Specialist, Accounting - Reconciliations Exception

Nationwide•Columbus, OH

43d

About The Position

As a team member in the Finance department at Nationwide, the opportunities are endless! You can grow and learn in diverse areas across many disciplines such as Advanced Analytics, Investments, Actuarial, Accounting, Risk Management, Critical Business Advisor, Internal Audit, and so much more. Let Nationwide help create your career journey! At Nationwide, "on your side" goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care. This role is open on the Reconciliation Assurance team, which drives resolution on material, high risk, high volume, and significantly aged balance sheet reconciliation exceptions. The team does this through collaboration with reconcilers, reviewers, exception owners, and Business Unit Controllership using metric-based reporting and analytics for the purpose of mitigating risk to the financial statements. This role leads and provides critical support for the Reconciliation Assurance initiatives including but not limited to: helping to problem solve complex reconciling items, researching via the GL and other source systems, communicating with business partners to identify and resolve issues, presenting monthly status updates to Business Unit Controllers regarding aged reconciling items, reconciliation quality assurance testing, building and maintenance Power BI reporting. I am looking for a strong self-starter with a high degree of curiosity, engaged in self-driven continuous improvement, problem solving skills, an analytic mindset, and the ability to quickly adapt. Effective communication skills, both written and spoken, required with the ability to clearly summarize complex problems and emphasize the importance of an issue with a sense of urgency. Familiarization with or interested in Power BI and other technologies is preferred. Would you thrive in an inclusive work environment where you can lead, adapt and innovate? Do you want to invest in yourself and work in an environment of problem solving, collaboration and learning? If you're ready to lead in a technology-enable, digitally focused organization, where Controllership is a captivating and respected career, we want to hear from you! As a Specialist, you'll plan, coordinate and perform the most complex accounting functions. We'll count on you to acquire, assemble, evaluate, interpret, record and analyze financial data of all types and sources ultimately utilized in the preparation of financial documents for various regulatory and statutory authorities and for internal management of all levels.

Requirements

Undergraduate studies in accounting, finance or business administration; accounting major and degree preferred.
Four to six years of related accounting experience; insurance experience preferred.
GAAP and/or STAT knowledge and/or functional business area regulatory requirements.
Complex financial statement preparation, including consolidation of companies/subsidiaries.
Principles of taxation and the related impact on financial statement preparation.
Accounting and/or business computer systems.
Company organizational structure and products and services.
Verbal and written communication skills for internal/external contacts.
Ability to analyze, discover and solve accounting problems, to interpret financial documents and data and to analyze and interpret legal requirements.
Project management skills.
Ability to interpret changes in financial reporting and legal requirements relative to the impact on financial statement preparation and to the formulation of company or business area policies and procedures.
Ability to effectively operate a personal computer and related software using advanced techniques.
Ability to apply accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices to specialized, unique and/or nonrecurring complex problems.

Nice To Haves

Progress towards CPA preferred.
Familiarization with or interested in Power BI and other technologies is preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs a lead role in establishing and implementing of new or revised accounting policies and procedures.
Prepares and analyzes the most sophisticated financial and regulatory statements for the company(ies) and/or business areas assigned.
Develops and submits sophisticated accounting and financial transactions required to ensure accurate reporting.
Ensures the completeness and accuracy of all reports, forms and data provided to internal and external clients/customers.
Recommends management actions or alternatives when the analysis of financial documents discloses unfavorable trends, situations or deviations.
Keeps informed of changes to GAAP and/or STAT regulatory requirements which ultimately impact the submission of statements, reports and other financial data.
Recommends changes to area(s) of responsibility that would enhance, improve or facilitate job performance, processing or workflow.
Leads the development and design of new and enhanced systems and processes, under general guidance, within the assigned area(s).
Prepares and analyzes the most complex pro forma financial data required for compliance with new requirements.
Assists management in applying financial data and analysis to solve administrative and operating problems.
Prepares state and supplemental reporting requirements.
Prepares complex financial information to provide to internal and external auditors, IRS, state examiners and other regulatory agencies.
Prepares special reports and presentations.
Serves in a group leader capacity to other accountants on selected projects.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire