Enterprise Accounting Manager

City of Appleton; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Appleton’s Finance Department seeks an Enterprise Accounting Manager to oversee financial reporting, analysis, and daily utility accounting for Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater funds. You will supervise staff and assist Finance and Utilities Directors with long‑term planning.

Responsibilities include managing the general ledger, utility billing, budgets, and rate studies; coordinating audits; and serving as liaison with the PSC to ensure compliance and strong internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field.
• 4–5 years accounting experience in public utilities or municipal government setting.
• 1–3 years supervisory experience.
• CPA required or equivalent combination of experience and training.

Responsibilities

• Manage annual report to PSC and coordinate utility portion of annual audit.
• Oversee general ledger, journal entries, and accounts for utility funds; approve POs and payments.
• Supervise Utility Billing Clerk and billing processes; ensure internal controls.

Skills

Public utilities accounting

Supervisory experience

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

Budgeting

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA or equivalent

Tools

General ledger software

Microsoft Excel

Billing software

Job description

Come join the City of Appleton! Here at the City, you’ll have the opportunity to grow and enjoy your best life through challenging work, great teams, training opportunities, and making a lasting impact on the community. We welcome and respect all employees as they are. Come join our team—you belong here!

Our Finance Department is searching for an Enterprise Accounting Manager to join the team. This is a management and professional position responsible for financial reporting, account analysis and daily financial functions of the City’s Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater utilities. The work involves performing accounting, auditing, report preparation, supervising, and assisting the Directors of Finance and Utilities in the financial administration and long‑term financial planning of these funds. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Deputy Director of Finance.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manages and prepares the annual report to the PSC and coordinates the utility portion of annual audit for the City. Prepares necessary work papers for audit including schedules related to the utility funds. Provides details for the Management and Discussion Analysis for utility funds for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
• Manages general ledger including responsibility for journal entries and reconciling accounts related to the City’s Utilities. Approves purchase orders and payment authorizations for the Water and Wastewater Utilities. Approves journal entries for utility funds and makes necessary adjustments.
• Plans, organizes, assigns, and supervises the work of the Utility Billing Clerk including prioritizing projects, overseeing the billing process, performing performance reviews, and promoting career development and growth.
• Manages the utility billing functions to ensure accurate billing of City services. Monitors, troubleshoots, researches, and suggests enhancements to the system to ensure it is operating correctly and internal controls are met. Manages service provider contract for printing and mailing of invoices.
• Assumes primary responsibility in the development and management of the department's operating and capital budgets. Provides monitoring and analysis of budgets to management and discusses concerns and data throughout the year. Reviews cash flow and 5‑year operating plan to determine required rate increases and debt funding needs as part of the budget development process for utility funds.
• Performs fixed asset accounting and reporting for enterprise funds.
• Coordinates rate study projects and prepares necessary schedules for rate reviews. Collaborates with the Utility and Finance Directors to ensure all requirements of the project are met.
• Establishes an effective role as a liaison with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC).
• Assists Finance Director with debt management of utility funds. Prepares required Official Statement schedules. Participates and responds to questions in rating call meetings. Prepares spenddown schedules.
• Provides financial operation and administrative guidance to the Department of Utilities. Provides financial operation guidance to the Director and Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation as it relates to the Golf Course and to the Director, Deputy Director, Managerial Accounting Coordinator and Office Manager for Department of Public Works as it relates to City Utilities managed by the department.
• Resolving customer complaints regarding utility bills, service disconnection and delinquent collection procedures. Responds to complaints filed with the PSC.
• Develops and maintains departmental procedures and policies related to the Utility Funds and City Service Invoicing.
• Prepares required schedules to maintain financial data of the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) Replacement Fund.
• Prepares Enterprise Fund/Internal Service Fund portions of the Department of Revenue Annual Financial Report Form B.
• Maintains regular punctual and predictable attendance, works extra hours as required.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide back‑up coverage for City’s bank accounts and electronic payment processing in absence of the Accounting/Customer Service Supervisor.
• Provide back‑up supervision of customer service staff in absence of the Customer Service Supervisor.
• Oversees the creation of marketing documents to provide information on online customer portals, payment options and other utility fund customer service information.
• Assist in preparing contracts and agreements that impact utility funds of the City.
• Assist in grant administration for utility funds.
• Develops spreadsheet applications to meet audit, budget and debt requirements and management analysis.
• Manages or assists with special projects as needed for financial system management and financial related regulations and analysis.
• Attends committee and Common Council meetings as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field, four to five years accounting experience preferably in public utility or municipal government setting, one to three years supervisory experience, CPA required or equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the following knowledge, abilities and skills:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of accounting, budgeting and finance in public utilities and municipalities.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations of the PSC relative to accounting and billing regulations.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Ability to effectively supervise and manage staff.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and self‑motivation requiring planning, scheduling, coordination of tasks/resources and problem solving.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive materials, records and conversations.
• Ability to maintain financial records and accounts.
• Ability to prepare financial reports.
• Ability to assist in various aspects of budget preparation.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals, both inside and outside the organization.
• Ability to coordinate and handle a variety of programs and activities within the time frame required.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and deal courteously and tactfully with other governmental agencies and the general public.
• Ability to perform most work from a sedentary position.
• Ability to work at a computer for sustained periods of time.
• Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
• Ability to lift 15 to 20 pounds.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs and Microsoft Word or other word processing programs.
• Proficient in utility billing and general ledger software programs.

COMPETENCIES

• Communication
• Staff Development (mentoring)
• Motivate
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability/Flexibility