of the Retirement Security Plan. Oversees the monthly financial reporting process, executive dashboard reporting, key metrics reporting, budgeting, and Form 990T and 5500 preparations.
• Provides financial advice and analysis to key stakeholders within Finance and Insurance and Financial Services. Analyzes the monthly financial statements for the Retirement Security Plan. Identifies significant factors that are contributing to the financial performance of the Plan and reports to the I&FS senior staff. Serves as a business advisor through the delivery of quarterly financial forecasts and trend analysis as requested and required.
• Manages the planning and preparation of the Retirement Security Plan budget, including holding key stakeholder meetings to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of the annual budget.
• Supports permissible plan billing, including the reconciliations that leave a clear audit trail between NRECA’s accounting records and the amounts billed to the Plans, to ensure only permissible expenses are billed, in compliance with ERISA. Monitors and analyzes staff time charged to the Plans and investigates any unusual time charging trends, providing advice to managers and staff regarding the proper charging of time to the Plans. Supports the annual permissible expense audit as necessary and as required.
• Oversees annual audit schedules, GAAP financial statements, and ad hoc analysis pertaining to the Retirement Security Plan’s annual audit. Ensures the smooth and timely delivery of the audited financial statements to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee of the Board of Directors. Timely prepares and submits schedules, reports, and questionnaires, working directly with external auditors and internal stakeholders. Manages the preparation of the draft audited financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Direct Reports to this Position:

N/A

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and additional experience. Master's Degree preferred.
 

Experience and Certifications Required:

8 or more years of progressive accounting/finance/budgeting experience. Prior experience in Employee Benefit Plan Administration industry (Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Retirement Plans and Health and Welfare Plans) and an in-depth knowledge and understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principals and ERISA regulations. CPA, CMA, or CFE license preferred.

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required (as demonstrated by prior work experience):

• Ability to serve as the financial advisor to various levels of management and staff.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple projects at various stages of development using effective organization skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to foster cooperation in sharing information and communicate effectively to various levels of management.
• Ability to foster collaborative skills and consensus building while operating in a fast-paced environment.
• Looks for opportunities and areas of the business where creative solutions will help to solve old and new problems and improve the status quo and productivity.
• Ensures that solutions will meet business objectives and can be realistically implemented.
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse membership, employees and/or vendors in a clear and precise manner.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point) and to operate various office equipment such as personal computer, copier, printer, fax machine or other job-related equipment.
• Ability to provide service excellence by building relationships, being resourceful, responsive and respectful.
• Ability to report to the office when required.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Disclaimer Statement: The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail humanresources@nreca.coop or call: 703-907-5992 - NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 - NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the 'Know Your Rights' poster, which updates and replaces the previous "EEO is the Law" poster and "EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement". 

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.