For controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, and finance managers ready to go deeper — into regulatory accounting, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, KPIs, and rate studies built for the utility and cooperative environment.
You already understand the basics. This track is for finance professionals who need to go deeper — into the accounting standards, analytical tools, and strategic frameworks that define senior-level contribution in the cooperative industry.
Six courses cover the topics that matter most at the controller, CFO, and senior accountant level in a cooperative: regulatory accounting under ASC 980, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, performance measurement, and cash reserves and financial strength.
Use ASC 980 to align expense and revenue recognition with approved rates — reducing financial volatility and improving the clarity of your financial statements.
Allocate support and overhead costs across departments and functions on a defensible basis — so your cost of service study holds up when a regulator or member asks how the number was built.
AROs, asset impairments, leases, critical spares, storm damage, and jointly-owned plants — the non-routine construction scenarios that have real consequences for rate recovery and financial reporting.
The KPIs that matter most for utility financial planning, operational decision-making, and board communication — and how to use them effectively at a governance level.
Apply the two-step ASC 360 test to identify and measure an impairment, then use ASC 980 to defer the loss and recover it through customer rates rather than absorbing it in one year.
Allocate and retire patronage capital, set defensible reserve targets, and balance what the members are owed against the capital the co-op needs to run the system.
"This track brought everything together for me — regulatory accounting, construction, and rate studies — in a way that finally made the full co-op business model click. Immediately applicable to real-world finance challenges."
"The regulatory accounting course alone changed how we approach our annual rate strategy conversations with the board. I finally had the framework to explain why we defer certain costs and what it means for future rates."
"I came in as an experienced accountant from outside the co-op industry. This track gave me the specific depth I needed — the impairment course and the reserves and financial strength course were exactly what was missing from my background."
Russ Hissom is a nationally recognized expert in utility accounting and ratemaking, with more than 35 years of experience helping electric utilities and cooperatives navigate FERC, RUS, FASB, and GASB accounting standards. As founder of UtilityEducation.com, Russ has built a comprehensive CPE curriculum drawing on decades of hands-on work with regulatory accounting, construction accounting, and rate case support for investor-owned utilities, public power, and electric cooperatives.
This track is designed for experienced accounting and finance professionals — controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, and finance managers. It assumes familiarity with basic co-op accounting concepts. If you're new to the industry, start with the New Co-op Professional Career Track first.
One course assumes familiarity with the corresponding fundamentals: Advanced FERC & RUS Construction Accounting. The rest can be taken cold. The track as a whole is built for experienced cooperative finance professionals, so it assumes working knowledge of co-op accounting throughout.
All video lessons, downloads, exercises, and Excel templates for all six courses. 12 months of access from the date of purchase.
Yes — 12.50 NASBA CPE hours total. Each course awards credits separately upon passing the final exam at 70% or better. You'll receive a completion certificate for each course.
We offer group training discounts and can tailor a solution for your organization with a private branded-portal specific to your co-op. Just call us at 608 628 4020 or email russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com.
Email or call 608-628-4020. We welcome questions anytime.
