Accounting Operations Associate

Chatham Financial•Denver, CO

About The Position

Chatham Financial is looking for an Accounting Operations Associate to join our Accounting Operations team. This role sits at the intersection of hedge accounting, client service, technology, and operational excellence. You will partner with advisors and specialists across Chatham to support the operational and accounting needs of clients and their hedging programs, developing an understanding of clients’ business objectives, economic strategies, derivatives, and resulting accounting and reporting requirements. This position is being posted at the Associate level; however, based on a candidate’s relevant experience, expertise, and demonstrated capabilities, we may consider candidates at levels ranging from Analyst through Vice President. The scope, complexity, level of ownership, and client and team responsibilities will align with the level at which the candidate is hired.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, business, or a related field is preferred.
Relevant experience in accounting, audit, finance, financial services, operations, derivatives, capital markets, or a related field.
Intellectual curiosity and an interest in understanding financial markets, derivatives, and clients’ business and risk-management objectives.
Interest in developing or applying an understanding of hedge accounting and the relationship between economic strategies and accounting outcomes.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate unfamiliar or non-routine situations and determine appropriate next steps.
Thoroughness and attention to detail, with a commitment to producing accurate and timely work while maintaining an understanding of broader client objectives.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients and internal partners.
Ability to manage multiple workflows, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and appropriately escalate questions or issues.
Proactive approach to identifying needs, taking ownership, and driving work toward resolution.
Interest in technology, automation, and identifying opportunities to improve recurring processes, controls, and ways of working.
Collaborative mindset and a commitment to sharing knowledge and contributing to collective team and client success.

Nice To Haves

Experience with derivatives or hedge accounting, including familiarity with ASC 815, ASC 820, and/or IFRS 9, is a plus but not required.
We value curiosity, learning agility, and an interest in understanding the concepts behind the work.
For candidates considered for more senior levels, demonstrated ability to independently navigate complex or ambiguous situations, coordinate multi-step workflows across stakeholders, improve scalable processes and controls, and coach or develop colleagues.

Responsibilities

Own and support operational and accounting workflows for a portfolio of clients, with the level of ownership and complexity aligned to your experience and expertise.
Develop a strong understanding of clients’ hedging programs, connecting their business objectives and economic strategies with the resulting accounting, operational, and reporting requirements.
Partner closely with advisors and other specialists as an integrated member of client coverage teams to support clients throughout the lifecycle of their hedging activity.
Prepare and review trade documentation, trade setup, analyses, and client deliverables across a range of hedging strategies and derivative products.
Develop expertise in ChathamDirect to process activity, troubleshoot issues, support client reporting, and apply knowledge from prior situations to new scenarios.
Support and, as appropriate, lead month- and quarter-end reporting processes, including workflows requiring client- or program-specific knowledge.
Investigate unexpected results and non-routine activity, applying judgment to determine appropriate next steps and when to engage additional subject matter experts.
Communicate directly with clients regarding reporting, trade activity, ChathamDirect, and other operational matters, with the breadth and complexity of client interaction aligned to your experience and expertise.
Coordinate across advisors and other Chatham teams to ensure the appropriate stakeholders are involved in complex or multi-step workflows.
Follow and strengthen established procedures and controls, identify potential risks or recurring issues, and contribute to solutions that support accurate and timely client delivery.
Identify opportunities to standardize, automate, or otherwise improve recurring processes and support the testing and implementation of technology enhancements.
Share knowledge and best practices with colleagues and, based on experience, provide guidance and coaching to others as they develop their technical and operational capabilities.