Senior Benefits Plan Accountant

The George Washington University; Ashburn (VA); Remote; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The George Washington University seeks a Senior Benefits Plan Accountant to oversee benefits accounting functions, ensuring compliance and accurate reporting in a dynamic environment. This full-time, remote role requires a strong foundation in accounting principles and excellent analytical skills, aimed at enhancing employee benefits management.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision

Retirement savings options

Tuition assistance programs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CPA preferred.
• 2+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in employee benefits accounting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process vendor invoices and reconcile statements.
• Lead annual audits and ensure compliance.
• Prepare financial statements and schedules.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Attention to Detail

Problem-Solving

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA or accounting certification

Tools

Accounting Software (e.g., Oracle, Banner)

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

Human Resource Management and Development comprises a variety of teams and units that manage different key employment-related issues for The George Washington University.GW Benefits is dedicated to supporting our faculty, staff, and postdocs by delivering quality, comprehensive and competitive benefit plans with a focus on the participant experience. We aim to build security for our employees by providing services that help support and protect their health, financial, and well-being goals.

The Senior Benefits Plan Accountant position is responsible for the accurate accounting, reconciliation, and reporting of employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee-related benefits. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies while supporting strategic initiatives related to employee benefits.

The Senior Benefits Plan Accountant is responsible for monitoring and completing appropriate accounting activities for the benefit programs, including but not limited to: Maintaining and reconciling general ledger accounts related to employee benefits, preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual journal entries and financial reports for benefits-related accounts, collaborating with HR, TPA and payroll teams to ensure accurate benefit deductions and contributions, monitoring and analyzing benefit plan costs, trends and variances, leading annual audits, ensuring compliance with federal/state/local regulations, supporting preparation and ensuring accuracy of regulatory filings, and providing financial analysis for benefits planning and forecasting.

This position has enterprise-wide scope and serves as a subject matter expert managing complex benefits accounting functions for the university. This position also participates in various benefits projects.

The Senior Benefits Plan Accountant reports directly to the Benefits Director and works under limited supervision to apply generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) and procedures to analyze financial information, prepare accurate and timely reports and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures are met.

Responsibilities include:

• Process vendor invoices and ensure timely payments in accordance with GW policies and contractual terms.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate records of all payment transactions and support month-end/quarter-end closing activities.
• Collaborate with procurement and finance teams to ensure alignment on payment schedules and vendor terms.
• Liaison with health and welfare benefit enrollment TPA for benefit deduction review/reconciliation and analysis.
• Coordination of annual audit for university 401(a) and 403(b) Retirement Plans. Lead liaison with external auditors, investment service providers, and leads coordination of various university departments to collect, review, manage all requested audit documents, and sample testing data/information.
• Lead responding to auditors’ inquiries, discuss issues as well as perform research on potential exceptions.
• Prepare financial statements and supplemental schedules for retirement plans.
• Coordinate actuarial evaluation for Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits and preparation of related quarterly and annual journal entries and reconciliations.
• Updates to all internal control narratives, reports and assumption memos for retirement plans and postretirement and postemployment benefits for university financial statements audit.
• Coordination and preparation of Forms 5500s, 8955-SSAs, and Summary Annual Reports distribution for health and welfare and retirement plans.
• Assist review of 457(f) Restoration Retirement Plan calculations and preparing journal entries to record the liability at the end of quarter.
• Coordination of Nondiscrimination Testing for health and welfare and retirement plans.
• Prepare monthly analysis for retirement plans; reconcile university contributions amounts to investment providers’ application amounts for both 401(a) and 403(b) Plans.
• Review annual retirement plan true up calculations.
• Oversee processing of any payroll manual checks or any discrepancies as needed.
• Perform sample test of the distribution payments issued from the 401(a) and 403(b) plans to determine the eligibility and to ensure compliance with plan rules.
• Prepare monthly analysis of all fringe benefits expenditures for management review.
• Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures associated with the university’s benefit plans.
• Identifies and advises University management on expenditure and payment function issues and provides solutions for consideration and implementation as appropriate.
• Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit reconciliation and accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures to better facilitate activities related to the reconciliation of enrollment, expenditure and payment activities associated with the University’s benefit plans.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• CPA or accounting certification preferred

Experience:

• Experience in employee benefits accounting is preferred.
• Experience with benefits plans such as health insurance, retirement plans.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance (e.g., ERISA , IRS , DOL regulations).

Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Oracle, Banner, or similar ERP systems).
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP , macros).
• Experience with benefits administration platforms (e.g., bswift) and payroll systems (e.g., Banner).

Analytical & Communication Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience working cross-functionally with HR, payroll, and finance teams.

Other Preferred Attributes:

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience with audit preparation and working with external auditors.
• Knowledge of internal controls and process improvement initiatives.

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location:

College/School/Department:

College/School/Department: Human Resource Management and Development (HRM&D)

Family

Family Finance and Business

Sub-Family

Sub-Family Accounting

Stream

Level

Level Level 2

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40+

Work Schedule:

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Will this job require the employee to work on site? No

Employee Onsite Status

Employee Onsite Status Full-Time Remote

Telework:

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check:

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number:

Posting Number: S013766

Job Open Date:

Job Open Date: 06/20/2025

Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * What is your expected salary range?

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
  • No
  • Yes
• * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
  • Yes, IEP complete
  • No, still in IEP
  • N/a - not a current GW employee

Documents needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
Optional Documents

Human Resource
Management & Development



2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20006