Staff Accountant

Forrest T. Jones & Company, Inc., and its affiliates (“FTJ”), provide insurance and insurance-related services to clients, corporations, employers, members of associations and individuals. These services include providing benefits through innovative life and health insurance plans, financial services, customized insurance products for niche markets and property and casualty insurance.

Position Summary and Expectations

The Staff Accountant supports the property and casualty program business and all corporate entities through accounting, financial analysis, cash administration and treasury operations. The role partners with Accounting, Property & Casualty and other business teams to understand activity, identify issues, explain financial results and improve processes. It requires sound judgment, attention to detail and the ability to manage both recurring accounting responsibilities and day-to-day treasury activities. Key functions include:

Accounting and Business Analysis

• Reconcile premium suspense accounts each month, research outstanding or unusual items, and prepare or correct journal entries to ensure activity is recorded accurately.
• Reconcile property and casualty bank accounts each month, investigate variances and coordinate timely resolution of reconciling items.
• Partner with the Accounting and Property & Casualty teams to understand business activity, new business initiatives and operational changes that affect accounting and reporting. 
• Prepare ad hoc business reports and analyst financial results, trends and variances to identify key drivers, emerging issues and items requiring follow-up.
• Process property and casualty premium deposits accurately and timely, confirming that payments are applied to the appropriate business activity.
• Process premium deposits for the insurance affiliate and work with internal partners to research and resolve exceptions.
• Prepare monthly remittances to insurance companies and agents, validating underlying activity and investigating differences before payment.
• Monitor premium receivable activity, follow up on aging or unusual balances, and partner with the business to resolve collection or application issues.
• Perform special projects and requests from time to time as management deems fit.
• Provide support to other members of the General Accounting Department with month-end functions, such as booking journal entries, reconciliations and clearing of account variances.

Treasury and Cash Management

• Manage daily cash administration for all corporate entities, including monitoring bank balances, liquidity needs and cash activity.
• Support bank relationships and remain current on relevant operational trends, technology developments and regulatory changes.
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and support treasury projects focused on automation, standardization and process optimization.
• Administer online banking systems, user access and reporting, and assist internal business partners with bank systems and reports.
• Manage signature authorities and signature cards.
• Analyze and manage bank fees; identify and support changes to balance business needs while mitigating fees.
• Assess new banking products and services opportunities; evaluate recommendations from Treasury Management Reviews and incorporate improvements.
• Perform other duties as required and assigned.

Competencies

• Proficient with cash and accrual accounting concepts.
• Working knowledge of cash management, online banking and bank account administration.
• Detailed, accurate and organized.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Demonstrates strong critical thinking and problem solving skills, including the ability to research issues, analyze results, identify root causes and recommend practical solutions.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to deal with large volumes of data.
• Must be a team player and work well with others.
• Self motivated.

Requisites

• 1 to 3 years of accounting, treasury or financial analysis experience in the financial services industry; insurance experience is a plus.
• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field preferred.

We offer comprehensive benefits to full-time employees including company-paid medical, STD, LTD and life insurance plus voluntary dental, vision, life/AD&D insurance, 401(k) with company matching, generous paid time off and much more. 

We encourage applicants of all ages and experience, as we do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant’s age. 

ALL OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSING OF A DRUG SCREEN AND BACKGROUND CHECK.