Sr. Accountant - Investment Accounting Job at Sammons Financial Group in West De

Overview:
Responsible for the preparation and review of the annual, quarterly, and monthly internal and external investment accounting and reporting close cycles. Responsible for the maintenance and improvement of investment accounting data, analysis and systems. Responsible for indirect supervision and guidance of Investment Analysis team and serve as mentor. Serve as subject matter expert (SME) and handle complex work assignments. Work in a positive, professional and collaborative fashion with employees at all levels across the organization.

Responsibilities:

Serve as SME and go to individual for the department by handling complex work items and questions presented to the team, including the ability to research and understand new accounting and financial reporting requirements including in-depth knowledge of how to apply the existing statutory (NAIC) guidelines and most aspects of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) insurance investment accounting to our investment processes and systems.
Prepare and review annual and quarterly statutory filings (for compliance, data quality, and overall trend analysis) for all investments, including but not limited to long-term bonds, derivatives, equity securities, limited partnerships (and other equity method investments), commercial mortgage loans and short-term investments. First point of contact for questions from Financial Reporting and auditors.
Prepare and review compliance/regulatory reporting and distribute data tables and disclosures to appropriate stakeholders. Examples include rating agencies surveys (S&P, AM Best, Fitch), year-end GAAP audit report financials and footnotes, and State of Iowa exams.
Execute and lead key controls for the purposes of both the Model Audit Rule (MAR) and the external audit of our year-end GAAP financials (and other all product filings with the SEC). Design and identify all appropriate checks and balances within those key controls, along with ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
Act as a first point of contact as an investment accounting consultant for users of our data, including answering day-to-day questions with security master files, investment trends, and system functions, etc. Will act as a back-up for system administrator functions
Serve as SME and primary point of contact for compliance with State of Iowa Investment Code 511.8, provide sign-off to the CFO each month that our allowable investments are in excess of our defined legal reserve.
Assist with analysis of data in and out of the investment accounting system for a variety of processes, including but not limited to: valuation/pricing, prepayment speeds for mortgage-backed securities, external cash flows projections, agency (and NAIC) ratings
Continuously scrub and enhance data within the investment systems (holdings, transactions, security master file, etc.)
Assist with and review the daily cash reconciliation of custodian to investment system; resolve any issues or concerns immediately.
Assist with and review the position reconciliation of custodian to investment system; resolve any issues or concerns immediately.
Prepare/review internal reports for executives, actuaries, financial reporting, and investment management partners, as needed.
Prepare/review monthly investment accounting trial balance reconciliations..
Assist in developing and maintaining investment accounting policies and procedures documentation (for MAR and otherwise). Responsible for developing well documented procedures and cross training others.
Identify and achieve common objectives across the team. Empower team and share important or relevant information. Value and use individual differences and talents. Actively listen and participate in team decisions and actions.
Coach others to identify and implement continuous process improvements and support innovation. Proactively seek information about future projects and developments and prepare the team to accommodate changes in jobs/functions; evaluate change objectively regardless of the impact on own or team, view change as being a positive opportunity. Enthusiastically adopt and support new work processes.
Coach others to document conditions that cause problems to occur, develop an action plan and take initiative with our vendors and partners, when appropriate. Provide insight to assist others in better understanding of facts and circumstances. Encourage collaboration so team members seek information and gain buy-in.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree Accounting or Business Management with a strong accounting background Required
• Minimum 5 years' of accounting, financial reporting, auditing, or related experience, insurance and/or investment accounting experience Preferred
• Strong command of GAAP accounting, insurance and/or investment accounting knowledge is a plus
• Familiarity with accounting systems, key controls, audit reports, report writing tools, and data analysis tools
• Ability to build and maintain a strong working relationship with staff and managers within Corporate Accounting and our Asset Management partners.
• Knowledge of complex investment instruments is a plus
• Excellent attention to detail, effective oral and written communication skills with an engaging, approachable style. Active listener
• Exceptional problem solving skills, encourages others to think critically, acts as a necessary resource coach, volunteers for assignments and removes barriers to facilitate the accomplishment of team goals; consistently involves others and brings different peoples knowledge and skills to bear on achieving team goals; always shares relevant or important information with the team; always adheres to decisions and recommendations of the team and is an enthusiastic supporter
• Highly organized, self-directed, high level of accuracy and ability to meet strict deadlines is required
• Exemplifies organizational values in day to day actions
• CPA and/or working toward CFA Preferred
• This position may require up to 10% travel, and mostly between Sammons Financial Group offices in Sioux Falls and West Des Moines

Suitability Requirements:

Criminal/Credit background

Company Information:
Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship:
At this time, were not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)