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The George Washington University · 4 days ago

Senior Benefits Plan Accountant

United States

Full-time

Remote

Mid, Senior Level

$64K/yr - $106K/yr

2+ years exp

The George Washington University is dedicated to supporting its faculty, staff, and postdocs with quality benefit plans. The Senior Benefits Plan Accountant is responsible for the accounting, reconciliation, and reporting of employee benefit programs while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Higher Education

No H1B

Responsibilities

Process vendor invoices and ensure timely payments in accordance with GW policies and contractual terms

Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner

Maintain accurate records of all payment transactions and support month-end/quarter-end closing activities

Collaborate with procurement and finance teams to ensure alignment on payment schedules and vendor terms

Liaison with health and welfare benefit enrollment TPA for benefit deduction review/reconciliation and analysis

Coordination of annual audit for university 401(a) and 403(b) Retirement Plans. Lead liaison with external auditors, investment service providers, and leads coordination of various university departments to collect, review, manage all requested audit documents, and sample testing data/information

Lead responding to auditors’ inquiries, discuss issues as well as perform research on potential exceptions

Prepare financial statements and supplemental schedules for retirement plans

Coordinate actuarial evaluation for Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits and preparation of related quarterly and annual journal entries and reconciliations

Updates to all internal control narratives, reports and assumption memos for retirement plans and postretirement and postemployment benefits for university financial statements audit

Coordination and preparation of Forms 5500s, 8955-SSAs, and Summary Annual Reports distribution for health and welfare and retirement plans

Assist review of 457(f) Restoration Retirement Plan calculations and preparing journal entries to record the liability at the end of quarter

Coordination of Nondiscrimination Testing for health and welfare and retirement plans

Prepare monthly analysis for retirement plans; reconcile university contributions amounts to investment providers’ application amounts for both 401(a) and 403(b) Plans

Review annual retirement plan true up calculations

Audit plan operation

Oversee processing of any payroll manual checks or any discrepancies as needed

Perform sample test of the distribution payments issued from the 401(a) and 403(b) plans to determine the eligibility and to ensure compliance with plan rules

Prepare monthly analysis of all fringe benefits expenditures for management review

Coordinate executive insurance payments

Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures associated with the university’s benefit plans

Identifies and advises University management on expenditure and payment function issues and provides solutions for consideration and implementation as appropriate

Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit reconciliation and accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures to better facilitate activities related to the reconciliation of enrollment, expenditure and payment activities associated with the University’s benefit plans

Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualification

Employee benefits accountingGAAP knowledgeAccounting software proficiencyFinancial reporting standardsCPA certificationAdvanced Excel skillsRegulatory compliance knowledgeAnalytical skillsAudit preparation experienceInternal controls knowledgeCommunication skillsAttention to detailProblem-solving abilitiesCross-functional collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience