Operational Accountant - Banking
About The Position
Washington Trust is seeking an experienced Operational Accountant to serve as the primary operational accounting resource for Banking Operations and Loan Operations. The role works in close partnership with Financial Administration to maintain a strong connection between operational activity and the Bank’s financial records. It complements, rather than duplicates, Financial Administration’s responsibilities by supporting operational processes, settlements, reconciliations, balancing activities, system changes, and exception resolution with complete, accurate, and timely accounting information. The position collaborates with Financial Administration, including the Vice President, Senior Corporate Accountant and Operations Liaison role, to identify downstream General Ledger impacts, support reconciliation integrity, document operational accounting processes, resolve issues at their operational source, and promote a strong control environment. It is based in Westerly, Rhode Island, with a remote/hybrid work schedule.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
- Minimum 7 years of accounting, finance, audit, banking operations, reconciliation, or related experience.
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles, reconciliations, General Ledger processes, operational accounting controls, and the distinction between operational support responsibilities and Financial Administration authority.
- Understanding of banking operations, including deposit, loan, ACH, wire, card, ATM, and digital banking activities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to assess downstream financial impacts of operational activities and changes.
- Ability to research, document, and resolve complex issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple departments.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business applications.
Nice To Haves
- Banking Operations focus is strongly preferred.
- CPA or other relevant professional certification preferred.
- Experience supporting operational processes, reconciliations, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the operational accounting subject matter resource for Banking Operations and Loan Operations in coordination with Financial Administration.
- Analyze, create, and maintain operational processes and transaction flows to identify accounting, reconciliation, settlement, and financial reporting impacts.
- Assess accounting implications of operational issues, exceptions, losses, adjustments, and process breakdowns.
- Provide guidance on operational accounting treatment and appropriate financial resolution of issues.
- Act as the primary liaison between operational departments and Financial Administration, supporting oversight of accounting policy, financial reporting, and reconciliation governance.
- Ensure operational areas provide complete, accurate, and timely support for reconciliations, accounting entries, settlements, clearing accounts, and exception resolution.
- Review operational reconciliation processes for adequacy, consistency, source-system support, control effectiveness, and alignment with Financial Administration expectations.
- Research and resolve aged reconciling items, settlement differences, suspense account activity, and balancing exceptions.
- Participate in system conversions, product implementations, process changes, and technology projects to evaluate downstream accounting impacts.
- Review, create, and maintain General Ledger interfaces, transaction flows, and automated accounting processes from an operational perspective, escalating matters requiring accounting judgment or approval to Financial Administration.
- Maintain role boundaries by providing operational facts, documentation, and analysis while preserving Financial Administration’s authority over accounting policy, financial reporting conclusions, and final accounting determinations.
- Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end activities affecting operational accounting and reconciliations.
- Help Financial Administration and operational areas review and resolve settlement, clearing, suspense, and operational control accounts, identifying root causes in operational processes.
- Identify opportunities to automate manual accounting, balancing, and reconciliation activities.
- Develop and maintain operational accounting process documentation, reconciliation support procedures, issue escalation protocols, and control documentation that complement Financial Administration standards.
- Support internal audits, external audits, regulatory examinations, and issue remediation activities.
- Participate in operational risk assessments and recommend control improvements.
- Prepare reports and analyses related to reconciliation exceptions, operational losses, accounting issues, and process trends.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
Benefits
- The position may be eligible for an annual bonus.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health and welfare benefits, paid time-off, a work-life program, and a 401(k) plan.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
