Accounting Manager

About MCE

At MCE, we tackle the climate crisis with a shared commitment to innovation, community, and equity. Together, we foster an inclusive, collaborative, and flexible work environment where creativity thrives, work-life balance is prioritized, and every voice is valued.

MCE is a not-for-profit public agency that has set the standard for clean energy in our communities since 2010. We provide more renewable power at stable rates, and deliver cutting-edge energy programs to residents and businesses across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. Our team, drawn from all walks of life, embodies a shared passion for environmental stewardship and community service. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals innovating and collaborating to make our communities more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

We value a range of experience. Even if you feel that you do not meet all of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Application materials will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About The Finance Team

The Finance Team manages MCE’s financial planning and analysis , treasury and investment strategies, risk management, accounting, and the agency’s rate setting process. The team is responsible for maintaining MCE’s investment grade credit ratings, building reserve levels, and managing relationships with external financial institutions.

As an Accounting Manager, Programs

You are responsible for managing the accounting and financial operations of programs serving MCE customers, overseeing day-to-day accounting operations, and liaising with the external accounting firm. You are also responsible for developing and tracking the budget for personnel costs. Your role will serve as a strategic partner to MCE departments, communicating accounting requirements and challenges to the agency’s external accounting firm. You will regularly engage with MCE’s external accountant and ensure adequate controls for accounts payable processes.

As an Account Manager you will oversee credit card reconciliation and bookkeeping, manage agency reimbursement guidelines, develop personnel budgets, pay agency bills, and conduct analysis and reporting of MCE program expenditures and initiatives. This position is also responsible for the accounting and tracking of program dollars, including MCE program funding, federal and non-federal grant expenses, and receivables.

Key Responsibilities (Illustrative Only)

- Oversee and coordinate day-to-day accounting operations with external accountants to ensure the timely processing of financial transactions and accurate recordkeeping.

- Manage grant-related accounting, including reconciling expenditures, maintaining internal documentation, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

- Manage personnel budget and budget process

- Streamline and enhance existing processes to ensure timely and accurate payment of agency invoices for vendors and energy suppliers.

- Analyze budget reports across MCE’s various funds to ensure expenses are accurately recorded and reported.

- Support the preparation of documentation for the annual financial audit and serve as a liaison to external auditors.

- Support the implementation of systems to track and manage credit risks and collateral requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Skills

- Advanced Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint

- Advanced modeling skills in excel

- Solid grasp of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)

- Ability to investigate and explain variance against projections

- Excellent communication skills to present key financial information to stakeholders

- Knowledge of treasury functions such as cash flow tracking, banking, and accounts payables

- Knowledge of enterprise resource planning platforms

- Experience with accounting practices and procedures is essential

Education/Experience

- Education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a relevant field.

- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in business operations, finance, accounting, or a related field.

- A master's degree in a related field can substitute for two (2) years of experience

Preferred

- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification, Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification.

- Experience in the California energy industry and CCA experience.

- Knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines

- Two years of supervisory experience preferred but not required.

Knowledge Of

- Budgets and data reporting software such as PowerBI.

- Financial procedures and accounting practices (GAAP).

- (Google Slides and Sheets are also appreciated), Power BI or Tableau is desirable. Adobe software, and project management programs.

- Investing and investments, treasury management, and fixed income instruments in particular.

- Financial modeling and budgeting best practices.

- US and California energy markets.

- US capital markets.

Ability To

- Manage multiple priorities and quickly adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

- Take ownership of projects that lead to financial and operational efficiencies and more productive and effective use of time and budget

- Create financial models and derive recommendations based on analysis of the data.

- Exercise exceptional analytical skills, sound judgment, creative problem-solving, and commercial awareness.

- Analyze and interpret large amounts of information quickly and accurately, and make sound policy recommendations.

- Develop high-quality writing, research, and communication work products.

- Deliver clear and persuasive oral communication.

- Take responsibility and work independently, as well as coordinate team efforts.

- Be thorough and detail-oriented

Compensation

Competitive compensation package offered, based on candidate experience along with generous benefits and perks, including fully paid premiums for health insurance, parental leave, dependent care subsidies, student loan repayment, and employee wellness program.

Starting Salary Range for the Accounting Manager, Programs is $128,258.06 - $167,804.30.

Application Process

By clicking on the link applicants will complete a brief online form and are prompted to submit the

required

supporting documents

- A cover letter no longer than one page of what interests you about the role highlighting any experience creating budgets, and or your work with accounting teams.

- Current resume

Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis and initial interviews scheduled when a sufficient pool of applicants has been identified mid-September.

As we narrow to our top pool of applicants, candidates moving through the recruitment process may participate in an initial all in one interview, Crossteam Panel Interview, and an Executive Final Interview.

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MCE Culture

At MCE, we are committed to fostering a workplace rooted in equity, inclusion, and belonging. As part of this effort, we’ve included a few optional questions to help us better understand your background, experiences, and how we can create a respectful and inclusive candidate experience.

MCE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MCE Work Environment

MCE offices support an environment that is accessible to those with reduced mobility. We are happy to provide more details if asked.

MCE makes reasonable accommodations of any known physical or intellectual limitations for qualified applicants with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs, and other conditions protected by applicable law.

MCE strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace. To that end, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment for all employees.