Accounting Trainee - Short Hills, NJ (Hybrid)

About Us

At Selective, we don't just insure uniquely, we employ uniqueness.

Selective is a midsized U.S. domestic property and casualty insurance company with a history of strong, consistent financial performance for nearly 100 years. Selective's unique position as both a leading insurance group and an employer of choice is recognized in a wide variety of awards and honors, including listing in Forbes Best Midsize Employers in 2025 and certification as a Great Place to Work® in 2025 for the sixth consecutive year.

Employees are empowered and encouraged to Be Uniquely You by being their true, unique selves and contributing their diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives to our shared success. Together, we are a high-performing team working to serve our customers responsibly by helping to mitigate loss, keep them safe, and restore their lives and businesses after an insured loss occurs.


Overview

The Momentum Trainee program for professionals is a robust 9-month program that builds a foundation of insurance expertise through classroom learning, business rotations, and on-the-job training. Momentum has launched over 250 successful and rewarding careers at Selective and that number is still growing - upon completion of the program, trainees transition to full-time roles in Underwriting, including Excess & Surplus lines, Risk Management, Accounting and more. The training kicks off in July 2026 for 8 weeks at our corporate headquarters in Branchville, NJ before trainees return to their regional offices.


Learn the financial operations of the company by the successful completion of the training program, which includes on-the-job training, classroom training, and corporate function shadowing outside of accounting. Trainees will learn basic principles of accounting through a job rotation opportunity through business units in the Accounting Department, such as: Reinsurance, Statutory Reporting, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Reporting, Expense Management, and Investment Accounting. A trainee will be expected to learn the business and support more experienced finance professionals. All job duties and responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Note: (For NJ candidates) This role will be located at our future headquarters in Short Hills, N.J. Until the new headquarters is operational, the successful candidate will be offered the ability to work in our Branchville, N.J. location during this interim period.


Responsibilities

• Reconcile general ledger account balances.
• Maintain general ledger accounts.
• Review financial statement accounts for accuracy.
• Post journal entries.
• Assist with month-end and quarter-end close processes.
• Assist with external reporting to state insurance departments and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
• Assist with external reporting to the SEC.
• Advise management of any unusual trends, budget variances, difficulties obtaining information or other pending issues.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers/peers.
• Must show sound, balanced and timely decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of accounting and finance terminology and general application.
• Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, and Access applications.

Education and Experience

• BA/BS in Accounting required.

Total Rewards

Selective Insurance offers a total rewards package that includes a competitive base salary, incentive plan eligibility at all levels, and a wide array of benefits designed to help you and your family stay healthy, achieve your financial goals, and balance the demands of your work and personal life. These benefits include comprehensive health care plans, retirement savings plan with company match, discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program, tuition assistance and reimbursement programs, and paid time off plans. Additional details about our total rewards package will be provided during the recruiting process.

The actual base salary is based on geographic location, and the range is representative of salaries for this role throughout Selective's footprint. Additional considerations include relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and business needs.


Pay Range

USD $64,000.00 - USD $70,000.00 /Yr.
Additional Information

Selective is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. That means we respect and value every individual's unique opinions, beliefs, abilities, and perspectives. We are committed to promoting a welcoming culture that celebrates diverse talent, individual identity, different points of view and experiences - and empowers employees to contribute new ideas that support our continued and growing success. Building a highly engaged team is one of our core strategic imperatives, which we believe is enhanced by diversity, equity, and inclusion. We expect and encourage all employees and all of our business partners to embrace, practice, and monitor the attitudes, values, and goals of acceptance; address biases; and foster diversity of viewpoints and opinions.