Experienced Co-op 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 utility and cooperative environment.
Beyond the fundamentals — expertise that makes a difference at the senior level
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 a cooperative: regulatory accounting under ASC 980 and GASB 62, advanced construction accounting, asset impairments, performance measurement, and cash reserves and financial strength. Applicable to investor-owned utilities, public power, and electric cooperatives.
- Controllers and CFOs at utilities and cooperatives
- Senior accountants and finance managers
- Experienced professionals transitioning into utility finance
- Consultants supporting utility financial operations and rate studies
- Auditors of cooperatives and utilities
After completing this track you will be able to:
From regulatory mastery to member equity
Six courses built for experienced cooperative finance professionals — regulatory accounting, cost allocation, construction depth, KPIs, impairments, and patronage capital. Earn 12.50 NASBA CPE hours.
Recommended sequence
Courses can be taken in any order based on your priorities.
Use ASC 980 and GASB 62 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 utility business model click. Immediately applicable to real-world utility 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 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."
Russ Hissom, CPA is a nationally recognized utility accounting and rate expert with deep hands-on experience in regulatory accounting, construction cost recovery, cost-of-service studies, and rate design for electric utilities and cooperatives of all sizes. The courses in this track reflect the advanced topics he works through daily with CFOs and controllers across the industry.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Requests for refunds must be made in writing within 30 days of 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 russ.hissom@utilityeducation.com.
Course materials are provided for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute legal, accounting, or professional advice. © 2026 Utility Accounting & Rates Specialists, LLC. All rights reserved.
Take your utility finance expertise to the next level
Earn 12.50 NASBA CPE hours and an Experienced Co-op Accounting & Finance Professional Certificate. Six courses, one enrollment, and the depth that senior roles demand.