Operational Accounting Officer

Washington Trust•Westerly, RI

7d•$80,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Wealth Management Division is seeking an Operational Accounting Officer to play a critical role in ensuring alignment between daily operational activities and their corresponding accounting and financial reporting outcomes. This position serves as a key bridge between operations and accounting, bringing accounting experience together with hands‑on involvement in detailed operational processes. The Operational Accounting Officer will participate in and, where appropriate, directly execute core operational and accounting functions, ensure the accurate application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and support a strong control environment. The role acts as a subject matter expert for operational accounting matters and may provide guidance to other team members supporting these functions. This position is primarily remote if located in RI, MA, and CT with some initial on-site requirements as well as occasional on-site meetings and trainings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting required.
5+ years of experience in operational accounting or a closely related role.
Strong understanding of accounting principles and how complex operational processes drive accounting outcomes.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; intermediate to advanced skills in Word and PowerPoint; experience with Visio or workflow mapping tools is a plus.
Demonstrated analytical and problem‑solving abilities with strong attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to thrive in a team‑oriented, dynamic environment.
High energy level, strong work ethic, and adaptability in a fast‑paced setting.
Flexibility to work in a hybrid environment with a combination of remote and on‑site presence, based on business needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience within Wealth Management or financial services preferred, though not required.

Responsibilities

Participate in daily and monthly accounting activities, including journal entries and general ledger (GL) and DDA reconciliations, to support timely, accurate financial reporting.
Review and approve all divisional GL, DDA, and house account reconciliations; investigate, resolve, and document exceptions with a clear understanding of underlying operational drivers.
Prepare and review regulatory filings for the SEC and FDIC, ensuring all operational data and reconciliations feeding these filings are complete and accurate.
Support financial controls and SOX requirements by maintaining a comprehensive understanding of end‑to-end operational processes and their accounting impacts.
Review and analyze fee‑related revenue across the Wealth Management business, validating data sources, system outputs, and fee calculations.
Perform hands‑on validation of fee setups, rate changes, system configurations, and transactional activity as needed to ensure revenue accuracy.
Serve as the primary liaison between operational teams and accounting, translating operational workflows into accounting entries, reconciliations, and reporting requirements.
Perform or support detailed operational processes with accounting impact, including account openings and closings, fee setup changes, and cash movement activities.
Validate operational data used in accounting processes by reviewing transaction files, system extracts, exception reports, and workflow outputs.
Troubleshoot discrepancies by tracing activity back to source systems to identify root causes.
Coordinate with internal and external auditors, providing both high‑level explanations and detailed supporting documentation, including samples, reconciliations, and process walkthroughs.
Own end‑to-end process knowledge for assigned workflows, understanding how operational steps, system logic, and data flow influence accounting treatment and revenue recognition.
Monitor processes on an ongoing basis to identify trends, recurring issues, or control gaps and recommend practical improvements.
Document and maintain detailed procedures for operational accounting tasks and related operational workflows.
Support system upgrades, conversions, or new platform implementations through hands‑on testing, validation, and reconciliation of operational‑to-accounting outputs.
Lead or participate in special projects and ad hoc analyses supporting department or bank initiatives, including process redesigns and system enhancements.
Execute certain operational or revenue‑related tasks directly during peak periods, staffing gaps, or periods of change to ensure accurate and timely accounting outcomes.