Accounting Policy Manager - Corporate Accounting

SUMMARY: 

The Accounting Policy Manager is a high-impact technical accounting and finance leadership development role responsible for owning the Company’s accounting policy framework, leading Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) documentation and governance activities, and supporting complex strategic initiatives including mergers and acquisitions. Reporting directly to the Director of Accounting, this role serves as a trusted technical advisor and cross-functional leader with significant exposure to senior executives and enterprise-wide stakeholders. This position is designed as a feeder role into broader financial leadership positions across the organization. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Responsible for the overall direction, coordination and evaluation of the staff.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsible for evaluating performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems.  Responsibilities include recruiting, interviewing, and assisting with hiring, coaching and training employees.  Other responsibilities involve planning, assigning and directing work. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Technical Accounting & Policy Ownership 

Leads technical accounting research and interpretation of U.S. GAAP and regulatory guidance applicable to the banking and financial services industry. 

Owns the development, maintenance, and governance of the Company’s accounting policy library, ensuring policies remain current, compliant, and consistently applied. 

Prepares formal technical accounting memoranda for complex transactions, judgment-based accounting matters, new product launches, and business initiatives. 

Evaluates the impact of new and emerging accounting standards (ASUs, regulatory updates) and leads adoption planning, implementation strategy, and internal communications. 

Serves as the primary technical accounting advisor to operational accounting teams and finance leadership. 

CECL / Allowance for Credit Losses Leadership 

Owns the preparation and maintenance of CECL supporting documentation, governance materials, and methodological position papers. 

Leads the development of Allowance Committee presentation materials, including methodology documentation, qualitative factor analysis, key assumptions, and accounting conclusions. 

Partners closely with Credit Risk and Model Risk Management, to ensure alignment between modeling outputs, accounting requirements, and financial reporting. 

Supports internal and external audit reviews of the allowance process, including responding to technical inquiries and coordinating documentation requests. 

Evaluates industry practices, regulatory expectations, and evolving guidance related to credit loss accounting. 

Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Transaction Support 

Serves as a finance and accounting policy lead for mergers, acquisitions, portfolio transactions, and strategic investments. 

Evaluates transaction accounting implications, including purchase accounting, fair value considerations, integration impacts, and post-close reporting requirements. 

Partners with Legal, Treasury, and external advisors throughout the transaction lifecycle. 

Prepares technical accounting analyses and executive-level summaries related to transaction structuring and financial reporting impacts. 

External Auditor & Governance Coordination 

Acts as a primary technical accounting liaison with external auditors for policy-related matters, complex accounting topics, and judgment-based positions. 

Coordinates technical reviews, support audit requests, and proactively resolves accounting issues. 

Prepares audit-ready documentation and position papers to support accounting conclusions. 

Supports regulatory and internal audit inquiries related to accounting policy and technical matters. 

Finance Transformation & Special Projects 

Supports finance transformation initiatives including close process modernization, control optimization, and data governance projects. 

Provides accounting policy leadership on enterprise-wide initiatives impacting financial reporting and control frameworks. 

Leads and/or supports cross-functional projects requiring strong accounting judgment and execution discipline. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

Banking is a highly regulated industry and you will be expected to acquire and maintain a proficiency in the Bank's policies and procedures, and adhere to all laws, rules and regulations that are applicable to your conduct and the work you will be performing.  You will also be expected to complete all assigned compliance training in a timely manner. 

Proficient in Microsoft Office Products including, Word, Outlook and highly proficient skills with Excel. 

Understanding of CECL, allowance methodology, and credit loss models. 

Solid understanding of GAAP and applicable regulations.  

Strong analytical and problem solving skills.  

Understanding of SOX environments/internal control  

Excellent written and oral communication skills.   

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance, required.  

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License required. 

Minimum of 4 Years of experience, preferably in a national accounting firm or in a accounting policy focused role at a financial institution.  

Experience serving public company and/or banking or financial services preferred. 

Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or complex transactions preferred.