Experienced Public Utility Accounting & Finance Professional Career Track

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 public utility environment.

5
Courses
|
10
CPE Hours
|
NASBA Registered
|
Certificate of Completion
$

597

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Also included with annual membership
$1,015
 value · save
41%
Putting a team through this track? Group pricing and a shared portal are available →

5

Courses

10

CPE Hours

5.0★

Average Rating

1,000+

Professionals Served

Beyond the fundamentals — expertise that makes a difference at the senior level and above

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 utility and cooperative industry.

Six courses cover the topics that matter most at the controller, CFO, and senior accountant level in an investor-owned utility: regulatory accounting under ASC 980 regulatory accounting, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, performance measurement, and cash reserves and financial strength.

Who This Track Is For

  • Controllers and CFOs at utilities
  • Senior accountants and finance managers
  • Experienced professionals transitioning into utility finance
  • Consultants supporting utility financial operations and rate studies
  • Auditors of utilities

How You'll Learn

Short Lessons, Not Long Lectures - Focused video lessons you can fit around your workday.
Interactive Videos - Questions, activities and interactive content inside each video keep you engaged.
Hands-On Practice - Exercises let you test your judgment and reinforce key points.
Job-Ready Toolkits - Downloadable tools and guides for future reference or on the job.
Practical Applications - Apply concepts to realistic situations.
Built-In Reinforcement - Review questions throughout the course support retention of the material.

What You'll Achieve

Implement regulatory accounting under GASB 62 to stabilize rates, defer cost recovery, and manage financial volatility
Apply GASB 42/83 to record asset impairments and recover costs through rates using GASB 62
Calculate target reserve levels, build defensible financial policies, and understand the credit metrics rating agencies use to evaluate utility bonds
Handle advanced construction accounting scenarios — AROs, impairments, leases, storm damage, and jointly-owned plants
Interpret and communicate utility KPIs to support financial planning and board decision-making
Align financial strategy and reporting with organizational goals and regulatory requirements
Courses in This Track

Recommended sequence

Courses can be taken in any order based on your priorities.
1

Mastering Regulatory Assets: Your Roadmap to Smoother Ratemaking

Use GASB 62 to align expense and revenue recognition with approved rates — reducing financial volatility and improving the clarity of your financial statements.

3.50
CPE Credits
2

Electric Construction Accounting: Advanced FERC & RUS Topics

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.

3.00
CPE Credits
3

GASB Guidelines for Asset Impairments, Decommissioning & Regulatory Accounting

Apply GASB 42, 83, and 62 to account for asset impairments and retirement obligations — and recover those costs through customer rates.

1.00
CPE Credits
4

Using Key Performance Indicators to Drive Better Performance

The KPIs that matter most for utility financial planning, operational decision-making, and board communication — and how to use them effectively at a senior level.

1.50
CPE Credits
5

Cash Reserves and Financial Strength: A Guide for Electric Utilities

Target reserve levels, GFOA-recommended financial policies, and the five credit metrics rating agencies use to evaluate utility and co-op bond ratings — build and defend real financial strength.

1.50
CPE Credits

What Our Students Say

★★★★★

"This track brought everything together for me — regulatory accounting, construction, and rate studies — in a way that finally made the full utility business model click. Immediately applicable to real-world utility finance challenges."

Melissa - Controller - Electric Utility
★★★★★

"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."

David - CFO - Electric Cooperative
★★★★★

"I came in as an experienced accountant from outside the utility industry. This track gave me the utility-specific depth I needed — the GASB impairment course and the reserves and financial strength course were exactly what was missing from my background."

Karen - Senior Accountant - Public Power Joint Action Agency

Your Instructor

Russ Hissom, CPA

Principal, UtilityEducation.com — 35+ Years of Utility Accounting Experience

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What experience level is this track designed for?
+

This track is designed for experienced accounting and finance professionals — controllers, CFOs, senior accountants, and finance managers. It assumes familiarity with basic utility accounting concepts. If you're new to the industry, start with the New Utility Professional Career Track first.

Do any of the courses have prerequisites?
+

Two courses assume familiarity with the corresponding fundamentals: Advanced FERC & RUS Construction Accounting, and Cash Reserves and Financial Strength. The rest can be taken cold. The track as a whole is built for experienced professionals, so it assumes working knowledge of utility accounting throughout.

What is included and how long do I have access?
+

All video lessons, downloads, exercises, and Excel templates for all five courses. 12 months of access from the date of purchase.

Others on my team can benefit from this Career Track. How can we make that happen?
+

Just email russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com or call 608 628 4020 and we can discuss group training. You can also reach out with any questions on the courses.

Do I earn CPE credits?
+

Yes — 10.50 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.

Have more questions?
+

Email or call 608-628-4020. We welcome questions anytime.

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