Senior Accounting Specialist

Overview

At Banner Life Insurance Company, we lead with heart and ambition. Every day, we transform purpose into progress, guided by our unwavering commitment to be better for our customers, clients, and communities, not just today but long-term as well. Our people are the driving force behind everything we achieve. Their passion, purpose, and pursuit of innovation empower us to deliver cutting-edge solutions that support those we serve, ensuring we are here for you, here for good and striving for better.

We’re a forward-thinking company energized by our work and how we show up for one another. Our culture is built on meaningful impact and genuine enjoyment, because we believe great work and great experiences should go hand in hand.

By offering career development opportunities, comprehensive benefits, and programs that support your wellbeing, we help you thrive personally and professionally. We are here for you, here for good and here for better.

Responsibilities

1. Prepare daily cash management for all companies including wires, transfers, and ACH transactions. Complete positive pay exceptions. Research and process stop payments for all companies. Research incoming and outgoing daily banking transactions for all companies. These should be done through Wells Fargo Commercial Electronic Office System (CEO). Preparing bank NSF reports for: EFTs, Ebill, PAC and email confirmation for wires and stop payments. Prepare monthly rental payment for Banner Life and William Penn. Update rental payment annually according to the lease agreement. Prepare federal withholding EFT wire.
2. Process reclamations request from PRT group and communicate with Wells Fargo on closed and open cases. Process PRT EFT returns and notify PRT group. Ensure that Voids and Void accounting transactions are completed in the PRT Utility. Responsible for preparing daily PRT transactions bank reconciliation with information from Wells Fargo bank statement and internal PRT utility reports. Backup for communicating any issues or complaints related to pension checks to management; responsible for working with cash management staff daily to ensure adequate funding for pension checks and EFTs. Responsible for the coordination of PRT checks processing through Gunther. Research and reconcile all Gunther PRT utility exceptions. Check the stop payment email box daily and respond to stop payment/void requests from the Retirement Group. Update the PRT Utility for the stop payment. Process stop payment in Wells Fargo accurately.
3. Prepare 1099s review and reconciliation at mid-year and year end for all companies. Work with ASD and Sovos to ensure 1099s for vendors are correct and processed timely. Attend 1099 meetings as scheduled by the Tax Coordinator.
4. Primarily responsible for PosiTax import, download, and update files for municipality tax returns monthly, quarterly and annually. Work with IT department to obtain the necessary files. Research and resolve questions/issues that arise during the municipality tax process and ensure that the tax payments are done timely according to the jurisdictions. Contact taxing authorities as needed for clarification. Work with Tax Department at year end on tax forms to comply with regulatory deadlines.
5. Audit request as assigned.
6. Daily interface of disbursement files from subsystems and verification of totals. Print all daily disbursements and create daily eft file.  Monitor check printing hardware, software and supplies and communicate any problems or requirements to management on a timely basis. Verify all new vendors are verified in CSI WatchDog and that required forms (such as W9) are all on file. Review accounts payable invoices in DocStar prior to processing with particular concern to sales tax assessments, allocations, vendor numbers, and adequate support and signature approvals. Verify that invoices are correctly coded with the correct invoice date, invoice number and remit address.
7. Prepare reconciliations for assigned bank and suspense accounts. Make necessary adjusting entries to clear outstanding items. Analyze and research outstanding items. Work with ASD staff when necessary to discuss problem resolutions.
8. Prepare morning Scudder funds. Includes transferring proper funds for VA, VUL and Vector Vision. Record entries properly and timely to the general ledger.
9. Review and process MAPS underwriting bills to verify accurate and legitimate billing from vendors. Work with Underwriting staff and external vendors to resolve discrepancies.   Communicate any issues with management. Prepare quarterly direct underwriting expense analysis for senior management. 
10. Audit expense reports in Certify and ensure that employees are following the Business Expense Reimbursement Policy. Communicate with the preparer and reviewer items which are not within the Business Expense Reimbursement Policy.
11. Prepare various journal entries. Such as cash clearing entries, bank fees, group life withholding, legal settlement entries, reinsurance checks and wires entries. Communicate with the Claims department to ensure you have the correct supporting documents. Research outstanding items with ASD department. Work with IT department to research and clear unreconciled transactions. Entries are completed in Epicor.
12. Prepare monthly escheat worksheet. Research all checks outstanding more than six months.
13. Function as a backup in the process of Tracker escheat filings and remittance reports based on state regulatory requirements. Backup for updating Tracker records to reflect all general ledger entries to the escheat account.
14. Mentor and train new staff on work responsibilities and general systems functions.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Education

High School diploma or equivalent, some college accounting courses preferred

Experience/Knowledge

2-3 years accounting experience or equivalent college courses.  

 Skills

Math aptitude

Strong 10 key/calculator skills

Knowledge of basic Excel functions

General systems knowledge

Detailed oriented

Excellent communication skills

Epicor and DocStar experience preferred, but not required

What’s in it for you?

The expected hiring compensation range for this position is $55,200 - $73,800 annually. This position is a hybrid role, reporting into our  Frederick, MD office three times per week.

The total compensation package for this position may include other elements, such as a sign-on bonus, long term incentives, and annual bonuses.  This role is eligible to participate in the Annual Incentive Plan. The current target payment for the position is 3% of base salary, modified for corporate and individual performance. Bonuses are pro-rated based on start date.  This role has 10 vacation days and 10 sick days that are accrued on a bi-weekly basis. Employees also have 9 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.

We have a competitive compensation and benefits package focused on your overall wellbeing.  Employee benefits include health, life, and dental insurance; 401K with company match up to 6% as well as a pension package; generous time off; and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year (we like doing fun stuff).  We’re big on professional development and we’ll support and mentor you in your career progression and expect you to help us pay it forward by helping us develop tomorrow's leaders and growth-focused professionals. We value our teams and our communities and believe in giving back. Enjoy time off to volunteer for those causes that matter most to you!

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. The Company reserves the right to change benefits plans at any time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.