Accounting Specialist

At Concordia Plans we care for those who serve by providing excellent retirement, healthcare, and benefit services. We have a new opportunity for an Accounting Specialist. Concordia Plans has a reputation for outstanding culture, most recently winning the 2025 Top Workplaces USA award. This honor goes to the country’s best employers with high performing people-first cultures. Our recent history of employment excellence also includes being awarded the 2023‑2025 Top Workplaces USA award, the Top Workplaces 2021 - 2026 St. Louis Post‑Dispatch awards and over the past five years additional special awards for Work-Life Flexibility, Compensation & Benefits, Purpose & Values, Employee Well-Being, Professional Development, Business Health Culture and Appreciation. Established more than 50 years ago providing service in 6,000 communities throughout the United States, we are mission focused professionals united to care for those caring for our community. At Concordia Plans we are focused and flexible. Embracing the new normal, pioneering ways to continue to support work life balance in our family first culture. We offer competitive compensation with a benefit package, including a pension plan, 403(b), health insurance at no cost to the employee, and much more. With this exciting opportunity you can combine experience, talent, and passion as part of our team at Concordia Plans serving the workers of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. General Summary The (Payroll) Accounting Specialist supports the financial integrity and operational efficiency of Concordia Plan Services by performing accurate payroll and accounts payable processing, benefit reconciliation, and general ledger maintenance. This role ensures timely compliance with financial policies, regulatory requirements, and internal controls while supporting audits, budgeting, and vendor relationships. With a strong attention to detail and service orientation, the Accounting Specialist contributes to the overall success of internal operations and employee satisfaction. Essential Job Functions Processes semi‑monthly and special payrolls for 175+ employees with accuracy and adherence to schedule. Coordinates with Human Resources to process employee status and benefit changes. Responds to employee payroll and time‑keeping inquiries with professionalism and clear communication. Submits vendor payments and data for 403(b) plans, personal spending accounts, and charitable contributions. Reconciles monthly benefit billings and payroll tax records, including vacation and paid time off accruals. Maintains payroll records and ensures proper documentation for all payroll‑related transactions. Ensures secure document retention and organization of payroll and accounting files. Prepares payroll journal entries and performs general ledger reconciliations related to payroll accounts. Balances payroll tax returns (941s), ACA/1095 filings, and W‑2 forms against deposits and internal records to ensure compliance and accuracy. Assists in payroll budgeting and allocation of expenses by plan or product, ensuring supporting documentation is accurate and complete. Maintains payroll procedures, ensuring compliance with policies, employment laws, and best practices. Supports internal and external audits (financial and workers' compensation) by preparing schedules and responding to audit inquiries. Executes accounts receivable and accounts payable transactions, including vendor maintenance. Initiates, reconciles, and records electronic payments, and reports banking transactions. Supports ongoing process improvement efforts and performs additional duties as assigned. Education And Experience Associate's degree or equivalent related experience required; Bachelor's degree, preferred. Three (3) years of experience in payroll and accounting, preferred. Proficiency with accounting and payroll software; experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, and SharePoint, required. Core Competencies Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities and results, following through on commitments and acknowledging areas for growth and improvement. Communication Excellence: Communicates clearly and concisely across all channels, reflecting the organization's values and fostering mutual understanding. Composure: Maintains calm and focus under pressure, navigating stress, ambiguity, and tight deadlines with thoughtful decision‑making and poise. Customer Focus: Demonstrates care, attentiveness, and responsiveness to internal and external customers; anticipates needs and delivers service with empathy and professionalism. Data Literacy: Gathers, interprets, and communicates complex data to uncover insights, guide decisions, and support organizational objectives with clarity and precision. Detail‑Oriented: Demonstrates precision and thoroughness in all work, ensuring accuracy and completeness with a high level of attention to detail. Learning Agility: Quickly assimilates new information, adapts to evolving circumstances, and applies knowledge to improve processes and outcomes. Problem Solving: Applies structured thinking and analysis to identify root causes, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions; seeks input and collaborates to optimize results. Results‑Oriented: Consistently drives toward outcomes, self‑motivated and focused on goals while managing time and priorities effectively with minimal supervision. Trustworthiness: Demonstrates unwavering integrity, honesty, and dependability; aligns actions with words, safeguards confidential information, and takes full accountability for mistakes without deflection. #J-18808-Ljbffr