General Accounting Manager

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Position Summary

Position manages a team of accounting professionals responsible for maintaining the company’s books and records in accordance generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Uniform System of Accounts. The position ensures adherence to company accounting policies and procedures and compliance with processes and controls established in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).

Position responsible for coordinating and executing the monthly financial close, maintaining the company’s SAP general ledger accounting system, configuring and maintaining SAP cost flows and participating in complex and technical accounting issues related to various areas of accounting. Mentor and train General Accounting staff as needed. Create clear, concise and accurate reports and analysis for a wide range of internal clients with an emphasis on meeting internal and external reporting and analysis needs and deadlines. Prepare and/or review journal entries and fluxes in various areas of accounting.

This position reports to the Assistant Controller, Corporate and will be onsite, with candidate needing to reside near the Akron, OH or Greensburg, PA locations. The location will be dependent upon the candidate selected.

Responsibilities include:

- Leading a team of accounting professionals to ensure accurate, complete, and timely closing of the company’s books and records.

- Responsible for the monthly financial closing process in SAP, which includes multiple sequenced steps and the execution of systematic processes that provide for the accurate reporting of financial results for all FirstEnergy legal entities.

- Maintain the company’s SAP general ledger accounting system and required master data.

- Manage the FirstEnergy Service Company accounting and reporting processes.

- Configure and manage the Company’s complex SAP cost flows and assessment cycles.

- Ensuring that the company’s books and records comply with FirstEnergy’s Cost Allocation Manual, Service Company and Mutual Assistance agreements, and related money pool agreements.

- Responsible for the calculation and implementation of the various overhead processes in SAP.

- Oversee the design and performance of accounting processes and controls established in accordance with SOX.

- Oversee the Company’s Blackline account reconciliation process, including creating/reviewing monthly reconciliations.

- Assist in preparing/reviewing 10Q/10K/Form 1 support schedules for SEC and FERC reporting.

- Support the jurisdictional Rates Departments in filing distribution base rate cases and transmission revenue requirement filings, through related data requests.

- Maintain and ensure compliance with the company’s accounting policies and procedures.

- Interfacing with the company’s legal team to ensure appropriate accounting reserves for legal and environmental liabilities.

- Coordinating the accounting for complex employee and retiree benefit programs; including, qualified and non-qualified pensions and other postemployment benefits, short-term and long-term incentive programs, executive/director deferred compensation, and paid-time-off benefits.

- Responsible for other General Accounting areas including cash reconcilations, debt accounting, prepaid expenses, affiliated rents, aircraft accounting, and customer uncollectible expense.

- Working collaboratively across organizations including Legal, Rates, Tax, Internal Auditing, Compliance, Business Services, Treasury, and IT.

- Supporting the master data and testing requirements of new or upgraded accounting and reporting platforms (i.e., Empower, Coupa, Power BI).

- Ensuring that the company’s accounting records related to strategic transactions (i.e., divestitures and minority interest sales) are recorded in accordance with GAAP.

- Implementing appropriate development plans and priorities, while providing ongoing feedback, guidance, and training opportunities for the accounting staff.

Qualifications include:

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is required, CPA or MBA preferred.

- Minimum of 10 years relevant work experience at progressively increasing levels of responsibility and complexity is required.

- Relevant work experience will include strong accounting background with experience in monthly closing and general ledger systems.

- Proficiency with SAP FI-CO modules, specifically a strong understanding of SAP cost flows, intercompany relationships and overhead processes.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).

- Ability to assist in technical accounting issues and analysis.

- Excellent analytical abilities.

- Ability to work independently or as part of a team effort on assignments that may be broad in nature involving the compilation, preparation and analysis of various accounting reports, statements, studies or projects.

- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to effectively structure and present information and recommendations involving complex accounting issues.

- Strong interpersonal skills to work with all levels of employees and leadership.

- Desire to learn, grow and work across FirstEnergy, and deliver quality and accurate work within established deadlines.

- Ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritize work in a dynamic environment.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources