Lead Accountant

Position Summary

The Lead Accountant serves as a senior accounting professional responsible for performing and coordinating complex accounting activities that support the credit union's financial reporting, operational accounting, and strategic initiatives. This position serves as a technical accounting resource with primary responsibility for general ledger management, account reconciliations, financial analysis, regulatory reporting support, fixed asset accounting, project accounting, and internal control compliance.

The Lead Accountant works closely with the Controller and Accounting Managers to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial information, maintain compliance with GAAP, NCUA requirements, and organizational policies, and support process improvement and automation initiatives. The position may provide guidance and subject matter expertise to accounting staff and business partners across the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform and coordinate month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities.
• Prepare and review complex journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain responsibility for assigned general ledger accounts and timely resolution of outstanding reconciling items.
• Prepare financial statements, management reports, variance analyses, and supporting schedules.
• Assist in the preparation and filing of NCUA Call Reports and other regulatory filings.
• Serve as a backup for accounting personnel and cross-trains across all accounting functions.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial initiatives.
• Support system implementations, process automation, and finance transformation efforts.

Qualifications

The Eight Superpowers

1. Provides leadership through modeling of behaviors and bringing forward new ideas and new ways of doing things.
2. Demonstrates empathy, self-reflection, and adjustment of own behaviors, showing effective emotional intelligence.
3. Practices active listening in communications with others, giving someone full attention and listening to understand, not just respond.
4. Demonstrates grit, persisting in application of knowledge, skills, and behaviors to achieve goals and address obstacles.
5. Models’ intrinsic motivation; is self-driven to meet or exceed objectives, timelines, and quality measures while building and sustaining effective relationships.
6. Applies creative problem-solving to provide clarity, handle resources under one’s control, and address stressful situations; finds ways to meet individual, team, and member goals, by navigating through barriers.
7. Shares a diverse set of perspectives, work and life experiences, as well as religious and cultural differences. Actively seeks out differences in values, ideas, and priorities. Respects and value the differences of others, including but not limited to: national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Believes a diverse workplace is essential to the company’s success.
8. Values and shows appreciation for the unique qualities and experiences of each person-inclusion; appreciates and effectively utilizes the talents and skills of others to achieve objectives; is open to the perspective of others; and encourages collaboration, flexibility and fairness. Makes each employee feel valued and supported for their unique qualities.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, CPA designation strongly preferred. Experience
• 5-8 years of progressive accounting experience.
• Financial institution or credit union experience preferred.
• Experience supporting audits, financial reporting, and month-end close processes required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Advanced knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Familiarity with NCUA Call Reports and credit union regulations.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and audit requirements.
• Advanced Excel and financial system proficiency.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.
• Ability to independently research and resolve complex accounting issues.
• Experience with process improvement and automation initiatives.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment. Physical Requirements (sitting, walking, climbing, lifting, etc.)
• Excellent ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing; ability to tolerate periods of continuous sitting. Environmental Conditions (indoors, outdoors, desk, etc.)
• Work is primarily performed within a cubicle office setting. Subject to standard background noise found in an office environment. Salary (Annually): $86,886.6320 - $108,608.2900 Note: Staff is expected to perform various tasks, projects and administrative duties as assigned. Management reserves the right to assign or change duties and tasks to this position at their discretion.