General Accounting Manager

NW Natural; Oregon (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,450 - 171,650; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance benefits

401K company contribution

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A utilities company seeks a General Accounting Manager to lead its accounting team and ensure accurate financial reporting. Responsibilities include managing monthly closes, overseeing departmental staff, and ensuring compliance with GAAP. The ideal candidate will possess a CPA and extensive accounting experience, including leadership roles. This position is based in Oregon with a hybrid work schedule available.

Qualifications

• Eight years of progressively responsible accounting experience, with three years in a leadership role.
• Knowledge and experience in U.S. GAAP required.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and excellent verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the General Accounting and Accounts Payable departments, including staffing.
• Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes.
• Conduct financial statement reviews and variance analyses.

Skills

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA certificate

Tools

SAP

Blackline

Excel

Job description

General Accounting Manager - NW Natural

Base pay range: $120,450.00/yr - $171,650.00/yr

Regular FT

Hybrid schedule available for Oregon & Washington residents.

Posting # 5426

About Us

At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry.

In addition to environmental stewardship, we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility.

The Role

This role is a key member of the General Accounting team, responsible for leading the general accounting function and ensuring accurate and timely accounting and internal reporting. This position works closely with the General Accounting Leads to oversee the day‑to‑day activities and deliverables of the team, which includes monthly accounting close responsibilities and internal reporting, the performance of effective internal controls, quarterly reporting deliverables and various ad hoc projects. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of GAAP and SAP. This position reports directly to the Accounting Director and will work closely with other accounting teams, various business departments, and upper management.

Day to Day

• Manages the General Accounting and Accounts Payable departments including hiring, training, and performance evaluations.
• Direct oversight and management of the Leads (3) related to Corporate General Accounting, Subsidiary General Accounting, and Accounts Payable.
• Oversee the monthly, quarterly and year‑end close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee accounting for key areas including: bonus accruals and workers’ compensation liabilities, life insurance and deferred compensation, Revenue recognition and renewable energy transactions, subsidiary results and intercompany transactions, shared services and cost allocations.
• Oversee financial systems including SAP master data governance, role management, access approvals, and system upgrades.
• Oversee Blackline account reconciliation platform and SAP Concur expense management.
• Conduct detailed financial statement reviews and variance analyses and monthly reporting packages.
• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies and procedures to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
• Play a key role in upcoming M&A activities, including integration planning, and post‑acquisition accounting alignment.
• Lead efforts to centralize accounting functions across business units, driving consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with Finance leadership to assess and harmonize accounting policies, systems, and controls during organizational transitions.
• Support change management initiatives related to acquisitions, system implementations, and process redesign.
• Collaborate with FP&A, tax, treasury, HR and other departments to align accounting practices with business objectives.
• Performs research, analysis, and review of accounting matters.
• Lead or support ad hoc projects and analysis, including financial modeling, forecasting, and technical research.
• Provides management with sound recommendations for solutions to complex accounting and reporting matters, based on in‑depth research and critical thinking, professional experience, benchmarking and/or consultation with Company and industry peers or specialists.
• Leads collaboration across departments, and acts as a consultation resource for accounting issues to ensure timely and effective resolution of accounting matters.
• Provides support for both internal and external audits.
• Completes internal control procedures to ensure compliance with the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act.
• Identify and lead opportunities to improve efficiency and automation across accounting and reporting operations.
• Demonstrates appropriate leadership and decision‑making behaviors.
• Maintains technical accounting knowledge and personal skill development.
• Supports the Company’s commitment to a culture of safe work practices.

Come on your first day with

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and CPA certificate are required.
• Eight years of progressively responsible accounting experience, with a minimum of three years in a leadership role and at least two years in public accounting preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in applying U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is required.
• Knowledge and experience in applying SEC rules is preferred.
• Must be able to work effectively and efficiently under limited supervision.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in directing and leading a department; delegating and coordinating employee activities; skill and commitment to coaching and developing employees.
• Strategic mindset with a hands‑on approach to problem‑solving and process improvement.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (preferably SAP), Blackline and advanced Excel skills.
• Experience in a utility operation and knowledge of standard utility accounting is highly desired.
• Excellent verbal communication skills; able to facilitate group processes and make group presentations.
• Written communication skills including experience with process documentation and report generation.
• Conflict resolution skills; ability to mediate and resolve problems between internal and external stakeholders.
• Must combine attention to detail with the ability to envision the big picture.
• Experience with M&A integration and centralized accounting operations preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading change management initiatives across systems, teams, and processes.
• Ability to facilitate and coordinate projects.
• Proven ability to function in a team environment, provide information and training to users while treating them with respect and dignity.
• Requires outstanding ethical standards and values consistent with those of the Company.

What we offer

Health & Wellness

• Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
• Free access to an online wellness resources platform

Work Life Balance

• Up to 23 Vacation Days
• 80 Hours of Sick Time
• 10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
• 3 weeks paid parental leave
• Green Team / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council / Safety Team / Women’s Network and many other Employee Resource Groups
• 1500 sq foot exercise facility and secure bike room
• Meaningful annual incentive bonus opportunity in addition to base salary
• Competitive 401K company contribution and match
• 15% discount on NW Natural stock through Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Up to $5250 a year in tuition reimbursement
• Wellness incentive program

Discounts

• 20% off natural gas service
• Up to 30% discount at NW Natural Appliance Center
• TriMet Pass for all HQ employees
• Generous discounts with Verizon & AT&T Wireless

Base salary range: $120,450.00 - $171,650.00 per year, depending on qualifications.

Annual Target Incentive: Manager, 15.0% target.

Application Process: To be considered for this position, submit a complete electronic application including cover letter and resume via our website.

Deadline: 12/2/25

We are a drug free workplace and we comply with Federal Drug Free Workplace Act and Department of Transportation regulations. NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I‑9 information submitted to E‑Verify. E‑Verify is an Internet‑based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I‑9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.

All applications must be submitted through NW Natural’s Electronic Application System. Resumes submitted via email, fax or mail will not be accepted in lieu of an electronic application.

NW Natural is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace our candidates’ diversity and take affirmative action to employ and advance individuals without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin, marital status, genetic information, and all other legally protected characteristics. We forbid discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on any protected status or characteristic. A criminal history is not an automatic bar to employment with NW Natural. Instead, we make individualized assessments regarding qualifications and backgrounds. NW Natural is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation as part of the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] or (971) 979‑6341.