Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional Learning Path
This learning path is designed for experienced utility accounting and finance professionals who need deep skills in electric industry financial accounting, regulatory compliance, construction accounting, rate studies, and performance analytics. It’s ideal for controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, finance managers, and consultants working with electric utilities and cooperatives.
All of the courses in every learning path are included with an annual membership!
About this learning path
This learning path is designed for experienced accounting and finance professionals in the power and utilities industry, as well as those experienced professionals transitioning into similar co-op or utility finance roles from other industries. It delivers a structured sequence of courses that builds on your experience and deepens your understanding of co-op and utility financial reporting, regulatory accounting, construction accounting, cost allocation, and rate studies. By completing this learning path, you develop a comprehensive understanding of the business of an electric utility and strengthen your ability to contribute at a senior, expert level.
Completing this learning path will give you the skills to:
Interpret and analyze utility financial statements with confidence and clarity. 
Apply best practices in regulatory and construction accounting (FERC, RUS, GASB, and ASC standards). 
Understand rate studies and the linkage of revenue requirements to cost-of-service and rate design. 
Use KPIs and performance analytics to support financial planning and operational decision-making. 
Enhance internal processes for allocating costs, reporting complex transactions, and aligning financial strategy with organizational goals. 
Receive 14.5 hours of NASBA Certified Professional Education Credits (credits awarded for each class).
Earn an Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional Expert Certificate and a verifiable digital badge upon completion—ready to add to your professional profile.
This learning path is for:
- Utility finance leaders (CFOs, controllers, finance managers) 
- Senior accountants and accounting professionals in utilities/co-ops 
- Consultants supporting utility financial operations and rate studies
- Professionals preparing for advanced utility accounting responsibilities
- Auditors of cooperatives and utilities
"This learning path brought everything together for me — accounting, rate studies, construction, and regulatory requirements — in a way that finally made the full utility business model click. The courses are practical, clearly explained, and immediately applicable to real-world utility finance challenges. I’d recommend this to any finance professional who wants to move beyond the ledger and truly understand how an electric utility operates."
Melissa
Controller
This learning path includes the following courses:
Financial Reporting & KPI Mastery for Utility Finance Leaders
Value: $197.00 Included!
Controllers and CFOs need financial analysis that supports operations, capital investment, and board reporting. Learn how to distill financials into actionable insights and apply KPIs to track performance and implement strategy. (CPE credits-2.50)
The Keys to Allocating Interdepartmental Costs
Value: $97.00 Included!
Allocating support costs in a multi-service utility or cooperative often raises the question, “How will this affect my budget?” Learn proven industry methods that improve clarity, build confidence, and make discussions easier. (CPE credits - 0.50)
Applying Best Practices in ASC 980 and GASB 62 Regulatory Accounting - Expenses and Revenues
Value: $257.00 Included!
A major expense may have strained your electric financials. ASC 980 and GASB 62 help align expense recognition with electric rate recovery. These standards are practical, effective, and usable for co-ops and utilities of any size.(CPE credits - 3.50)
Advanced Topics in Regulatory Accounting - GASB 62 and ASC 980
Value: $177.00 Included!
Is there an elegant way to record electric accounting transactions with less volatility in your financials?ASC 980 and GASB 62 provide practical tools for capital items, obligations, rate recovery, and when to discontinue regulator.(CPE credits-2.00)
Electric Construction Accounting: Advanced FERC & RUS Topics
Value: $257.00 Included!
Not all electric work order and rate accounting fits the standard mold. This course delivers insights for tackling advanced, real-world situations. (CPE credits - 3.00)
A Practical Guide to Capital Asset Impairment Reporting (GASB 42)
Value: $97.00 Included!
GASB 42 defines how public power and municipal utilities must assess and record capital asset impairments. This course walks you through the indicators, measurement methods, and reporting needed to ensure financial accuracy. (1.00 credits)
ASC 360: A Framework for Impairment Accounting
Value: $97.00 Included!
