Senior Investment Accounting Analyst

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

5h • $127,000 - $171,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Senior Investment Accounting Analyst to join our collaborative Investment Accounting team. In this role, you will oversee investment accounting and reporting across a broad range of investment strategies and complex asset classes. This is a highly visible position that partners closely with portfolio managers, investment operations, risk, compliance, tax, auditors, and technology teams to ensure strong reporting and control practices.
Investment Accounting & Financial Reporting
Perform advanced investment accounting, including trade capture, income accruals, valuation, impairments, consolidations, and hedging across equities, fixed income, structured products, private placements, private asset funds, alternatives, and derivatives.
Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual reports supporting internal management reporting (quarterly results, board materials, earnings call prep) and external requirements (e.g., SEC and other regulatory filings).
Calculate and analyze industry‑standard performance metrics.
Prepare cash management analysis and vendor compliance reporting.
Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, client mandates, internal policies, and regulatory guidance.
Partner with portfolio managers to understand and document accounting implications of complex strategies and transactions.
Project Management & System Implementation
Serve as an accounting subject matter expert on firmwide initiatives, including new product launches, platform migrations, and investment accounting system enhancements.
Collaborate with technology and data teams to build or improve automated solutions for reporting and reconciliation.
Lead or participate in UAT, requirements gathering, and system validation to ensure accounting needs are fully met.
Compliance, Controls & Risk Management
Strengthen internal control frameworks for investment accounting and reporting.
Support risk mitigation through documentation and remediation of control gaps.
Respond to internal and external audit requests with detailed reconciliations and supporting documentation.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Business Support
Act as a liaison between accounting and investment operations, legal/compliance, tax, and investor reporting to ensure accurate treatment and reporting of investment data.
Provide technical guidance on accounting impacts of new vehicles, restructures, impairments, and valuation adjustments.
Support ad hoc analysis and scenario modeling related to performance, exposure, and risk.
Continuous Improvement & Strategic Insight
Monitor changes in accounting standards and industry regulations (e.g., FASB, SEC, global frameworks).
Recommend and implement policy, process, and workflow improvements to enhance operational excellence and reporting quality.
Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years!

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• CPA or progress toward certification strongly preferred
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant accounting experience, preferably within asset management, investment accounting, or financial services
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with reporting or analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Alteryx, Power Query, SQL) is a plus
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders and provide clear insights to support investment and operational decisions
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with a commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and process improvement
• This position may require successful completion of a criminal background check

Nice To Haves

• Strong working knowledge of investment products and strategies, including structured securities (MBS, ABS, CMBS), private credit, hedge funds, and derivatives
• Experience with investment accounting systems such as PFI (PAM for investments and Yardi for Real Estate), or similar platforms

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced investment accounting, including trade capture, income accruals, valuation, impairments, consolidations, and hedging across equities, fixed income, structured products, private placements, private asset funds, alternatives, and derivatives.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual reports supporting internal management reporting (quarterly results, board materials, earnings call prep) and external requirements (e.g., SEC and other regulatory filings).
• Calculate and analyze industry‑standard performance metrics.
• Prepare cash management analysis and vendor compliance reporting.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, client mandates, internal policies, and regulatory guidance.
• Partner with portfolio managers to understand and document accounting implications of complex strategies and transactions.
• Serve as an accounting subject matter expert on firmwide initiatives, including new product launches, platform migrations, and investment accounting system enhancements.
• Collaborate with technology and data teams to build or improve automated solutions for reporting and reconciliation.
• Lead or participate in UAT, requirements gathering, and system validation to ensure accounting needs are fully met.
• Strengthen internal control frameworks for investment accounting and reporting.
• Support risk mitigation through documentation and remediation of control gaps.
• Respond to internal and external audit requests with detailed reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Act as a liaison between accounting and investment operations, legal/compliance, tax, and investor reporting to ensure accurate treatment and reporting of investment data.
• Provide technical guidance on accounting impacts of new vehicles, restructures, impairments, and valuation adjustments.
• Support ad hoc analysis and scenario modeling related to performance, exposure, and risk.
• Monitor changes in accounting standards and industry regulations (e.g., FASB, SEC, global frameworks).
• Recommend and implement policy, process, and workflow improvements to enhance operational excellence and reporting quality.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness.
• Pension Eligible

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level