Manager, Accounting Operations

Hancock Whitney; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Hancock Whitney in New Orleans seeks a Finance Systems leader to design, test, and support the bank's ERP and related financial platforms, ensuring the integrity of GL reconciliations and smooth data flows.

You will drive enterprise-wide modernization, upgrades, and process improvements while advising senior leadership on strategy, risk, and investment priorities. Collaboration with Internal Audit, Risk, and IT is essential to deliver reliable, compliant financial systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years of accounting systems or ERP experience in banking/financial services.
• CPA preferred.
• Working knowledge of banking industry.
• Strong MS Office proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute the enterprise financial systems strategy.
• Lead GL-impacting system architecture and data flows.
• Oversee ERP upgrades and process transformation.
• Advise leadership on strategy, risks, and investment priorities.
• Maintain integrity of financial data for internal and external reporting.
• Ensure SOX compliance and controls framework.
• Collaborate with Internal Audit, External Audit, and Risk teams.
• Lead disaster recovery planning for financial systems.

Skills

ERP systems

SOX compliance

Data governance

Financial reporting

Banking knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

JOB FUNCTION / SUMMARY:

This role provides analytical and technical expertise in the design, testing, and support of the company's financial systems, including the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform. The position is responsible for ensuring the integrity of general ledger (GL) reconciliations, overseeing system interfaces, and supporting ongoing production processes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own and execute the enterprise financial systems strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with long-term corporate, regulatory, and operational objectives.
• Serve as the Finance systems authority, accountable for all GL-impacting system architecture, integrations, and data flows.
• Lead enterprise-wide initiatives to modernize financial systems, including ERP implementations, upgrades, and process transformation efforts.
• Advise leadership (e.g., CFO and Chief Accounting Officer) on financial systems strategy, risks, and investment priorities.
• Maintain accountability for the integrity and accuracy of financial data supporting internal and external reporting, including regulatory and audited financial statements.
• Oversee the controls framework governing accounting systems, ensuring compliance with SOX, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Own risk identification and mitigation strategies related to financial systems and data governance.
• Partner with Internal Audit, External Audit, and Risk teams to ensure effective controls and remediation of identified issues.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Finance and Technology, directing priorities and ensuring alignment on system design and delivery.
• Influence cross-functional decision-making across Finance, IT, Risk, and Operations for all GL-impacting initiatives.
• Direct vendor strategy and maintain relationships with external technology partners.
• Direct governance of all system-to-GL reconciliations, ensuring completeness, timeliness, and documentation integrity.
• Establish and enforce standards for testing, validation, and implementation of all GL-impacting system changes, with final sign-off authority.
• Oversee system interfaces, batch processing, and data flows to ensure operational continuity and data accuracy.
• Lead disaster recovery planning and execution for financial systems.
• Champion automation, digitization, and process optimization initiatives across Finance systems.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, scalability, and control effectiveness through technology solutions.
• Lead large-scale transformation programs delivering measurable improvements in financial operations.
• Ensure adherence to all applicable regulatory requirements, including the Bank Secrecy Act and other financial services regulations.
• Monitor evolving regulatory expectations and integrate requirements into financial systems and processes.
• Lead and develop managers responsible for reconciliations and asset management systems.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or related field required.
• 7+ years of experience in Accounting Systems, preferably within banking or financial services. Equivalent combination of general accounting and Accounting Systems experience may be considered.
• CPA preferred.
• Working knowledge of banking or financial services industry.
• Strong expertise in accounting systems and reporting tools.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint).

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to work under stress and meet deadlines.
• Ability to operate related equipment to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to read and interpret a document if required to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to lift/move/carry approximately 10 pounds if required to perform the essential job functions. If the employee is unable to lift/move/carry this weight and can be accommodated without causing the department/division an "undue hardship" then the employee must be accommodated; hence omitting lifting/moving/carrying as a physical requirement.

Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, physical or mental disability or history of disability, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, disabled veteran, or other protected characteristics as required by federal, state and local laws.