Unclaimed Property Specialist II

South Dakota AG; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vacation and sick leave

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement benefits

11 paid holidays

Job summary

The Office of the State Treasurer, Division of Unclaimed Property in Pierre, SD, invites applications for a Senior Claims Analyst and Technical Lead. The role handles complex, high-value, legally sensitive claims and provides final technical review under SDCL 43-41B.

Responsibilities include adjudication, liquidation oversight with brokerage partners, and leading system improvements. Requires supervisory experience and a strong background in finance or related fields.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in program administration, finance, compliance, or related area.
• Ability to work independently, yet collaborate to gain information and perspective.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and adjudicates high-dollar claims and complex asset classes.
• Manages liquidation of securities with brokerage partners; accounts for corporate actions.
• Analyzes legal frameworks including estate and probate nuances across jurisdictions.
• Performs QC reviews to ensure consistent interpretation and prevent overpayments or fraud.
• Serves as primary Technical Lead for the UCP database and coordinates IT vendors for reporting.
• Trains new hires and helps develop SOPs for the claims team.
• Provides technical assistance on complex reporting issues and thresholds.
• Reviews third-party audit findings and ensures proper data loads for reunification.
• Drafts Determination Letters for denials based on statutory bars.
• Monitors workflow for misconduct, identity theft, fraud, or abuse.
• Collaborates with internal and external agencies to assess high-risk claims.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Supervisory experience

Independent initiative

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting

Tools

UCP database

Job description

Job ID 37862 - Unclaimed Property Specialist II

Agency: Office of the State Treasurer / Division of Unclaimed Property

Location: Pierre

Salary/Grade: $29.81 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications, minimal travel required

Pay Grade EH99

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Position Summary

The Program Specialist II serves as the Senior Claims Analyst and Technical Lead for the Unclaimed Property Division. This position handles the most complex, high-value, and legally sensitive claims filed against the State of South Dakota. Specialist II acts as a subject matter expert on SDCL 43-41B, providing final technical review of claims involving securities, mutual funds, corporate dissolutions, and complex multi-state probate issues. This role also serves as a mentor and quality control lead for other staff.

The Duties Of This Position Include

• Expertly reviews and adjudicates high-dollar claims and claims involving complex asset classes such as physical stock certificates, book-entry securities, and underlying shares.
• Manages the liquidation process for securities in coordination with the State’s brokerage partners, ensuring all corporate actions (mergers, splits, spin-offs) are accounted for in the final claim payout.
• Analyzes intricate legal frameworks including Small Estate Affidavits vs. Full Probate, Indemnity Agreements, and Court Orders from foreign jurisdictions.
• Performs systematic Quality Control (QC) reviews of claims adjudicated by Program Specialist I staff to ensure consistency in statutory interpretation and prevent overpayments or fraudulent disbursements.
• Serves as the primary Technical Lead for the UCP database, troubleshooting system errors and coordinating with IT vendors for reporting enhancements.
• Assists in training new hires and developing internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the claims team.
• Provides technical assistance regarding complex reporting issues, such as aggregate reporting thresholds and reciprocal state exchange agreements.
• Reviews findings from third-party audit firms to ensure identified property is correctly loaded into the state system and ready for reunification.
• Drafts formal Determination Letters for claims that are denied based on complex statutory bars.
• Monitors the claims workflow for indicators of Professional Finder misconduct or sophisticated identity theft schemes, fraud, or abuse.
• Collaborates with others, both internal and outside agencies, to evaluate high-risk claims that may lead to litigation or administrative appeals.

The Successful Candidate Must Possess The Following

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in program administration, finance, compliance, or a related area.
• have a strong initiative to work independently, yet collaborate with others to gain information, understanding, and perspective.
• Supervisory or management experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in related fields and 4 years’ experience.
• Strong understanding of state unclaimed property laws and regulatory requirements.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in accounting, insurance underwriting, or as a paralegal in a law practice.
• Excellent communication skills in both English and Spanish, with strong interpersonal abilities.
• A combination of relevant education and experience may substitute for the degree requirement at OST discretion.
• Must pass a comprehensive background check.

Pierre-Based/Preferred With Hybrid Flexibility Considered

This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

Benefits

• $0 premium employee health insurance option
• eleven paid holidays
• generous vacation and sick leave accrual
• dental
• vision
• other insurance options
• retirement benefits
• Class A retirement under SDRS

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"