Senior Accountant - Internal Controls

Company: American Water
Location: Camden
Posted on: May 12, 2022

Job Description:

Diversity of backgrounds, ideas, thoughts, and experiences is vital to our culture and the way we do business. Creating an environment where differences are embraced and where every person feels engaged and included makes us safer, stronger, and more successful.

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 25 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

PLEASE NOTE: In order for American Water to evaluate decisions about new regulations, reintegration, and safe operating practices, all employees are required to report their vaccination status.
Primary Role
Establish, update, and monitor the operation of core Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) activities to ensure key business risks are being managed appropriately and an effective internal control environment is achieved. Increase awareness of internal controls and recommend enhancements to business processes and internal controls.
Key Accountabilities

Support Business Process portion of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) to ensure SOX compliance

Assist with risk assessments to determine annual SOX scope, including key systems and key reports

Analyze internal control environment for changes, including acquisitions/divestitures or changes in systems, materiality or risk

Identify areas where internal controls can be optimized (e.g., shift toward preventive automated controls)

Develop strong relationships with process owners and act as a subject matter expert in the design and implementation of controls

Review and assess control deficiencies, develop remediation plans and determine adequacy of mitigating controls

Lead annual process walkthrough meetings with internal and external auditors; create and maintain process flow diagrams and narratives in collaboration with SOX process owners

Maintain Risk and Control Matrix (RACM)

Liaise with the external/internal auditors and manage audit requests

Key Accountabilities Continued

Manage documentation requirements related to the internal control environment, including administration of a GRC platform

Collaborate with IT Compliance and Internal Audit regarding ITGC's and management testing over ICFR

Support management in the preparation of various presentations made to the members of the Audit Committee and Senior Management

Assist with the refinement and maintenance of the accounting/financial policies and practices

Participate in special projects and initiatives upon management request, including those that would optimize the effectiveness of existing business applications, technologies and systems and build efficiencies/improvements into current business processes

Work on ad-hoc projects as needed.

Knowledge/Skills

Strong knowledge of auditing, internal controls, risk assessment and SOX related activities

Technical accounting skills and knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC Reporting and regulatory practices

Strong written and oral communication skills with proven ability to interact effectively with internal customers, management and external professionals (i.e. auditors)

Full, end-to-end ownership of assignments including, proactively engaging appropriate members to jointly resolve issues and communicate results

Excellent analytical, systemic and problem solving skills

Strong interpersonal skills, with an emphasis on initiative, knowledge sharing, team building and decision making

Prior experience working with GRC tools, SAP, Hyperion or other ERP systems

Experience/Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance required.

CPA preferred; CIA or CISA a plus

3+ years of relevant accounting experience required.

Prior public accounting and/or internal audit experience a strong preference.

Prior experience working in the utility industry and knowledge of regulatory accounting a plus.

Competencies Champions safety Collaborates Cultivates innovation Customer obsessed Drives Results Nimble learning

Join American Water... We Keep Life Flowing ---

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.

Keywords: American Water, Camden , Senior Accountant - Internal Controls, Accounting, Auditing , Camden, New Jersey