Job DescriptionYour RoleThe Corporate Financial Accounting and Reporting team is responsible for the financial accounting and reporting for Blue Shield of California and its subsidiaries. The Senior Accountant will report to the Accounting Manager. The team is responsible for delivering high quality and timely financial reporting to management and regulators. Regulators include the California Department of Managed Health Care, Department of Health Care Services, Department of Health and Human Services and the California Department of Insurance.
In this role, you will be required to possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills to quickly identify, analyze and resolve complex accounting issues independently; be receptive to ambiguity and grasp new concepts with ease through the implementation of processes and procedures; take the initiative and be proactive in handling responsibilities and eager to learn; able to prioritize work to meet deadlines; prepare journal entries, account reconciliations and filings without significant intervention from the manager; digest and apply accounting standards and regulations to prepare financial statements and filings; possess strong written and verbal communications skills with the ability to articulate to various levels and business departments across the organization
ResponsibilitiesYour WorkIn this role, you will:
- Perform monthly financial close activities, including preparing consolidated financial statements, journal entries, and account reconciliations
- Prepare or support compilation of quarterly regulatory financial filings
- Reconcile and maintain ledger accounts by ensuring balances are reconciled to supporting documentation, and reconciling variances are researched and resolved
- Perform trend and fluctuation analyses by knowledge of the business and professional judgment, while keeping materiality in mind
- Continuously improve processes and workbooks utilized to compile, journal entries, reconciliations, financial statements and regulatory filings to improve accuracy, completeness, and documentation quality
- Assist with financial audits and queries by compiling detailed financial schedules, documentation, and explanations
- Investigate discrepancies and complex accounting issues, implement corrections and recommend process improvements
- Stay abreast of new accounting standards and state insurance regulations, applying these requirements to the preparation of financial statements and regulatory filings
- Contribute to the preparation of annual audited financial statements for the consolidated group of companies, including drafting disclosures
- Create, maintain, and update desk-level procedures and process documents to ensure consistency and clarity
- Partner with other departments to support various business initiatives and contribute to the overall success of the organization
QualificationsYour Knowledge and Experience - Requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
- A CPA or public accounting experience is highly preferred
- Requires at least 5 years of experience in a large corporation as an accountant/analyst or in public accounting
- Experience in the insurance or healthcare industry is preferred
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel is essential
- Experience with Oracle ERP and SmartView is preferred
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to quickly identify, analyze, and resolve complex accounting issues
- Ability to interpret and apply accounting standards and regulations
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate complex financial information to various levels and business departments across the organization
- Demonstrated ability to enhance processes and procedures to improve accuracy, completeness, and documentation quality
- Proactive, organized, and able to meet tight deadlines. Strong work ethic and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team
- Receptive to ambiguity and able to grasp new concepts with ease. Flexible and quick learner, who is curious and eager to understand the story behind the numbers
