Accountant III

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Retirement System seeks an Accountant III to join our Finance team in General Accounting. You will maintain accurate financial records, prepare journal entries, reconcile accounts, and support month-end and year-end close processes.

Ideal candidates combine strong accounting knowledge with cross-department collaboration to resolve discrepancies and improve reporting reliability for the agency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of increasing responsibility in accounting across multiple disciplines.
• Experience using large databases, accounting systems, and web-based applications.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes all GL reconciling items arising while recording VNAV activity into the general ledger.
• Prepares journal entries to reflect subsystem activity in the general ledger.
• Assists external auditors in reviewing the VRS annual financial statements.
• Executes the general ledger close process monthly and annually.
• Performs system testing of transactions in the VRS ERP System.
• Develops standard operating procedures and drives process improvements.

Skills

MS Office proficiency

Internal controls

Verbal and written communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Title: Accountant III

Agency: Virginia Retirement System

Location: Virginia Retirement System - Main Office

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $88,000 - $110,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full time

The Virginia Retirement System is seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Accountant III to join our Finance team in General Accounting. This position plays an important role in maintaining accurate financial records, preparing journal entries, reconciling accounts, analyzing financial reports, and supporting month-end and year-end accounting activities.

The ideal candidate will bring strong accounting knowledge, sound judgment, and a commitment to accuracy while working across departments to resolve discrepancies, improve processes, and support reliable financial reporting for the agency.

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Analyzes all GL reconciling items arising while recording VRS subsystem (VNAV) activity into the general ledger, determining the cause of differences.
• Liaises with owners of the VRS subsystems to correct system interfaces.
• Prepares journal entries required to correctly reflect all VRS subsystem activity in the general ledger.

• Prepares annual financial statements and supporting documentation for the Annual Report as well as the timely prepartion of year-end accruals, adjustments, entries, and Fund’s Working Trial Balances.

• Assists external auditors in reviewing and auditing the VRS annual financial statements, minimizes audit points related to the accuracy of VRS financial records, and safeguards VRS assets.

• Analyzes financial reports for abnormal balances and/or variances, determines actions necessary to correct the balances, and requests the appropriate VRS department/staff to take the required corrective action.

• Executes the general ledger close process monthly and annually, preparing all closing entries.

• Performs system testing of transactions to ensure that changes made within VRS ERP System correctly record transactions in the general ledger.

• Participates in cross-hierarchal teams and contributes to improving services across agency lines.

• Effectively works with all levels of management and staff to improve processes and procedures.

• Ensures all daily General Ledger transactions are properly interface with the Department of Accounts financial system-Cardinal. Resolves errors on General Ledger interface error report.

• Prepares monthly employer income distributions report and entries. Ensures accurate monthly and annual employer reporting of income and expenses.

• Maintains accounts reconciliation master list and resolves outstanding reconciling items in a timely manner by working with reconciliation owners. Assists in research and correction of complex accounting transactions and reconciling items.

• Develop tools, resources, and reports to assist in clearing reconciling items, identifying variances, and streamlining processes for better efficiency of operations.

• Takes lead/ownership role of larger projects within the GA area as well as monitor and oversee successful project progress and completion.

• Develops standard operating procedures as needed, analyzes current processes, suggests and coordinates implementation of process improvements.

• Performs special projects assigned by the General Accounting Manager, Controller, or CFO.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field.

Five (5) years of increasing responsibility in accounting, including experience in multiple accounting disciplines (accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll processing), analyzing and reconciling accounting transactions and using computerized accounting and financial systems. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience using large databases, accounting and financial management systems, and web-based applications to support financial operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in governmental accounting, ACFR or pension plan accounting
• CPA License
• Experience with Data Analytics including the use of Power BI or other related tools

Required Skills and Abilitie b s:

• Abilities to test programming results and to interpret and apply administrative, legal, and regulatory guidelines.
• Abilities to train, lead, and mentor staff and others in the agency; work independently with minimal supervision; prioritize; meet deadlines; develop and test new or enhanced systems; plan, evaluate, and implement processes and procedures; negotiate, persuade and influence behaviors; to think critically and resolve complex issues.
• Proficiency with MS Office products, and excellent working knowledge of internal controls, general accounting regulations, principles and procedures, and office administration are required.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and good customer service skills.

Hiring Range:

$88,000 - $110,000