Staff Accountant

Description

At St. Cloud Financial Credit Union , we are passionate about our vision to make a meaningful difference through human connection. Each employee will demonstrate our core values and mission: To make a difference for all, we advocate for people through a member-focused culture, an enthusiastic employee environment, and purposeful action within our community.

The Staff Accountant supports the financial operations of the credit union by maintaining accurate accounting records, completing reconciliations, preparing financial information, and supporting operational accounting activities. This position performs moderately advanced accounting work under general supervision and follows generally accepted accounting principles, regulatory requirements, internal controls, and credit union accounting practices.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accounting & Financial Reporting: Prepare and post journal entries related to accruals, expenses, investments, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, depreciation, and other general ledger activity. Assist with month end close, financial reporting, accounting schedules, audits, and regulatory reporting requirements. Assist in preparing accounting and financial performance reports for internal and external use, including the quarterly NCUA 5300 Call Report. Prepare and provide supporting documentation to auditors and examiners as needed. (25%)
• Reconciliations & Analysis: Perform reconciliations of assigned general ledger accounts and operational systems using internal and external data sources. Research and resolve discrepancies, identify variances or unusual activity, and help ensure the accuracy and integrity of accounting records. (25%)
• Excel & Process Improvement: Use Excel to analyze data, prepare reconciliations, and support financial reporting. Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, strengthen controls, reduce manual effort, and increase efficiency. (25%)
• Financial Operations: Reconcile and record daily settlement and cash clearing activity for ACH, share drafts, debit cards, credit cards, ATM and ITM transactions, point of sale activity, bill payment, mobile deposits, and other payment channels. Support cash management, branch vault cash orders, wire activity, and other operational accounting functions. (15%)
• General Accounting: Process vendor invoices, employee reimbursements, corporate credit card transactions, and related general ledger activity accurately and timely. Maintain supporting documentation, assist with accounting schedules, and respond to audit, examination, and regulatory requests. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

1. To approach assigned responsibilities with curiosity, initiative, and a continuous improvement mindset that supports greater efficiency and stronger accounting processes.
2. To meet established credit union and department standards for accuracy, timeliness, service, compliance, and quality.
3. To contribute positively to the credit union’s culture by supporting a collaborative work environment and maintaining a strong focus on member and organizational needs.
4. To actively participate within the department and keep leadership informed of significant accounting, operational, or financial issues that may affect the organization.
5. To ensure assigned general ledger accounts and reconciliations are current, balanced, properly supported, and completed within established timeframes.
6. To prepare journal entries, reports, reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation accurately and within prescribed deadlines.
7. To assist in preparing accounting and financial performance reports for internal and external use, including the quarterly NCUA 5300 Call Report, accurately and within required reporting deadlines.
8. To research and resolve accounting discrepancies in a timely manner and elevate significant or unresolved issues as appropriate.
9. To provide accurate, helpful, and professional assistance to coworkers, members, vendors, auditors, examiners, and other business partners regarding accounting matters and processes.
10. To identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls, and create efficiencies within accounting operations.
11. To comply with applicable policies, procedures, internal controls, and regulatory requirements, including reporting suspicious activity in accordance with the Bank Secrecy Act.

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

EXPERIENCE

Three to five years of similar or related experience. Experience with general ledger accounting, reconciliations, accounts payable, financial reporting, or operational accounting is preferred.

EDUCATION

1) A two-year (Associates) degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field, or 2) completion of a specialized certification or licensing, or 3) job-specific related skills acquired through an apprenticeship or internship program.

TECHNICAL & ACCOUNTING SKILLS

Work involves much personal contact with others inside and/or outside the organization which may require discussion, building relationships, and soliciting cooperation. Outside contacts take the form of service to the public (members or vendors), requiring diplomacy and professional courtesy for the purpose of providing assistance and information.

INTERPERSONAL

Work involves substantial contact with individuals inside and outside the organization and may require discussion, relationship building, and obtaining cooperation. External contacts typically involve service to members or vendors and require diplomacy and professional courtesy to provide assistance and information.

OTHER SKILLS

Thorough knowledge of credit union products and services is required. Must be experienced and knowledgeable in accounting terms and processes, including working knowledge of accounting software. Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office products, specifically Word and Excel. Effective communication skills are essential, along with a natural curiosity and desire to create process improvements and efficiencies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

ADA – Mental Demands: The mental characteristics necessary to competently perform this job include the ability to be persuasive and take initiative, analyze situations and be resourceful, and continually concentrate, exercise judgment, remain alert, work precisely, and demonstrate patience.

ADA – Physical Demands: The physical demands described here represent those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is required to use hands and fingers, stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

ADA – Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

This job description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.