Journal Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview: 
This role is responsible for managing day-to-day accounting operations to ensure accurate preparation of financial deliverables (e.g. journal entries, reconciliations, reports, close activities) and maintain compliance across multiple jurisdictions within H2O America. This role oversees accounting staff, reviews complex reconciliations and journal entries, and serves as the primary liaison in audit processes with internal departments and external stakeholders. They assist in developing strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, support forecasting and budgeting, and minimize financial risk while ensuring internal and regulatory policy adherence. This role will balance leadership and tactical responsibilities to enable team success. This role also requires strong leadership, advanced accounting expertise, and strategic thinking to drive operational excellence and compliance.

Occasional domestic travel may be required for this role to our various reporting locations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads day-to-day accounting operations to ensure accuracy and compliance across jurisdictions.

• Oversees complex reconciliations and preparations across subsidiary and general ledgers. Acts as escalation point for complex discrepancies and establishes standards for escalation and review.

• Conducts reviews for complex journal entries, including accruals and adjustments, to ensure accuracy and compliance. Posts journal entries as needed.

• Directs and schedules month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes (incl. general ledger maintenance, reconciliations, adjustments, complex schedules). 

• Manages data requests from external stakeholders (e.g. actuaries, insurance representatives, insurance providers, asset holders).

• Assists in the accurate and timely completion of regulatory filings (e.g. SEC and the public utility authority in each respective state) as needed.

• Assists in financial forecasting, modeling, and scenario planning. 

• Manages a team of accounting staff in the production of accounting deliverables. Performs hiring, mentoring, and performance decisions to build high-performing teams.

• Leads development and review of complex financial reports to support strategic decisions (e.g. cost reports, forecast reviews, revenue projects, grant reporting, audit documentation).

• Prepares complex accounting deliverables, when needed.

• Develops strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, and minimize potential gaps in controls.

• Supervises complex audit procedures (e.g. developing audit plans, coordinating auditor activities, preparing responses to complex inquiries). Provides analysis and reports and presents data as requested to various groups, including leadership.

• Verifies cost allocations are made according to company procedures.

• Serves as primary liaison with internal department and external agencies in order to present information, provide recommendations, and support coordinated fiscal operations. 

• Assists in development of financial strategic plan as needed.

• Leads O&M budget process and communicates analysis of actual versus budget variances to management. 

• Educates managers in development and analysis of departmental budgets.

• Provides support in obtaining new long term debt (incl. Responding to inquiries), as needed.

• Regularly educates stakeholders and senior leaders on complex accounting topics and financial insights to inform strategic decision making.

• Supports the development and interpretation of company accounting compliance and controls (incl. SOX 404 requirements).

• Develops and maintains relationships with vendors, staff, and stakeholders to support organizational objectives.

• Assists in the implementation of software and system upgrades, as needed.

• Oversees daily data integrations between enterprise accounting systems (e.g. PowerPlant, JDE E1) as needed.

• Manages organizational cash-management tools, as needed.

• Performs other treasury and cash management functions (incl. Initiating and/or approving wires) as needed.

• Makes recommendations for process improvements to increase efficiency.

• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work as part of an on-call rotation schedule to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.

• Performs other duties or special projects as required or assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and/or 10+ years of relevant professional experience with progressively increased levels of responsibility.

• Holds relevant certifications required for the team's need or directed by management.

• Holding a CPA license is a plus.

• Demonstrated experience leading technical or crossfunctional teams.

• Expertise in GAAP and bookkeeping best practices. 

• Strong expertise in general ledger, journal entries, and account reconciliations. 

• Experience leading audit processes and preparing relevant documentation.

• Experience in budget development, monitoring, and forecasting.

• Expertise in financial data analysis and providing actionable insights into complex anomalies.

• Deep understanding of tax compliance, internal controls (e.g. SOX) and regulatory reporting requirements.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g. Excel). 

• Proficiency in ERP/accounting systems (e.g. Oracle).

• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and project management.

• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills.