General Accounting Specialist

JOB SUMMARY:

To provide complete and accurate financial records and reports in accordance with established BrightRidge accounting policies, procedures, and FERC Uniform System of Accounts that will contribute to the efficient management of the utility. This position will work with other members of the accounting team to handle payroll, bank statement reconciliation, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain accurate records of incoming and outgoing payments to the organization.
• Perform general ledger accounting duties, including maintaining general ledger accounts and preparing journal entries.
• Process biweekly payroll.
• Prepare federal payroll deposits for garnishments and bankruptcies.
• Process payments for employee contributions to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, The Trust Company, and United Way.
• Submit North Carolina and Virginia state taxes and file the end of year return.
• Prepare Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) reports.
• Perform year-end close of payroll, including W-2 preparation.
• Open mail for payment processing and process remittance.
• Post customer payments from the local bank branches that accept payments.
• Run a report on inactive credits on customers' accounts, determine if the credit can be transferred to another active account or refunded by check.
• Process non-sufficient funds (NSF) transactions on customers' accounts and issue a notification email/letter to the customer.
• Process bank drafts and recurring credit card payments.
• Perform accounts payable duties to include: processing invoices, preparing and mailing accounts payable checks, verifying statements and reconciling differences, completing year-end closing, and preparing 1099's.
• Reconcile all BrightRidge bank accounts, including the general fund, credit cards, flexible spending account, and other miscellaneous bank accounts.
• Type, file and scan documents as needed.
• Answer telephone calls and respond to emails for both internal and external questions and issues.
• Enter new heat pump loans approved by ClearResult, a TVA contractor.
• Balance and close the miscellaneous receivables module monthly.
• Process UCC-1 releases for existing loans established prior to June 2024.
• Responsible for A/R payment postings.
• Responsible for setting up the recurring billings related to retirees' insurance.
• Handle and balance the cash box at the end of the month.
• Verify assets on work orders and make necessary changes.
• Bill customers for charges on work orders related to car wrecks, miscellaneous damage, and specific aid of construction amounts due.
• Compile spreadsheets for monthly reports.
• Maintain Excel spreadsheets related to vehicle usage for the end of year Car Benefit calculation.
• Assist the General Accountant with yearly process related to returned credit refunds.
• Maintaining certificates of liability and workers' compensation insurance for contractors/vendors.
• Setup line extension agreement billings on customer accounts.
• Monitor offsite accounting records storage.
• Keep accounting office supplies stocked.
• Ability to maintain reliable, predictable, and reasonable attendance.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.
• Must be available for after-hours work, which would include working a fair share of necessary overtime.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license from the state of residence.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Comprehensive knowledge of Accounting Office procedures.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with associates, customers, potential customers, and vendors.
• Must possess good typing skills and be able to operate a calculator with a touch system.
• Must be proficient in the latest version of Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Possess excellent time management and customer service skills.
• Must be reliable and be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must possess the qualities of discretion and confidentiality due to the sensitive nature of the work.
• Possess good communication skills.
• Must possess the ability to apply common sense, understanding to carry out instructions furnished in a written or oral form, the ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in or from standardized situations, and the ability to take the initiative to accomplish expected company policies and procedures.
• Must possess the ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos, ability to effectively present information.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Constant sitting, handling, fingering, feeling, fine manipulation, vision, static position (head and neck), talking, hearing, use of arm/hand for machine control operation, and simple grasp, as well as frequent reaching required. Occasional lifting of a document box up to 42 lbs.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Indoor climate-controlled office environment with appropriate lighting. Employees spend a majority of their time seated at a computer completing various accounting tasks, including the use of a calculator. The volume of work is regular and systematic, with major deadlines occurring bi-weekly, at month-end, and at year-end.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate degree in Accounting or Business is preferred; however, two years of recent accounting experience may be substituted.
• Prior accounting and/or payroll experience is a plus.

BrightRidge wishes to be in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In accordance with the Act, we will make reasonable accommodation to any person who needs such accommodation, whether a new hire or a current employee, assuming that the person is fully qualified for the position.

These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Since jobs tend to change over time, Employees will be required to perform other job related marginal duties as required without a formal update of the job description.