Accountant 3

State of Iowa • Des Moines - 50313 - Polk County, IA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the IPERS Team as an Accountant 3 — Make an Impact on the Financial Future of Over 400,000 Iowans! The Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) is seeking a detail-driven and collaborative Accountant 3 to take on advanced-level accounting and investment reporting responsibilities. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of IPERS’ investment records — a foundation that supports the retirement security of public employees across Iowa. You’ll dive deep into complex investment structures, perform high-impact financial analysis, and partner with teams across IPERS to ensure smooth and accurate reporting. Your work will help drive informed decision-making for one of the largest public pension funds in the state.

Requirements

• A finance-minded problem solver with the drive to understand IPERS’ full range of investments — and the ability to translate that knowledge into accurate reporting and sound accounting.
• Experience with GASB, GAAP, and investment accounting is highly valued.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with twelve semester hours in accounting course work and experience equal to thirty months of responsible full-time work in accounting, accounts examination or verification, budgeting or closely related fiscal work with a governmental agency, public accounting firm, or private industry; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of the required experience for each year of the required education to a maximum of four years; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting thirty semester hours of graduate level course work in accounting, business administration or finance for each year of the required experience to a maximum substitution of sixty hours; OR Certified Public Accountants will qualify with eighteen months of the required experience; OR employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to nine months of full-time work. as an Accountant 2.

Responsibilities

• Prepare the cash forecast that supports investment strategy and cash-balancing decisions for the Investment Division.
• Reconcile activity between internal records, custodial bank reporting, and investment manager statements.
• Investigate, document, and resolve discrepancies with precision.
• Ensure general ledger balances align with custodial bank financial packages.
• Serve as a primary contact for the Auditor of State and IPERS’ Internal Auditor on investment-related inquiries.
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities.
• Analyze private investment fund financials and capital account statements to confirm proper allocation to the general ledger.
• Prepare investment-related sections of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Research complex investment accounting issues and provide guidance on GASB and GAAP compliance.
• Review and refine IPERS accounting processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and workflow.
• Act as a key liaison between the Finance Division, Investment Division, external managers, the custodial bank, and external auditors.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance – Insurance begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Paid time off – separate vacation and sick leave – accruals begin on day one.
• Paid holidays (nine per year)
• Flex Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (IPERS)
• Voluntary Retirement Plan (Retirement Investors Club)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree