Tax Accountant I, II, III, or Senior

*At the option of the hiring official, a candidate will be placed in one of the following Accountant levels based on education, experience, knowledge, skills, and behaviors required.

SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of the Treasury and Technical Accounting Supervisor, the Tax Accountant performs and oversees all tax responsibilities to ensure WFEC follows local, state, and federal laws. That includes collecting and preparing tax data, performing tax research, and maintaining tax records. The Tax Accountant is also responsible for researching and establishing positions and policy on federal and state Business & Occupation tax issues, responding to tax-related questions and audits, and preparing federal, state, and local tax returns and preparation of tax forecasts and budgets for the Cooperative. The incumbent performs day-to-day moderately complex accounting activities relating to the maintenance of a complete and accurate general ledger and the resultant managerial reports and financial statements. The employee also performs more complex accounting activities associated with maintaining ledger accounts and for developing financial statements and reports for management and entities outside the Cooperative. This position requires critical analysis of WFEC's operational policies, determining opportunity for improvement, and implementing processes to address those opportunities. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Includes the following: other duties may be assigned. Responsible for the development, analysis, preparation, and evaluation of all federal, state, and local ad valorem (property) and in-lieu-of tax reporting. Provides tax advisement on significant transactions. Converts fixed asset data into usable data for computing tax depreciation. Creates and maintains WFEC's tax depreciation schedules and system. Prepares various federal and state tax returns and corresponding corporate and subsidiary work papers such as 1099 Miscellaneous Income, Form 4782 Employee Moving Expense, sales and gross receipts tax and reporting, railcar tax, property tax, heavy vehicle tax, etc. Provides supporting information for tax preparation, analysis and reporting for tax consultants. Assists in working with auditors from various jurisdictions by maintaining complete work records, cooperative tax documents and correspondence to support WFEC's tax positions in pertinent matters. Researches and reviews tax legislation as well as analyze financial transactions to plan and execute proactive tax planning and modeling for the cooperative. Responsible for determination and execution of tax accruals to assure the proper accrual and financial reporting of taxes in accordance with GAAP. Computes taxable benefit to employees with company vehicles. Maintains WFEC's tax software. Responsible for WFEC's compliance with accounting standards including ASC 740-10 Accounting for Uncertain Tax Positions and WFEC's Tax Patronage Allocation. Prepares the annual tax budget. Develops short term and long-term tax planning for the Company by researching and analyzing relevant tax laws and regulations and develops tax projections. Handles most accounting problems with minimum assistance in the appropriate area of specialization (budgets, financial, taxation, property, gas, energy trading, or compliance). Obtains information from and coordinates the flow of information with other departments to resolve complex accounting problems. Uses technical inputs in developing accounting policies and practices. Acts as the lead in identifying the appropriate recording and reporting a work method that achieves department and company objectives. Develops, applies and reviews queries and reports for the department and management using the automated accounting system. Performs balance sheet account reconciliations, account analysis, accrual calculations, and other related accounting documents/schedules. Reviews and analyzes information from the automated accounting systems for accuracy and reliability as it relates to the general ledger and financial statements. Prepares journal entries for entry in the general ledger system. Prepares financial statements for internal and external use. Provides Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) interpretations and ensures WFEC compliance. Responsible for month-end, quarter-end and year-end close for assigned functional areas. Investigates operational and financial results to make recommendations for accounting improvements. Maintains appropriate internal control processes, make recommendations and work with others within or outside the department to improve accounting processes. Completes special projects when assigned. 

COMPETENCIES: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: 

Analytical: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs work flows and procedures. 

Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully. 

Professional Knowledge: Generates creative solutions; translates concepts and information into applications; uses feedback to modify recommendations; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others. 

Oral & Written Communication: Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings; writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information. 

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.     

Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives. 

Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected outcomes. 

Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; accepts responsibility for own actions. 

Customer Service: Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments to customers. 

Cost Consciousness: Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources. 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors required of this position.

Tax Accountant I ($46,480 - $69,142): A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a directly related field and 30 hours of accounting is required. Incumbent must complete the RUS accounting course within one (1) year of hire date. Experience with the use of an enterprise-wide financial accounting system and related querying and reporting is preferred. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and experience in a utility environment are desired. 

Tax Accountant II ($58,953 - $89,544): A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a directly related field with 30 hours of accounting and a minimum of three (3) years of professional accounting experience is required. Incumbent must complete the RUS accounting course within one (1) year of hire date. Experience with the use of an enterprise-wide financial accounting system and related querying and reporting is preferred. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and experience in a utility environment are desired.

Tax Accountant III ($72,902 - $113,072): A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a directly related field with 30 hours of accounting and a minimum of six (6) years of professional accounting experience is required. Incumbent must complete the RUS accounting course within one (1) year of hire date. Experience with the use of an enterprise-wide financial accounting system and related querying and reporting is preferred. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and experience in a utility environment are desired. 

Senior Tax Accountant ($80,408 - $126,031): ): A Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a directly related field with 30 hours of accounting and a minimum of eight (8) years of professional accounting experience is required. Incumbent must complete the RUS accounting course within one (1) year of hire date. Experience with the use of an enterprise-wide financial accounting system and related querying and reporting is required. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification and experience in a utility environment are desired. 

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedures. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, managers, employees and outside professionals. 

Math Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts and use math functions found in professional accounting. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions or numerical information including fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions in practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of data in mathematical form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 

Computer Skills: Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is required. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: This position requires a current driver's license.  

WORK SCHEDULE REQUIREMENTS: This position normally works a weekday daytime schedule but may require additional hours to meet deadlines. This position will be required to work and travel between WFEC's Moore and Anadarko locations on a weekly basis as needed. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and use hands to finger, handle, feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to move about the facility and to sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. Vision and hearing must be normal or corrected to normal.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work is performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low. In accordance with WFEC Administrative Procedure 805-Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace this position is classified as "safety sensitive".