Enironmental Accounting
Controller Job Description
An environmental accountant plays a critical role within an organization. Their roles have even become more important with the increasing need for environmental awareness in the corporate world. Environmental accountants work with the management to determine the cost an organization will incur regarding environmental compliance. Apart from evaluating the cost of compliance, they use their accounting skills to help save the environment itself. They do this by recommending alternative chemicals, processes or product designs. Environmental accountants may be responsible for the sale of pollution licenses and certification of clean technologies. They may also help the organization develop new ways of generating revenues, such as the sale of waste products. They also develop and monitor the organization’s environmental management system (EMS). They use this system to implement and review customized environmental and safety best practices in the organization. Environmental accountants may perform three accounting duties. These include managerial accounting, financial accounting and national accounting. Managerial accounting is an internal form of accounting that helps the organization’s management make purchasing, investment and production decisions. Financial accounting mainly deals with external reporting. It reports on an organization’s environmental liabilities and costs to the shareholders. National accounting is mainly for a country’s natural resources and their economic flows and costs.
Environmental accountants must be experts in general financial or cost accounting and the related field of sustainability. This is because they must continually combine traditional accounting skills with environmental management and conservation principles to better analyze cost-to-benefit ratios. They work to identify and track both fiscal and physical environmental cost and then present their findings to those in managerial positions. Additionally, environmental accountants are often responsible for maintaining positive relations with the community at large, helping the company’s media image in terms of how people view their influence on the world. Those people who have high interest in sustainability want to see companies making this a main point in their outreach on social media and elsewhere on the web, especially in the energy sector.
Anyone who wants to become an environmental accountant must have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting. You must also have earned the relevant credentials such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Analyst (CFA). Unfortunately, very few colleges and universities have environmental accounting degree programs. Many companies accept those who have majored in accounting with a concentration in environmental topics. Apart from education, you must be up-to-date with both national and local regulations relative to pollution and greenhouse gases.
Typical duties of a Controller
• Research, compare, and recommend the very best environmental practices
• Identify environmental opportunities and evaluate potential costs and benefits
• Monitor environmental procedures and report any observed changes
• Stay informed regarding national environmental laws and regulations
• Report on the costs associated with ecological projects
• Assist in designing an environmentally-friendly manufacturing process for goods and, or services offered
• Create and manage environmental information systems
• Oversee accounting tasks, such as purchasing, investing, and establishing product/service pricing
• Identify environmental opportunities that bring in additional profits
• Take note of and report potential environmental liabilities
• Predict future financial expenses and gains based on environmental information system implementation
• Consult with companies, professionals, and researchers about environmental impacts
• Provide honest, unbiased, and relevant environmental information to individuals within and outside of the company
• Learn and analyze both ecological and financial trends and cycles
• Explain how environmental trends and events can impact company futures
• Explain how financial trends and events can impact company futures
• Communicate openly with stakeholders about environmental conditions and overall financial performance
• Discuss environmental standings and procedures with potential investors and lenders
• Assess company tasks and strategies and then assign their financial value for more accurate reporting
• Stay up-to-date with environmental accounting best practices
• Establish protocols for use during certain environmental scenarios
• Perform basic accounting tasks
Skillls:
• Data analysis
• Forecasting
• Negotiation
• Commercial awareness
• Problem solving
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication
• Diplomacy
• Passion and awareness of social and environmental issues
• Ability to work with a range of stakeholders
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in accounting