ASC 360 is the impairment accounting standard for private-sector utilities and electric cooperatives. Here we outline the key steps for evaluating and recording asset impairments. (1.00 credits)
Co-op and Utility Rate Study Fundamentals: Building Revenue Requirements, Cost of Service, and Rates
Value: $97.00 Included!
A practical introduction to utility rate studies—learn the ratemaking process, from revenue requirements and cost allocation to cost-of-service analysis and designing fair, defensible rates. (CPE credits -1.00)
Taught by a nationally recognized utility accounting expert
Russ Hissom
CPA
Russ Hissom, CPA, is a national utility accounting and rate expert with 35+ years of experience helping electric cooperatives and electric, gas, water, wastewater, and broadband utilities improve accounting and work order processes, strengthen financial performance, enhance operational excellence, support strategy development and implementation, and design fair, sustainable rates.
Frequently Asked Questions:
This learning path is ideal for experienced accounting and finance professionals working in electric utilities, cooperatives, and public power organizations, as well as professionals transitioning into utility finance from other industries. It is especially valuable for controllers, CFOs, finance managers, senior accountants, and consultants.
This learning path includes a structured sequence of on-demand courses covering electric utility financial reporting, regulatory and construction accounting, cost allocation, and rate study fundamentals. It is designed to build practical, real-world understanding and strengthen the confidence of finance professionals working in—or transitioning into—the electric utility industry.
Course access is unlimited after purchase.
This learning path adds to your knowledge, making your career skills deeper and giving you tools to provide value to your organization.
The information is taken from industry best practices, real-life examples, and the experience of the instructor in providing practical solutions to power and utilities organizations.
The course number of CPE hours are shown in the course description. You'll receive a course completion certificate that also shows the number of CPE hours when you complete 100% of the course and take the course quiz. CPE hours are computed based on a 50 minute presentation hour.
Utility Accounting and Rates Specialists, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: NASBAregistry.org.
All course materials can be downloaded for each lessons. These include course slides, exercises, and Excel templates that can be tailored to your organization.
The courses cover core and advanced co-op and utility finance topics, including co-op and electric utility financial reporting, regulatory accounting (FERC, RUS, GASB, ASC), construction accounting, cost allocation, capital assets, impairment accounting, performance metrics, and rate study fundamentals.
This bundle provides a structured, progressive sequence of courses that build on one another, helping you understand not just individual accounting rules, but how all aspects of utility finance fit together. It is designed to develop well-rounded expertise in the business of an electric utility, not just isolated technical topics.
The courses are fully on-demand and self-paced, allowing you to complete the learning path on your own schedule. Most participants work through the material over several weeks, applying what they learn immediately to their day-to-day utility finance responsibilities.
Upon completion, participants earn an Experienced Accounting and Finance Professional Expert Certificate and a verifiable digital badge. The certificate documents course completion for professional records, while the digital badge provides a shareable, online credential that can be added to professional profiles (such as LinkedIn) to demonstrate expertise in co-op and utility accounting.
This course also includes:
- $1,276 value - save 65% over individual course prices
- All course downloads and templates you can tailor to your organization
- 30 Days Money Back Guarantee
- Study on your own terms with 24/7 access
- Revisit any lesson as many times as you like
- Access from anywhere across multiple devices
We Have Served Over 1,000 Professionals from All Experience Levels!
What Our Students Say
Our students have grown their skills by taking our courses. Here are just a few of their stories.Course Accreditation, Requirements, and Refund and Cancellation Policy
Course #: AT-8, AT-9, AT-10, AT-14, AT-15, AT-16, ATG-1
Program Level: Basic
Area of Study: Accounting - Technical
Delivery: QAS Self Study
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
CPE Credits: 13.50 total for all classes
Last Reviewed: 8.1.24
Access Period: 12 months
Exam Questions: 5
Passing Grade: 70%
Retakes: Unlimited
Refunds and cancellations: Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 30 days for purchasing the course. No refunds will be granted after the qualified assessment has been completed. For any concerns, please contact us at 608 628 4020 or at [email protected].
Companies and markets that we serve
Utility Accounting and Rates Specialists, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: NASBAregistry.org.
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