Oil and gas production accountants track and analyze production data, calculate revenue and royalties associated with properties owned by oil companies, and ensure reporting requirements are met.

Oil and gas production accountants keep track of the activity at well sites, pipelines and other facilities and prepare monthly reports for the province, owners and the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).

In general, oil and gas production accountants:

• gather production data and confirm pipeline deliveries
• enter well tests, inventories and sales into a database
• gather and analyze volumetric data for wells, batteries, gathering systems, gas plants
• communicate volumetric activities and product splits to owners, producers, refineries and purchasers
• calculate and book revenues, royalties, tax credits and processing fees
• review purchaser statements and reconcile accounts receivable
• set up and update crowning incentives, royalty masters and trucking deductions.
  

Production accountants usually work in offices. Their hours of work vary depending on the organization and level of responsibility. Overtime often is required at month end and year end. Depending on the position, some travel may be required.

Oil and gas production accountants need the following characteristics:

• good math skills
• the ability to pay close attention to details
• good communication and interpersonal skills
• excellent analytical, time management and problem solving skills
• the ability to work alone and as part of a team
• high ethical standards.

They should enjoy having clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities, developing innovative solutions to problems and directing the activities of others.

The minimum education requirement for oil and gas production accountants is a high school diploma. However, employers generally prefer to hire applicants who:

• have strong computer skills and experience using production accounting software
• are familiar with the oil and gas industry
• are enrolled in or have completed a CAPPA certificate program.

In conjunction with several post-secondary institutions in Alberta, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accounting (CAPPA) offers a five course certificate program. Courses are offered evenings and weekends on campus and also are available in an online self-paced format. For more information, see the calendars and websites of the following institutions:

• Academy of Learning in Edmonton
• Grande Prairie Regional College
• Lakeland College in Lloydminster
• Medicine Hat College
• Mount Royal University in Calgary
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary.

SAIT also offers an eight month Accounting Oil and Gas Production certificate program. Entrance requirements include a high school diploma, a current resume, two letters of reference and a one page summary of the applicant's reasons for enrolling in the program. Graduates receive a CAPPA certificate as well as a program certificate.

For more advanced positions, a bachelor's degree in business administration may be required. For more information about related post-secondary education programs, see the Accountant occupational profile.

Oil and gas production accountants generally are employed by small and large oil and gas companies whose head offices are located in large urban centres.

Oil and gas production accountants are part of the larger National Occupational Classification 1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants. In Alberta, 79 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction
• Public Administration
• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing
• Manufacturing
• Wholesale Trade.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 27,200 Albertans are employed in the Financial Auditors and Accountants occupational group which is expected to have an annual below average growth of 2.1 per cent from 2012 to 2016 in Alberta. It is forecasted that about 571 new positions will be created each year in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. (Note: Since oil and gas production accountants form only a part of the larger occupational group on which this forecast is based, only a portion of the new positions created will be for oil and gas production accountants.)

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Financial Auditors and Accountants occupational group earned on average from $26.91 to $44.58 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $34.28 an hour. For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accounting (CAPPA) website: www.cappa.org

Petroleum Accountants Society of Canada (PASC) website: www.petroleumaccountants.com