Investment Accounting Associate (Entry-Level)

William Blair; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

William Blair seeks an Investment Accounting Associate to support reconciliation and corporate actions for institutional and counseling accounts. You will reconcile security positions, market values, and cash balances, while addressing client inquiries and participating in process improvements.

The role requires a Finance/Accounting background and strong Excel/analytical skills, with a hybrid schedule requiring in-office work in Chicago 2 days per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field (required).
• Prior experience in an investment accounting role within equities preferred.
• Experience working with or at an investment management firm (through an internship or full-time) preferred.
• Strong desire to learn investment accounting concepts, processes and platform.
• Excellent quantitative reasoning, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Detail oriented and able to prioritize tasks.
• Demonstrates initiative and persistence.
• Able to exercise independent judgment.
• Commits to satisfying internal and external customers.
• Delivers clear, effective communication and commits to understanding others.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to work from the Chicago office 2x per week; hybrid.

Responsibilities

• Perform accounting reconciliation responsibilities for assigned investment accounts, such as reconciling daily transaction activity, security positions, market value and cost value.
• Ensure William Blair’s accounting records are accurate and reconciled with clients’ custodial books and records.
• Address all accounting and account related requests and inquiries from external and internal clients in a timely manner
• Participate in projects and ad hoc items as required.
• Ensure Reconciliation policies and procedures are also followed. Recommend changes or updates to processes/procedures to senior staff when warranted.
• Participate in projects and ad hoc items as required.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise of investment accounting principles.
• Ensure Reconciliation policies and procedures are also followed. Recommend changes or updates to processes/procedures to senior staff when warranted.
• Serve as a backup for investment accountants when coverage needs arise.
• Assist supervisor and team lead with training of new investment accountants.
• Additional responsibilities as requested.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Independent judgment

Customer focus

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Solutions for Today’s Challenges. Vision for Tomorrow’s Opportunities.

Join William Blair, the Premier Global Partnership.

The investment accounting & corporate actions team is responsible for two primary functions: reconciliation and corporate actions. The reconciliation group reconciles security positions, security market values, transactions and cash balances that are maintained on our internal accounting platform against that of the custodians for both counseling and institutional accounts. The corporate actions group performs the processing of both mandatory and voluntary events, such as mergers, acquisitions, spinoffs, stock splits, dividends, tender offers, and other corporate events. Team members work with our internal trading groups and custodians to ensure events are processed accurately and timely.

Responsibilities for the Investment Accounting Associate include but may not be limited to:

• Perform accounting reconciliation responsibilities for assigned investment accounts, such as reconciling daily transaction activity, security positions, market value and cost value.
• Ensure William Blair’s accounting records are accurate and reconciled with clients’ custodial books and records.
• Address all accounting and account related requests and inquiries from external and internal clients in a timely manner
• Participate in projects and ad hoc items as required.
• Ensure Reconciliation policies and procedures are also followed. Recommend changes or updates to processes/procedures to senior staff when warranted.
• Participate in projects and ad hoc items as required.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise of investment accounting principles.
• Ensure Reconciliation policies and procedures are also followed. Recommend changes or updates to processes/procedures to senior staff when warranted.
• Serve as a backup for investment accountants when coverage needs arise.
• Assist supervisor and team lead with training of new investment accountants.
• Additional responsibilities as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business or related field required
• Prior experience in an investment accounting role within equities preferred
• Experience working with or at an investment management firm (through an internship or full-time) preferred
• Strong desire to learn investment accounting concepts, processes and platform
• Excellent quantitative reasoning, problem solving and analytical skills
• Detail oriented and able to prioritize tasks
• Demonstrates initiative and persistence
• Able to exercise independent judgment
• Commits to satisfying internal and external customers
• Delivers clear, effective communication and commits to understanding others
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word
• Ability to work from the Chicago office 2x per week; hybrid

#LI-HK1

A reasonable estimate of the current base salary range at time of posting is below. Base salary does not include other forms of compensation or benefits. Actual base salary within the specified range is based on several factors, including but not limited to applicant's skills, prior relevant experience, specific degrees and certifications, job responsibilities, market considerations and, if applicable, the location of the position.

This role is eligible for either a discretionary annual bonus (based on company, business unit and individual performance) and/or commission-based incentives.

Our featured benefit offerings include medical, dental and vision coverage, employer paid short & long-term disability and life insurance, 401(k), profit sharing, paid time off, Maven family & fertility benefit, parental leave (including adoption, surrogacy, and foster placement), as well as other voluntary benefits.

Salary Range

$68,000—$83,000 USD

About Our Firm

William Blair strives to attract qualified candidates who specialize in investment banking, investment management, private wealth management, and other strategic resource groups. We are committed to empowering our colleagues to deliver client success and engage in our communities. Our firm has delivered trusted advice for nine decades, continuing to deepen our expertise and relationships across asset classes and markets throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet clients’ evolving needs amid dynamic market conditions and varying industries. What sets us apart is that we are an independent partnership, with colleagues who have unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We empower our people to bring their best thinking so we can deliver the tailored, thoughtful work and problem-solving abilities that our clients expect. We invite you to learn more about us by visiting williamblair.com.

William Blair is an equal opportunity employer. It complies with all laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in employment practice because of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military service or on the basis of a physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the employee's ability to perform the duties of the job applied for. EOE m/f/d/v

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