Spire is hiring a Technical Accounting & External Reporting Manager at its downtown St. Louis (MO) location. This individual contributor will be an experienced member of the External Financial Reporting team and has the primary responsibility of managing all technical accounting research activities, including developing appropriate accounting policies, implementing new accounting standards, and completing special projects. This position also assists in the preparation and review of external financial reports for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other external parties.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Conduct accounting research and serve as technical resource to the business units and broader organization; stay current on developments and issues in the industry, assess impact of new FASB standards and SEC regulations and develop related implementation strategies, and prepare white papers and train staff on technical topics and emerging issues.
- Manage all technical accounting research activities: determining appropriate accounting treatment for new transactions, implementing new accounting pronouncements, evaluating existing accounting policies, and evaluating and structuring solutions to various financial reporting issues.
- Maintain accounting policy and procedures related to GAAP/FERC
- Research and resolve accounting issues. Prepare technical memorandums documenting issues in a clear, logical and comprehensive manner.
- Contribute to periodic financial filings with the SEC, MoPSC, FERC, and other external parties ensuring quality, accuracy, and compliance with accounting and disclosure standards in a timely manner
- Assist in the preparation and review of the Quarterly/Annual Reports on Form 10-Q/K and supporting documentation.
- Assist with XBRL compliance, and with compliance with SEC filings on forms 8-K, 11-K, S-8, etc.
- Maintain integrity of external financial reporting process by ensuring controls in the external financial reporting department are operating effectively.
- Provide technical review of various presentations including Investor Relations, Treasury, and Board of Director materials, press releases, Proxy statements, and various ad-hoc presentations.
- Assist in preparation and distribution of reports/documentation to external auditors during annual audit and quarterly reviews.
- Communicate with external auditors on external financial statements, filings, accounting policies and related matters to ensure auditor agreement with decisions on accounting and disclosures.
- Review stock-based compensation, temporary equity, and lease accounting calculations to ensure compliance with US GAAP.
- Assist in M&A activity, including review of purchase accounting to ensure compliance with US GAAP.
- Promote process improvement activities, and lead next generation artificial intelligence initiative for external reporting
- All other duties as assigned
Essential Characteristics and Competencies
- Strong knowledge of US GAAP, including exposure to many (but not necessarily all) areas particularly relevant to the Company, such as pensions and other postretirement plans, stock-based compensation, derivative instruments and hedging, regulatory accounting, deferred income taxes, business combinations, segment reporting, asset retirement obligations, leases, and revenue recognition
- Strong analytical skills, including ability to evaluate abstract concepts to identify practical concrete applications and solutions
- Good verbal and written communication skills, with ability to interact with (and communicate complex accounting standards to) all levels in the organization
- Knowledge of SEC reporting standards and (preferably) XBRL
- Knowledge of general business and financial concepts
- Attention to detail
- Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Excel and Word
- Ability to proficiently use the internet and accounting research databases to quickly locate accounting guidance
Supervisory Responsibilities
This role is an individual contributor and does not have direct reports, HOWEVER it coaches and mentors others in technical accounting principals
Required Education (certifications, licenses)
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or equivalent REQUIRED; Master's degree preferred
- CPA REQUIRED
Required knowledge, skill and abilities
- Minimum SIX (6+) years of experience in corporate accounting REQUIRED; preferably including two years in SEC reporting or auditing SEC clients in a public accounting firm
- Ability to write technical accounting memos to support Company accounting positions REQUIRED
- Excellent knowledge of US GAAP and SEC rules and regulations REQUIRED
- Experience presenting to leadership/senior leadership REQUIRED
- Experience writing disclosures/accounting policies included in the Company's filings REQUIRED
- Experience performing accounting & reporting research and interpret findings for Company impact and disclosure REQUIRED
Spire Inc.
Alabama United States
www.spireenergy.com/
