Senior Director-Operational Accounting

Primary Purpose:

The Senior Director of Operational Accounting is responsible for the strategic leadership, oversight, and execution of all operational accounting activities for Tallgrass's crude oil, terminal,and natural gas accounting functions. The role provides enterprise-wide leadership over operational accounting, financial planning and analysis, management reporting, regulatory compliance, internal controls, and process improvement initiatives. The Senior Director serves as a key member of the Finance organization and partners extensively with Executive Leadership, Commercial, Operations, Business Development, Regulatory, Treasury, FP&A, Legal, and external stakeholders to support strategic business objectives and ensure the integrity of financial and operational reporting. Responsibilities combine and expand upon the leadership duties currently performed within both the liquids and natural gas operational accounting organizations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Operational Accounting across Liquids and Natural Gas business segments.
• Establish departmental goals, performance measures, and operating priorities aligned with corporate objectives.
• Partner with Executive Leadership, Commercial, Operations, Regulatory, Treasury, FP&A, Legal, and Business Development teams to support strategic initiatives and optimize business performance.
• Provide guidance on complex accounting matters, commercial transactions, regulatory issues, and strategic decision-making across the organization.
• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing Operational Accounting organization through succession planning, talent development, leadership coaching, employee engagement, and a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes and ensure the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting.
• Oversee financial statement support, management reporting, account reconciliations, accounting analyses, and other core operational accounting activities.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, FERC requirements, SOX controls, internal accounting policies, and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and ensure controls evolve appropriately with business growth, operational changes, and emerging risks.
• Direct forecasting, budgeting, long-range planning, and executive reporting activities across the Liquids and Natural Gas business segments
• Analyze and communicate financial results, key business drivers, operating trends, margin performance, risks, opportunities, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership.
• Oversee regulatory reporting activities, including FERC Forms, EIA filings, state commission filings, and other required regulatory submissions.
• Lead internal, external, and regulatory audits and ensure timely resolution of audit findings, recommendations, and remediation efforts.
• Sponsor accounting system enhancements, automation initiatives, data governance efforts, and enterprise transformation projects.
• Drive standardization, efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement across Operational Accounting processes, systems, and reporting.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• 10+ years of progressive oil & gas accounting experience, with significant natural gas and regulatory exposure.

• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.

• Advanced knowledge of GAAP and internal controls.

• Advanced understanding and demonstrated ability with computerized accounting systems, financial modeling, budgets, operating analysis, and management reporting.

• Exceptional analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

• Experience with large dynamic environments.

• CPA certification preferred

Key Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with strong operational awareness

• Ability to lead and inspire high performing teams

• Deep technical knowledge of midstream and oil accounting

• Strong communication and executive‑level presentation skills

• High attention to detail with a continuous improvement mindset

• Ability to navigate complex commercial agreements and translate them into accounting processes

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, verbal and written

• Capable of working independently and with limited supervision.

• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.

• Must be very detailed oriented, self-motivated, a team player and able to work on/handle multiple projects at the same time

• Must be able to perform all the essential and marginal functions of the job.

• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.

• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.

• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.

• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience and skill sets of the successful candidate.

Physical Demands:

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for 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.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.

• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.

• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.

• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel.

• The employee is required to talk and listen. 

• The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms, walk and climb or balance.. 

• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• May be required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.

• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Responsible for supervising multiple teams.

Compensation:

• The annual salary range for this position will be $190,400-$230,000/yr.