Senior Financial Accountant

Enterprise Financial Accounting Position

Performs complex Enterprise financial accounting and/or budgeting and cost accounting, reporting and analysis with a focus on accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement. Prepares journal entries on a day-to-day basis to properly record financial transactions. Prepares regulatory, external and internal financial reporting in compliance with U.S GAAP, statutory and regulatory requirements. Prepares financial analysis, presenting results to departmental and shared service leadership. Contributes to enterprise-wide financial initiatives including implementation of new accounting standards, assessment of emerging accounting issues, and improvement of reporting processes. Serves as a subject matter resource on accounting topics, collaborating with operations, FP&A, and business stakeholders to interpret accounting guidance and assess the impact of complex or unique transactions. Works with minimal supervision and is responsible for making an established range of decisions, escalating to management when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Prepares complex general ledger accounting entries for life insurance subsidiaries and non-life entities, on both a statutory and GAAP basis.
• Executes comprehensive variance analysis of financial results for business unit and shared service leadership.
• Partners with organizational peers to present results to department leadership and BU analysts to support business unit decision-making, budget analysis and strategic initiatives.
• Prepares regulatory, external and internal reporting for distribution to management, Board of Directors, regulators and rating agencies.
• Leads targeted departmental initiatives and is a resource on large-scale enterprise initiatives. Leads coordination with external stakeholders on department projects (i.e., auditors).
• Performs complex account reconciliations in order to ensure the integrity of financial data.
• Identifies accounting issues impacting the insurance and non-life companies, researches and escalates issues.
• Maintains technical accounting expertise of other statutory and GAAP accounting principles. Formalizes results in technical accounting memos.
• Owns the implementation and maintenance of effective processes and procedures for completing and improving work.
• Leverages operational excellence to identify, evaluate and implement changes to improve efficiency and reduce risk.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferably with a concentration in accounting and/or a finance-oriented field. - Required
• Typically having two to five years of related experience. - Preferred
• Demonstrated experience successfully acting as the lead on projects as well as a resource to other accountants. - Preferred
• Demonstrated successful experience in problem-solving situations. - Required
• Must provide examples from work experience of going above and beyond the call of duty to assist team members. - Required
• Demonstrated working knowledge, understanding and experience interpreting, utilizing and applying statutory and GAAP accounting rules and regulations. Cite examples that demonstrate proficiency in this area. - Preferred
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret financial statements and apply a broad business perspective in summarizing results. - Preferred
• Proven excellent verbal and written communication skills and experience communicating to and influencing opinion in large and small groups. - Required
• Cite examples of self-motivation and proactive personal development. - Required
• Demonstrated ability to adapt communication styles and successfully articulate technical information to associates as well as various levels of management. - Preferred
• Proven agility handling multiple priorities within a fast-paced financial environment. - Required
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with integrity and maturity. - Required
• Demonstrated commitment to quality, emphasizes the need to deliver quality products and/or services; defines standards for quality and evaluates products, processes and/or services against those standards; builds quality into each step of the process. - Required
• Proficient in general ledger accounting and spreadsheet applications. - Preferred
• Working knowledge of word processing and presentation applications. - Required
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Or MBA - Preferred

Work Setting/Position Demands:

• Works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Requires the ability to verbally communicate and exchange accurate information to customers and associates on a regular basis.
• Requires visual acuity to read and interpret a variety of correspondence, procedures, reports and forms via paper and electronic documents, visual inspection involving small defects; small parts, and/or operation of machinery (including inspection); using measurement devices continuously. Visual acuity is required to determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.
• Requires the ability to prepare written correspondence, reports and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style on a regular basis.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Performs substantial movement of wrists, hands, and fingers for continuous computer work.
• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects/events.

Travel Requirements:

• None

Western & Southern Financial Group