Utility Accountant (*6 month contract*)

Title: Utility Accountant (*6 months contract)

Reports To: Accounting Manager

Position Summary: The Utility Accountant position serves as a key accounting resource working in partnership with the Operations teams, Accounts Payable (A/P), Finance & Accounting and Corporate departments. This position will primarily encompass the Utility functions covering all aspects from invoice processing to reporting & analysis. He/She will find opportunities to create efficiencies and synergies between the A/P and Utility Accounting teams that will form a collaborative and team-oriented environment. Working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, this interactive role encourages the incumbent to think outside-the-box, to deliver great customer service, and to encourage new ideas to help CAPREIT achieve outstanding industry leadership.

Responsibilities

You will manage responsibilities for both A/P Administrator and Utility Accountant roles until a suitable replacement is hired for the position of A/P Administrator.

Management of Utility Data

• Generate a utility file once a month and send to 3rd party consultants for input into external software. Monthly reconciliation of data between both systems and timely follow-up on discrepancies.
• Liaise with A/P department for billing errors, missing invoices, coding of invoices, etc.
• Monitor overdue utility accounts and follow-up with utility providers.
• Reconcile annual utility contracts.
• Validate & recommend volumes for renewing utility contracts, where applicable.
• Review utility discrepancies and resolutions.
• Liaise with external parties and internal departments as it relates to utilities.
  
  

Month & Year-End Requirements

• Prepare monthly accrual file by utility platform.
• Prepare monthly balance sheet account analysis with action items for outstanding balances
• Prepare monthly amortization & allocation journal entries.
• Generate monthly utility financial package including commentaries on variances.
• Prepare quarterly reports for MD&A submission.
• Assist in analysis of data for ESG & GRESB submissions.
• Assist in development of ad hoc reports as required by the business.
  
  

Other Duties

• Prepare and submit annual property utility budgets and quarterly forecasts with analysis of significant movements.
• Prepare utility budget estimates for new property acquisitions.
• Co-ordinate the activation/termination of utility accounts with respect to acquisition/disposition of properties
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and controls.
  
  

Special projects

• Assist in continuous review of business processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
• Assist in ERP system testing and documentation across all utility platforms.
• Ad hoc tasks as requested by senior management.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business.
• CPA or working towards a CPA designation.
• A minimum of 2 years of related experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Must have strong working knowledge of systems and MS Excel.
• Must be well organized, responsible, deadline oriented, flexible, and able to multitask.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.