Gulf States Financial Services Hiring for Accountant Job at Houston, TX Full Time

SUMMARY

The Accountant I or II will apply accounting principles and procedures to analyze financial information, prepare accurate and timely financial reports and statements and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures. The Accountant I or II will provide general accounting services; ensure that all financial data is recorded accurately and on time within Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Statutory Accounting Standards as set by the NAIC and company policy.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Close of the General Ledger for companies as assigned. Maintain the close schedule. Inform Sr. Accounting Manager when the monthly trial balance is ready for review
• Prepare quarterly and annual GAAP and Statutory statements as required for Servco, GSFS and other companies as assigned.
• Prepare journal entries – including recurring entries – for Month End Close. Consult with Lead Accountant and Sr. Manager regarding materiality decisions on close entries
• Reconcile all company asset and investment accounts resolve reconciling items in a timely manner.
• Maintain well-documented work-papers for journal entries and account reconciliations. As part of the reconciliation process, review the reasonableness of balance sheet and income statement accounts in order to determine that all necessary entries have been recorded.
• Calculate and prepare funding requests and journal entries for bonus/commission, volume bonus, overfund, General Agent commissions and other commission related items as necessary and in a timely manner
• Calculate premium tax for sixteen states
• Incorporate new products and/or companies in current accounting processes.
• Analyze monthly and year-end financial data to ensure that it is recorded accurately, in accordance with GAAP and statutory accounting standards as set by the NAIC
• Assist in reviewing or preparing ancillary audit schedules, audit footnotes, tax schedules and tax forms.
• Coordinate and communicate actions between the Friedkin affiliated companies.
• Research and resolve accounting transaction questions and other customer issues in an agreed upon timeframe. Strive to satisfy customers. Minimize referrals to management.
• Participate in continuous improvement teams to enhance and/or streamline accounting processes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from four-year College or university; and 3 – 4 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. ‘Big Four’ accounting firm experience desired, but not required. Insurance accounting experience a plus. Technical Expertise – Applies up-to-date knowledge and skills needed to do the job. Expertise in GAAP, Insurance Accounting Standards, Oracle, Excel and other PC applications required in the job.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork – Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity, fosters commitment and team spirit, and works with others to achieve goals. Ability to communicate with employees, peers, and managers, and to give/receive constructive feedback.
• Influencing/Negotiating – Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior, works with others toward an agreement, and negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions. Proven coaching/mentoring skills.
• Interpersonal Relationship and Service Orientation -Demonstrated competency in working with a wide range of departments with diverse business needs, interests, expectations, and requirements.
• Planning and Evaluating – Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements, determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them, coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals, and monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
• Problem Solving – Identifies problems, determines accuracy and relevance of information, uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and makes recommendations. Manages and resolves conflicts, grievance, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
• Customer Service – Works with customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolves problems, and satisfy expectations, knows products and services, and is committed to providing quality products and services.
• Organizational Awareness – Knows the organization’s mission and function and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively with them including the program, policies, procedures, rules and regulation of the organization.
• Oral Communication – Expresses ideas and facts to individuals or groups effectively, makes clear and convincing oral presentations, listens to others, and facilitates an open exchange of ideas.
• Self-Management – Self motivated. Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals, displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner.

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

(For optimum performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS *

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is preferred – active or working towards certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the associate is required on a daily basis to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a stationary position for a significant amount of the work day; and frequently access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The associate is regularly required to move about the office and around the corporate campus. The associate is occasionally required to travel to other sites, including out-of-state, where applicable, for business. The associate must frequently move up to 10 pounds and occasionally move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in an office environment, the associate is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, areas in which moving mechanical parts, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals are present, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the associate may be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Minimal travel is required for this position (up to 20% of the time and on a domestic basis).

• Legally authorized to work in the United States, without Sponsorship

The Friedkin Group and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers and maintain drug-free workplaces by conducting pre-employment drug testing.

LI-PB1