Senior Staff Accountant

Palomar Holdings, Inc.; Mandeville (LA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k with employer contributions

PTO and holidays

Professional development assistance

Company events

Job summary

Palomar Holdings, Inc. is seeking a Senior Staff Accountant in Mandeville, LA for a hybrid work arrangement. The role supports month-end close, claims and premium transactions, and accounts payable while upholding GAAP and internal controls.

You'll advise on process improvements and mentor junior staff in a fast-paced environment. You will collaborate with auditors, ensure regulatory compliance, and help maintain accurate financial records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting with 2+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• Insurance industry, public company, and public accounting experience highly desirable.
• CPA certification or active pursuit of CPA designation preferred.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and ability to meet deadlines.
• Lead and/or training capacity preferred.
• Advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills.
• On-site 2-3x/week.

Responsibilities

• Prepare timely and accurate journal entries and perform detailed general ledger reconciliations.
• Manage Surety Accounting activities, including posting, balancing, and reconciling GL accounts.
• Research and analyze financial variances against prior periods, budgets and forecasts.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to support audits and regulatory reporting.
• Identify and recommend improvements to accounting systems and processes.
• Support training and review of staff accountant work products.
• Participate in month-end and year-end close including data transfer between ledgers.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records in compliance with policies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

SOX compliance

CPA preferred

Advanced Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Analytical skills

Communication

Collaboration

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting

CPA certification preferred

Tools

Surety accounting system

General Ledger software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Staff Accountant

Palomar Holdings, Inc. Mandeville, Louisiana, United States

About this position

Palomar is a rapidly growing and innovative insurer focused on providing specialty insurance to residential and commercial customers.Palomar welcomes the best and brightest to our thriving team. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Palomar is building a dynamic and diverse team.

Join a company built on a culture of agility, innovation and authenticity that delivers peace of mind and protection to individuals and businesses impacted by adversity.

The Senior Accountant will join our growing team at a publicly traded company headquartered in San Diego, California, and will report directly to the Assistant Controller, Surety. This hybrid position is based in Mandeville, Louisiana, and offers a combination of in-office and remote work flexibility.

As an integral member of the accounting team, the Senior Accountant will support the month-end close process, process claims and premium transactions, and assist with the accounts payable function. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial records.

What will you do:

• Prepare timely and accurate journal entries and perform detailed general ledger reconciliations to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
• Manage Surety Accounting activities, including posting, balancing, and reconciling general ledger accounts.
• Research and analyze financial variances by comparing current results against prior periods, prior year performance, budgets, and forecasts, providing actionable insights to management.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors to support audits and ensure compliance with financial reporting and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and recommend improvements to accounting systems, processes, and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen controls.
• Support the development of the accounting team by assisting with the training, mentoring, and review of staff accountant work products.
• Participate in month‑end and year‑end close processes, including the reconciliation and transfer of data from the Surety General Ledger to the primary General Ledger.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records while maintaining compliance with company policies and accounting standards.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting with 2+ years of progressive accounting experience
• Insurance industry, public company, and public accounting experience highly desirable
• Accounting experience in a lead and/or training capacity preferred
• Strong technical accounting skills and knowledge of GAAP principles
• CPA certification or active pursuit of CPA designation preferred
• Ability to organize, self‑prioritize, and be a self‑starter in a fast‑paced environment with demanding internal and external deadlines
• Ability to multi‑task between monitored and performed assignments
• Microsoft Office skills required – Advanced Excel, Intermediate Word, Intermediate Power Point
• Extensive accounting software experience
• Strong interpersonal skills. Collaborative team player necessary
• Working knowledge of SOX compliance, internal controls, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Able to work on‑site 2-3x/week

We love people who want to:

• Build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatic

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, and like working with happy, authentic, talented people, you'll enjoy a career with Palomar!

What will you get in return?

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO + Holiday Program
• Professional Development Assistance
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)

At Palomar, we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity, equality and inclusion yields greater organizational creativity and productivity, which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them

#PalomarPride #Insurancejobs #hiring

Accommodations:

Palomar will consider reasonable accommodations to ensure a qualified applicant with a disability can be considered for the position. Palomar will also consider necessary modifications to the physical work environment, or to the way a job is usually performed, so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of the position. Additional accommodations will be considered that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities.

For more information about our company, visit us at www.plmr.com. Palomar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay Range: $70,000-$105,000 + Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program.

The above pay range is for all US-based roles based on function and level, benchmarked against companies of similar size and scope. To be compliant with local legislation as well as provide greater transparency to candidates, we disclose salary ranges on all job postings regardless of the desired job location. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and the opportunity for annual long-term incentive stock grants. In addition, we offer a highly competitive benefits package. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and qualifications, and may vary from the amounts listed above