Accounting Policy Lead

Jackson; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson, headquartered in Lansing, MI, is seeking an Accounting Policy Lead to guide accounting and financial reporting policies. The role focuses on interpreting policy changes, monitoring standard-setting activities, and ensuring compliant, well-documented reporting across the organization.

The candidate will work with cross-functional teams to implement policy updates, maintain the accounting policy database, and support external audits.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of auditing / financial reporting experience.
• Big 4 public accounting experience preferred.
• Experience with SEC registered companies preferred.
• Insurance or financial services experience preferred.
• Experience accounting for investment assets preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Monitors, researches, and evaluates the impact of new or changing accounting and financial reporting guidance, including monitoring FASB and NAIC standard setting activities.
• Assists management in implementing necessary changes to policies, processes, and procedures to comply with new or changing accounting and financial reporting guidance.
• Maintains the Company's accounting policy database.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and documents the Company's accounting policies to be applied to new, significant, or unusual transactions.
• Prepares position papers documenting the Company's position on technical accounting issues.
• Evaluates accounting and reporting errors, changes in accounting policy, or changes in accounting estimates.
• Prepares relevant notes to the financial statements disclosing the Company's accounting policies.
• Assists in drafting and reviewing the Company's financial statements and notes to those financial statements to ensure appropriate application and disclosure of accounting policies.
• Works across functions to educate management on the Company's selection and application of current, new, and changing accounting policies.
• Implements and operates controls over the maintenance, appropriateness, and accurate reporting of the Company's accounting policies.
• Supports the Company's interaction with internal and external audit teams with matters regarding accounting policies.
• Interacts with all functions and departments, serving as a subject matter expert on accounting policy and financial reporting.
• Represents the Company through participation in relevant industry groups.
• Supports the strategic goals of the department and Company.
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Skills

US GAAP

Insurance statutory accounting

Auditing / financial reporting

Communication skills

Time management

Team player

Independent worker

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Master's Degree in Accounting or MBA

CPA

Big 4 experience

SEC experience

Investment assets accounting experience

Insurance/financial services experience

Job description

Job Purpose

The Accounting Policy Lead provides accounting and financial reporting guidance to management and other functional areas with regard to interpreting accounting and regulatory policy by monitoring accounting standard setting acitivites, researching accounting and regulatory policy changes, evaluating and communicating the impact of these changes on company reporting requirements, and supporting the implementation of accounting changes.

Essential Responsibilities

• Monitors, researches, and evaluates the impact of new or changing accounting and financial reporting guidance, including monitoring FASB and NAIC standard setting activities.
• Assists management in implementing necessary changes to policies, processes, and procedures to comply with new or changing accounting and financial reporting guidance.
• Maintains the Company's accounting policy database.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and documents the Company's accounting policies to be applied to new, significant, or unusual transactions.
• Prepares position papers documenting the Company's position on technical accounting issues.
• Evaluates accounting and reporting errors, changes in accounting policy, or changes in accounting estimates.
• Prepares relevant notes to the financial statements disclosing the Company's accounting policies.
• Assists in drafting and reviewing the Company's financial statements and notes to those financial statements to ensure appropriate application and disclosure of accounting policies.
• Works across functions to educate management on the Company's selection and application of current, new, and changing accounting policies.
• Implements and operates controls over the maintenance, appropriateness, and accurate reporting of the Company's accounting policies.
• Supports the Company's interaction with internal and external audit teams with matters regarding accounting policies.
• Interacts with all functions and departments, serving as a subject matter expert on accounting policy and financial reporting.
• Represents the Company through participation in relevant industry groups.
• Supports the strategic goals of the department and Company.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of insurance statutory accounting and US GAAP.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to communicate with associates at all levels within and outside of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Strong team player with strong professional and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and establish priorities to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to meet job requirements with a positive and productive attitude.
• Continuous improvement mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field required.
• Master's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of auditing / financial reporting experience required.
• "Big 4" public accounting experience preferred.
• Experience with SEC registered companies preferred.
• Insurance or financial services experience preferred.
• Experience accounting for investment assets preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

Jackson is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. The Company subscribes to and endorses federal and state laws and regulations relating to equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, legally-recognized disability, marital status, legally-protected medical condition, citizenship, ancestry, height, weight, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other factor not related to the needs of the job. The Company is committed to a policy of equal opportunity. Company facilities and campuses are tobacco-free environments.