Senior Benefits Plan Accountant

• Process vendor invoices and ensure timely payments in accordance with GW policies and contractual terms.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate records of all payment transactions and support month-end/quarter-end closing activities.
• Collaborate with procurement and finance teams to ensure alignment on payment schedules and vendor terms.
• Liaison with health and welfare benefit enrollment TPA for benefit deduction review/reconciliation and analysis.
• Coordination of annual audit for university 401(a) and 403(b) Retirement Plans. Lead liaison with external auditors, investment service providers, and leads coordination of various university departments to collect, review, manage all requested audit documents, and sample testing data/information.
• Lead responding to auditors’ inquiries, discuss issues as well as perform research on potential exceptions.
• Prepare financial statements and supplemental schedules for retirement plans.
• Coordinate actuarial evaluation for Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits and preparation of related quarterly and annual journal entries and reconciliations.
• Updates to all internal control narratives, reports and assumption memos for retirement plans and postretirement and postemployment benefits for university financial statements audit.
• Coordination and preparation of Forms 5500s, 8955-SSAs, and Summary Annual Reports distribution for health and welfare and retirement plans.
• Assist review of 457(f) Restoration Retirement Plan calculations and preparing journal entries to record the liability at the end of quarter.
• Coordination of Nondiscrimination Testing for health and welfare and retirement plans.
• Prepare monthly analysis for retirement plans; reconcile university contributions amounts to investment providers’ application amounts for both 401(a) and 403(b) Plans.
• Review annual retirement plan true up calculations.
• Audit plan operation.
• Oversee processing of any payroll manual checks or any discrepancies as needed.
• Perform sample test of the distribution payments issued from the 401(a) and 403(b) plans to determine the eligibility and to ensure compliance with plan rules.
• Prepare monthly analysis of all fringe benefits expenditures for management review.
• Coordinate executive insurance payments.
• Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures associated with the university’s benefit plans.
•  Identifies and advises University management on expenditure and payment function issues and provides solutions for consideration and implementation as appropriate.
• Conducts research on trends and best practices in benefit reconciliation and accounting and proposes new or revised processes and procedures to better facilitate activities related to the reconciliation of enrollment, expenditure and payment activities associated with the University’s benefit plans.

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• CPA or accounting certification preferred

• Experience in employee benefits accounting is preferred.
• Experience with benefits plans such as health insurance, retirement plans.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance (e.g., ERISA, IRS, DOL regulations).

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Oracle, Banner, or similar ERP systems).
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, macros).
• Experience with benefits administration platforms (e.g., bswift) and payroll systems (e.g., Banner).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience working cross-functionally with HR, payroll, and finance teams.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience with audit preparation and working with external auditors.
• Knowledge of internal controls and process improvement initiatives.

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.