Lead Accountant - Investment Reporting

This position requires strong investment accounting and reporting, analytical, functional leadership, project leadership, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently, coordinate the work of others, and collaborate effectively across departments and with external partners in a complex, fast-paced insurance environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Investment Accounting & Reporting

Lead the preparation and review of investment-related components of monthly, quarterly and annual consolidated GAAP financial statements, statutory financial statements, regulatory filings, and related financial statement disclosures, ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, statutory accounting principles, and applicable reporting requirements.
Prepare and review investment supporting schedules, financial disclosures, security pricing and valuation information, reconciliations, analyses, and related documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Coordinate assigned investment accounting and reporting workstreams and support the timely completion of key close, financial reporting, and regulatory reporting requirements and deadlines.
Oversee the accounting for investment purchases, sales, income, amortization, realized and unrealized gains and losses, impairments, and other investment-related activity.
Review security pricing and valuation information, investigate pricing exceptions or unusual valuation changes, and coordinate the resolution of identified discrepancies with appropriate internal and external parties.
Analyze investment balances, income, performance-related accounting results, valuations, and financial trends, identify significant or unusual items, and communicate findings to the GAAP Financial Reporting Manager and other stakeholders.
Review investment-related journal entries, account reconciliations, rollforwards, and data received from investment systems, custodians, investment managers, pricing sources, and other external service providers.
Partner with Financial Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, GAAP Reporting, Tax, Actuarial, FP&A, Investor Relations & Corporate Development and third party investment partners to ensure the accuracy, consistency, completeness, and integrity of data used in investment accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory reporting.
Support the implementation of new accounting standards, accounting policies, and reporting requirements affecting investments in partnership with financial reporting leadership and the technical accounting function.
Assist with gathering information and preparing investment accounting and reporting documentation for complex or nonroutine transactions, escalating matters requiring technical accounting interpretation or significant judgment to the GAAP Financial Reporting Manager.
Serve as the subject matter expert for assigned investment accounting, reporting, pricing, valuation, and related financial reporting processes and provide guidance to other members of the team.

Financial Governance & Controls

Prepare and maintain SOX-compliant documentation, ensuring adherence to company policies and internal control requirements.
Execute and review controls supporting investment accounting, security pricing and valuation, reconciliations, financial reporting, regulatory reporting, and related financial statement disclosures.
Identify control gaps or opportunities for improvement and recommend enhancements to strengthen the financial reporting control environment.
Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned internal and external audit requests, coordinating supporting documentation and resolving questions in partnership with the GAAP Financial Reporting Manager.

Collaboration & Process Improvement

Partner with the Finance Systems and Data team to identify and implement tools or automation that improve the accuracy and efficiency of the financial reporting function.
Partner closely with Investments, Financial Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, Tax, Actuarial, FP&A, Technology, Investment Relations & Corporate Development and external service providers to coordinate reporting timelines, resolve data or accounting issues, and support the timely completion of investment reporting deliverables.
Lead assigned process improvement and automation initiatives to enhance reporting efficiency, accuracy, consistency, and control.
Identify opportunities for automation and efficiency gains and develop recommendations for consideration by financial reporting leadership.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including operations and IT, to support finance transformation initiatives designed to modernize systems and standardize financial processes.
Lead or participate in special projects, including integrations, migrations, financial reporting system implementations, and accounting standard implementations.
Develop and document procedures, reporting instructions, and best practices for assigned areas of responsibility.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the GAAP financial reporting team and company goals.

People & Technical Leadership

Provide functional direction, training, guidance, and feedback to team members assisting with investment accounting and reporting responsibilities.
Establish clear expectations, monitor progress, and support the timely and accurate completion of assigned responsibilities and deliverables.
Review investment accounting and reporting work performed by members of the GAAP Financial Reporting, Regulatory Reporting and Financial Accounting teams and provide timely, constructive feedback.
Provide guidance, training, and support to team members on GAAP financial reporting, SEC reporting, financial statement disclosures, and assigned reporting processes.
Mentor team members and support the development of their investment reporting, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
Coordinate assigned workstreams and reporting activities to support timely completion of team deliverables.
Proactively identify and resolve reporting issues, escalating significant risks, judgments, performance concerns, or delays to the GAAP Financial Reporting Manager.
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, reporting excellence, and collaboration within the GAAP financial reporting function.
Serve as a key resource to the GAAP Financial Reporting Manager and provide continuity for assigned reporting activities.

Job Specifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) preferred
Experience:

8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including experience related to investment accounting and reporting.
Prior public company, public accounting or insurance investment accounting experience preferred.
Prior property and casualty industry experience preferred.
Experience preparing or reviewing investment accounting entries, reconciliations, supporting schedules, security pricing or valuation information, financial statement disclosures, and related reporting documentation.
Experience working with investment accounting systems, custodians, investment managers, pricing sources, or other investment-related service providers.
Experience leading projects, reporting workstreams, or the work of other accounting professionals.
Experience providing supervision, coaching, work review, or performance feedback to other accounting professionals.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and statutory accounting principles applicable to investment accounting and reporting.
Advanced knowledge of investment accounting, financial statement presentation, disclosure requirements, security pricing, valuation, and investment-related reporting processes.
Knowledge of common investment types and the related accounting for purchases, sales, income, amortization, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and impairments.
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with strong attention to accuracy and detail.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and complex formulas.
Experience with investment accounting systems, reporting applications, and data received from external investment service providers preferred.
Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to communicate financial reporting information clearly and effectively.
Ability to supervise and develop assigned team member(s), lead projects and reporting workstreams, coordinate the work of others, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Ability to provide clear expectations, constructive feedback, and effective coaching while promoting accountability and professional development.
Process improvement mindset with the ability to identify and implement efficiency enhancements.
Critical thinking skills and sound professional judgment.
Ability to work independently, proactively identify issues, and escalate significant matters appropriately.
Strong team orientation and commitment to reporting excellence, collaboration, and operational results.

Working Conditions:

General office environment
Travel Requirements: Infrequent travel, only as needed