Accounting Operations Expert (Insurance)

Gratia; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gratia is seeking a senior accountant and process optimization expert for a project-based engagement with a leading MGA. You will modernize the month-end close, resolve complex reconciliations, and introduce AI and automation to legacy workflows.

You will collaborate with finance leadership and distributed teams to drive efficiency, tackle bottlenecks, and elevate data quality in premium trust and claims funding processes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in MGA/delegated authority models and premium trust accounting.
• Ability to untangle legacy reconciliations and optimize workflows.
• Proficiency in Excel and applying automation/AI to finance processes.
• Lean Six Sigma training is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of claims accounting, performing complex catch-up work and establishing clean forward processes.
• Shadow the team during month-end close to map workflows, identify bottlenecks, and improve data flow between MGA and carrier partners.
• Leverage Excel, automation tools, and AI to eliminate manual entry and streamline cross-system reporting.
• Serve as a thought partner to finance leadership, promoting continuous improvement across teams.

Skills

Insurance industry experience

Excel

Automation

AI tools

CPA/CA knowledge

Education

CPA/CA certification preferred

Tools

Copilot Pro

Job description

About the role

We are looking for a senior accountant and process optimization expert for a project-based engagement with one of the world's largest international Managing General Agents (MGAs). Working directly with the finance leadership team, you will step into a distributed U.S. accounting group to untangle complex reconciliations, modernize the month-end close, and introduce AI and automation to legacy workflows.

What the role is not

• Not pure staff augmentation. The team already has clerical and day-to-day execution resources. This role is about challenging how the work is done, not just turning the crank.

• Not basic bookkeeping.The cleanup work involves complex MGA accounting, historical catch-ups, and untangling legacy processes.

• Not order-taking. We do not need someone who waits for step-by-step instructions. You must be proactive in uncovering inefficiencies, questioning existing processes, and proposing solutions.

Key priorities

• Take ownership of the claims accounting area, executing complex catch-up work, resolving historical discrepancies, and establishing clean go-forward processes for premium trust and claims funding.

• Shadow the team through month-end close and day-to-day operations to map existing workflows, identify bottlenecks, and recommend efficiency improvements in how data flows between the MGA and carrier partners.

• Leverage advanced Excel, automation tools, and AI capabilities (such as Copilot Pro) to eliminate manual data entry and streamline cross-system reporting (e.g., high-volume bank reconciliations and bordereaux reporting).

• Act as a thought partner to finance leadership, providing technical accounting context while driving a culture of continuous improvement across teams in San Diego, Dallas, New York, and North Carolina.

What we're looking for

• Deep experience in the insurance sector is required, with specific knowledge of MGA/delegated authority models, premium trust accounting, and carrier reporting being a massive advantage.

• Strong grasp of complex accounting frameworks (CPA/CA preferred) with the ability to untangle legacy reconciliation issues.

• Proven track record of optimizing finance and accounting workflows. Formal training (Lean Six Sigma) is a plus but not required.

• Highly proficient in Excel with a demonstrated ability to apply automation or AI tools to finance workflows.
  

Engagement details

• Start timing: Expected to kick off within the next month, ramping up as the team approaches year-end.

• Duration: Flexible initial length. Will start as project-based support with the potential to extend into a longer-term relationship based on performance.

• Location & hours: Remote. Must be onshore or fully capable of aligning with U.S. working hours, with a strong preference for West Coast hours.

• Capacity: full time (40h per week)