Staff Accountant

OVERVIEW

AIA is seeking a Dynamic & Enthusiastic Staff Accountant to join their team!

Are you looking to be part of a company where you have exciting opportunities to learn, grow and make a positive impact?

Join a team where each employee is empowered to listen generously, speak straight, collaborate, and build each other up through mutual accountability and shared success?

If that is what you're looking for, this is your chance to be part of an amazing organization!

The Staff Accountant is a key part of the local office team responsible for the timely and accurate processing of agency financial transactions including commissions, agency billings, producer commissions and accounts payable. This position includes interactions with agency operations and accounting teams at the regional and corporate levels of Alera essential to the financial performance and success of the agency so leadership can make informed business decisions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Commission Processing

• Process commissions and commission-related payments using agency commission processing system to facilitate accurate and timely reporting to operations and financial stakeholders;

• Administer and maintain commission processing system including setup of new customers, policies, lines of coverage, referral sources, producers, rate tables, subsidiaries, carriers and related electronic remittance mappings/layouts for import, ensuring data integrity, accuracy and population of key data fields;

• Ensure accurate and timely posting of fees, commissions, reimbursements and expenses to agency commission processing systems and reporting for general ledger posting;

• Utilize commission reporting software to perform commission reconciliations and analyze payments identifying missing carrier commissions, errors and discrepancies for resolution in a timely and accurate manner;

• Maintains payment records, including current banking information for direct deposits and ACH payments with carriers and referral sources;

• Prepares and distributes commission statements for internal and external producers, including directly or through other delivery (e.g. maintenance of an agent portal)

• Compile and submit bi-weekly payroll reports to Alera Group payroll team including periodic commission and bonus payments, compensation adjustments;

• Prepare monthly intercompany transactions as used by the Alera Group Accounting team for posting of referral payments;

• Assist with monthly accounting close process at agency level to ensure accurate accounting records are maintained for agency as well as acquired business units;

• Responds to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders including Corporate Accounting Team.

• Accounts Receivable

• Prepares and distributes invoicing to clients;

• Monitor accounts to identify outstanding invoices and take actions by contacting clients to encourage timely invoice payments;

• Reviews emails received in shared commission inboxes and following up on emails pending a response.

• Carrier and Credential Management

• Sets up carriers and state apportionment paperwork as needed to facilitate carrier payments to the agency;

• Seeks and effects implementation of efficiencies with processing of commissions including but not limited to setup of electronic payments and remittances;

• Manages credentialing and compliance including providing licensure and evidence of insurance on an as needed basis

• Accounts Payable and Payments

• Review, submit and code/tag all accounts payable processed via the Concur application or via manual check request;

• Facilitate with Alera Corporate Accounts Payable team setup of new vendors in accounts payable systems to ensure timely and accurate processing and payment;

• Facilitate timely processing of periodic premium payments to insurance carriers via ACH.

• Any other responsibilities that may be assigned from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years in a position equivalent to a staff accountant, senior accountant or commission accountant;

• Intermediate to Advanced Microsoft office skills (Excel, Word, Outlook) along with data report manipulation used for analysis including sorting, filtering and utilization of pivot tables

• Knowledge of industry CRM and commission processing software (Sagitta, Applied Epic, AMS360)

• Property & Casualty insurance industry knowledge a plus;

• Excellent communication skills - written, verbal, and listening - and relates well to people at all levels of the organization;

• High level of emotional intelligence combined with proactive and strategic interpersonal communications, information collection and evaluation, and workflow management;

• Possess and use excellent strategic and analytical abilities, critical thinking skills, along with great judgment combined with great common sense;

• Must be an energetic, solutions-oriented person with sound operational, hands-on skills, and a positive, entrepreneurial attitude;

• Must be highly organized with meticulous attention to detail when handling multiple priorities and a strong sense of urgency;

• Collaborate constructively and work well with staff at all levels of an organization;

• Thrives in fluid, highly collaborative environments, can easily adapt to a range of workstyles, and remains calm under pressure;

• Sit for three to four (3-4) hours at a time which working on the computer;

Interactions

• Employees and owners/executives at all assigned Alera firms;

• Finance and Accounting team members at the agency, regional and Alera Group level;

• Clients and other external stakeholders;

BENEFITS

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

If you're a California resident, please read the California Consumer Privacy Act prior to applying.

#LI-AM1

#LI-Hybrid