Accounting Manager

Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS); Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Holidays & Leave

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pension Plan

Gym Reimbursement

FSAs

Student Loan Forgiveness

Parental Leave

Deferred Compensation

Job summary

Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) seeks an Accounting Manager to lead our accounting team and safeguard financial integrity. You will oversee payroll and fund accounting, analyze financial information, and guide internal controls while collaborating with professionals who value accuracy and continuous improvement.

The role requires strong accounting knowledge, supervisory experience, and the ability to resolve complex issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business with 5+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with accounting standards, laws, rules and regulations.
• Prior supervisory or team-leader experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee payroll operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Maintain the integrity of fund accounting records and reliability of financial information.
• Prepare and analyze financial and managerial reports for decision-making.
• Strengthen operations by evaluating processes and implementing improvements.
• Review staff work and provide technical guidance and consistency.
• Prepare periodic tax filings including 1099R and other filings.
• Support audits by preparing work papers, schedules, and analyses.
• Research complex accounting questions and recommend treatments.
• Collaborate across the organization to resolve accounting questions and improve processes.
• Stay current with accounting principles and reporting requirements.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Payroll processing

Analytical thinking

Leadership / supervision

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business

5+ years of relevant experience

Tools

CPP

CGFM

Job description

Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) is looking for an Accounting Manager to lead our accounting team. In this role, you’ll play an important part in maintaining the financial integrity of the retirement system while leading key accounting functions, supporting the accounting team, and helping improve MainePERS processes.

This is an opportunity to put your accounting knowledge to work on meaningful challenges—from overseeing payroll and fund accounting to analyzing financial information, strengthening internal controls, and navigating complex accounting questions. You’ll have the opportunity to make an impact while working alongside knowledgeable professionals who value collaboration, accuracy, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and oversee payroll operations, ensuring payroll is accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable requirements and organizational policies.
• Maintain the integrity of fund accounting records, ensuring financial information is accurate, complete, and reliable.
• Prepare and analyze financial and managerial accounting reports, turning complex financial information into meaningful insights that support sound decision-making.
• Strengthen accounting operations by evaluating processes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and helping implement effective solutions.
• Review and guide the work of accounting staff, providing technical expertise and ensuring work is accurate, consistent, and compliant with established practices.
• Prepare periodic tax filings as required including annual forms 1099R for pension beneficiaries and other quarterly and annual filings related to income tax withholdings.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing work papers, reports, schedules, and analyses and serving as a knowledgeable resource throughout the audit process.
• Tackle complex accounting questions by researching issues, evaluating alternatives, and recommending appropriate accounting treatment.
• Partner across the organization to resolve accounting questions, improve processes, and support effective financial operations.
• Stay current with accounting principles, practices, and reporting requirements and bring that knowledge to the work you do every day.

What Helps You Succeed

• Strong knowledge of financial and managerial accounting principles, practices, and reporting.
• Experience overseeing accounting functions, with experience in payroll and/or fund accounting highly valued.
• The ability to research and work through complex accounting issues and make thoughtful recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail, along with the judgment to know when a deeper dive is needed.
• Experience reviewing the work of others and providing clear, constructive guidance.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to balance competing priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• A continuous-improvement mindset and an interest in finding better, more efficient ways to accomplish the work.

Why You’ll Love Working at MainePERS

At MainePERS, you'll join a collaborative team whose work makes a meaningful difference for Maine's public employees and retirees. We value teamwork, continuous learning, and professional growth while fostering a supportive work environment where employees are encouraged to develop their skills and contribute to improving our services.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business with at least 5 years of relevant experience; OR equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience may be considered.
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel at the Advanced level.
• Prior experience with accounting standards and procedures, laws, rules and regulations.
• Prior supervisory or team leader experience with a demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and/or Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM)
• 2+ years accounting or finance experience in a public employee retirement system
• Prior experience processing payroll.

The anticipated starting salary is typically near the minimum of the pay range. Initial placement within the range will be determined based on the successful candidate's relevant education, experience, skills, and other job-related qualifications.

Benefits:

We offer anoutstandingbenefit package including:

• Work-Life Balance– MainePERS provides13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave,and2+ weeks of vacation leaveannually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service.
• Health Insurance Coverage– MainePERS pays for65%-90%of health insurance based on the employee’s annual salary and person covered (dependent or employee)
• Health Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%.
• Dental Insurance– MainePERS pays100%of dental insurance premiums for employees and their dependents
• Vision Insurance – Employee paid
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan– MainePERS contributes17.25%of pay to pension on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement– Employees may receive a wellness reimbursement ofup to $300 per calendar yearfor individual physical fitness activities, gym membership, stress management programs, etc.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts– Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness– MainePERS is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Parental leave- Paid parental leave for childbearing and adoption is available to an employee for up to 42 calendar daysto support new parents in bonding and caring for a new child. Additionally, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation– Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a 457(b) and 401(a) accounts through payroll deductions.