Energy Settlements Team Lead

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Energy Settlements Team Lead

Position Summary

Responsible for leading and managing a team of settlement accountants in the timely and accurate settlement of deal transactions. Responsible for taking a leadership role in the resolution of disputed transactions both internally and with external counterparties. Responsible for reviewing payment requests, invoices, and journal entries to ensure compliance with department processes, internal controls, contracts, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, and regulatory rulings. Responsible for conducting and overseeing process improvement projects and developing processes for new transactions or commodities, as well as delegating and managing all department projects.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and complete process improvements, department projects, and corporate projects. Responsible for delegating projects and overseeing projects to ensure the timely and successful completion. Review and document processes, ensure process maps and internal controls are accurate, current, auditable, and compliant with SOX requirements.
• Lead in the analysis and settlement of transactions on a daily and monthly basis to ensure that sales, purchases, and transportation/capacity contract requirements are being met. Act as a liaison between settlements, front office, middle office, and accounting to resolve deal capture and scheduling issues. Serve as a lead in resolving disputed transactions according to established controls and ensure discrepancy resolutions are documented and communicated to appropriate personnel.
• Complete the settlement of complex contracts and the settlement of new commodities or deal types. Ensure contract compliance, proper set-up of transactions in deal capture systems, and work with all departments to communicate new detailed transactions for proper and timely accounting.
• Review and approve of payment requests and invoices. Ensure payment and/or invoice packages are compliant with contract terms, SOX requirements, and corporate policies. Ensure proper and auditable documentation is included.
• Provide supervision and guidance to direct report staff members, as needed. Assist in managing in the development of group goals and communicate company and department business area objectives. Create a team environment of continuous improvement and learning to foster employee development. Establish and communicate clear performance expectations. Conduct formal and informal performance discussions (e.g.,IPADs, Scorecards) and ensure review in a timely fashion. Coach and mentor less senior team members, as needed.
• Complete monthly journal entries. Complete analysis of supporting documentation. Complete analysis of estimates, actuals, and variances. Ensure entries are booked correctly and compliant with regulatory rulings. Provide detailed analysis of account activity to management and audit staff.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Involved in negotiation and re-negotiation with external CoSource Settlements Team and contract finalization.
• Develop contractual terms and conditions of renewed Settlements Team agreement.
• Drive and manage the evaluation of vendor performance against KPI's, to ensure vendor partners are held accountable alongside internal teams.

Minimum Requirements

• This position requires a minimum of 3-5 years of general accounting.
• Financial and Accounting reporting experience.
• Energy experience in a settlement type function strongly preferred.
• BS/BA in business or accounting highly preferred but not required.
• Must be detail-oriented and possess strong problem-solving abilities.
• Must have proven skills in accounting systems and deal capture systems, as well as proven abilities in learning new systems.
• Must have proven experience in a project management role and leadership responsibilities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skill and other MS Windows-based programs required.

Preferred Requirements

• Demonstrated experience evaluating vendor performance against KPI's, driving the complex development and later execution of contractual agreements to ensure vendor partners are held accountable alongside internal teams.
• Advanced level of bi-lingual, Spanish speaking ability.
• Experience leading remote, co-located teams.
• CPA
• Demonstrated Regulatory related financial and accounting experience.