Director, Accounting

Transamerica•Cedar Rapids, IA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for establishing and leading a high-performing operational accounting center of excellence focused on accounting discipline, process rigor, control effectiveness, and continuous improvement. This role oversees cash and suspense reconciliation governance, open item aging, exposure monitoring, and other operational accounting processes, such as cashiering and billing, while partnering with Finance, Risk, Internal Controls, and Operations to ensure processes are performed completely, accurately, and within the enterprise risk and control framework.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Generally 12+ years of experience, including required insurance accounting experience and a strong background in insurance, financial services, or investment management.
Required experience leading suspense cleanup, reconciliation improvement, aging reduction, exposure management, or related operational accounting remediation initiatives.
Demonstrated management/leadership experience.
Extensive knowledge of applicable accounting and business areas.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing to all audiences.
Ability to lead a large group of employees to ensure business goals are met.
Forward thinker able to anticipate future needs/challenges.
Strong organizational, prioritization, and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing cleanup, control, and operational improvement priorities.
Effective judgment and decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

CPA/advanced degree.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead an operational accounting center of excellence to drive consistent execution, accountability, governance, and continuous improvement.
Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of accounting and financial reporting information, with emphasis on cash activity, suspense accounting, reconciliation quality, and open item aging.
Drive disciplined monitoring of cash and suspense reconciliation open items, including aging, exposure, root cause themes, and remediation progress.
Use suspense accounting and reconciliation results to identify operational gaps, control weaknesses, process breakdowns, and improvement opportunities.
May authorize and/or approve legal, regulatory, or company documents.
Review written analysis to propose recommendations to senior management for decision making.
Partner with Operations, Finance, Risk, Internal Controls, and other stakeholders to resolve accounting matters, strengthen controls, and align operational accounting processes with enterprise standards.
Understand and apply technical accounting concepts for multiple bases of accounting.
Drive the development of financial reports and complex models for forecasting, trending and results analysis.
Lead adherence to the Company’s internal control framework, including documentation, escalation, remediation, and ongoing monitoring of operational accounting exposures.
Oversee management staff providing hiring, direction, coaching, and training of staff.
Complete performance appraisals and evaluates overall performance of team.
Align staff goals, project priorities, cleanup initiatives, and process improvement objectives with business priorities and risk reduction goals.
Collaborate effectively to provide input on organizational strategy and policy while managing risks.
Develop strategic direction for the department/business unit.
Responsible for departmental budget.
Embody a culture of accountability, innovation, teamwork, and customer centricity.

Benefits

Competitive Pay
Bonus for Eligible Employees
Pension Plan
401k Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Tuition Reimbursement
Disability Insurance
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employee Discounts
Career Training & Development Opportunities
Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
Adoption Assistance
Employee Assistance Program
Back-Up Care Program
PTO for Volunteer Hours
Employee Matching Gifts Program
Employee Resource Groups
Inclusion and Diversity Programs
Employee Recognition Program
Referral Bonus Programs