Lead Accountant - Investment Accounting and Reporting - Erie Insurance

Division or Field Office:

Controller Division
Department of Position: Financial Reporting Department
Work from:
Corporate Office, Erie PA

At Erie Insurance, you're not just part of a Fortune 500 company; you're also a valued member of a diverse and inclusive team that includes more than 5,000 employees and over 2,200 independent agencies. Our Employees work in the Home Office complex located in Erie, PA, and in our Field Offices that span 12 states and the District of Columbia. To attract and retain the best talent, we reward our team members with competitive salaries and a very generous benefits package.

Position Summary

• Hiring manager will also consider candidates for the Sr. Finance Accountant - Investment Accounting and Reporting. Level of the position offered will depend on the depth and breadth of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.
• This position will be located in our Corporate Office in Erie PA, working a hybrid schedule (a mix of both in office and at home.) However, remote consideration may be given to those candidates who are outside of the Erie, PA area, but within the ERIE footprint.

Under minimal supervision, acts as subject matter expert in performing investment accounting-related functions to organize, analyze, track and report complex financial activities on both a statutory accounting principles (SAP) and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. Coordinates investment accounting-related related projects and provides assistance to accounting staff as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyzes, verifies and balances all source data used in the preparation of journal entries, financial statements, reports, schedules and other documents in terms of accuracy, completeness and compliance with requirements.
• Reviews monthly account and system reconciliations and supporting documentation, monitoring resolution of unreconciled items.
• Prepares and reviews various journal entries, statistical reports, surveys, supporting schedules, information returns, management reports and financial statements for internal use and external filings in accordance with applicable accounting principles or regulations within the required deadlines.
• Communicates issues as appropriate.
• Reviews analytic documentation maintaining evidence of reviews.
• Maintains and applies a strong working knowledge of various regulatory guidance (SAP/GAAP/SEC/SVO/IRS).
• Demonstrates analytical and research skills.
• Evaluates impact of business changes to accounting transactions and systems and implements changes to financial information or related documentation.
• Researches issues and implements changes for new accounting guidance or regulations.
• Communicates issues to management as appropriate regarding changes.
• Coordinates processes for reporting and receipt of supporting documentation from other areas of company, analyzing information as appropriate.
• Maintains strong understanding of the control environment and adheres to applicable internal controls.
• Reviews and maintains internal control documentation and testing in accordance with SOX/MAR.
• Evaluates controls for effectiveness and identifies internal control improvements as necessary.
• Maintains strong working knowledge of systems and applications and process flows participating in upgrades as appropriate.
• Identifies process improvements and automation opportunities using data extraction and analysis tools, and coordinates implementation.
• Evaluates potential vendor solutions and makes recommendations where appropriate.
• Reviews workpapers for review by internal and external auditors.
• Communicates with internal and external associates regarding financial activities and issues.
• Researches technical guidance and evaluates implication, developing and implementing recommended solutions.
• Recommends process improvements and challenges current processes for increased efficiencies and effectiveness.
• Serves as subject matter expert regarding accounting principles, regulations or systems across the company.
• Provides training, support and guidance to lower level accounting staff, as required.
• Coordinates and completes special projects as required.
• Performs other duties as required.

The firstthreeduties listed are the functions identified as essential to the job. Essential functions are those job duties that must be performedin order forthe job to be accomplished.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor, or as becomeclear.

Competencies

Values Diversity

Nimble Learning

Self-Development

Collaborates

Information Management Skills

Customer Focus

Cultivates Innovation

Job-Specific Knowledge

Optimizes Work Processes

Instills Trust

Ensures Accountability

Decision Quality

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, or related field, required. CPA certification preferred. Seven years' experience in accounting or related finance experience, required. In-depth knowledge of spreadsheet, reporting, query and/or database software preferred. Working knowledge of GAAP required, SAP preferred. The position requires the incumbent to work weekends and restrict vacation during peak periods. **Incumbents focused on allocations and balancing systems may substitute eleven years of related experience in lieu of degree.

Physical Requirements

Lifting 0-20 lbs; Occasional (
Lifting 20-50 lbs; Occasional (
Lifting Over 50 lbs; Occasional (
Driving; Rarely

Pushing/Pulling; Occasional (
Manual Keying/Data Entry; Frequent (50-80%)

Climbing; Rarely

Nearest Major Market: Erie