Accountant, Financial Reporting, Financial Analyst

Position: Accountant 3
Join the IPERS Team as an Accountant 3 - Make an Impact on the Financial Future of Over 400,000 Iowans!

The Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) is seeking a detail-driven and collaborative Accountant 3 to take on advanced-level accounting and investment reporting responsibilities. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of IPERS' investment records - a foundation that supports the retirement security of public employees across Iowa.

What You'll Do:
You'll dive deep into complex investment structures, perform high-impact financial analysis, and partner with teams across IPERS to ensure smooth and accurate reporting. Your work will help drive informed decision-making for one of the largest public pension funds in the state.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Investment Accounting & Reporting

* Prepare the cash forecast that supports investment strategy and cash-balancing decisions for the Investment Division.

* Reconcile activity between internal records, custodial bank reporting, and investment manager statements.

* Investigate, document, and resolve discrepancies with precision.

* Ensure general ledger balances align with custodial bank financial packages.

* Serve as a primary contact for the Auditor of State and IPERS' Internal Auditor on investment-related inquiries.

* Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities.

* Analyze private investment fund financials and capital account statements to confirm proper allocation to the general ledger.

* Prepare investment-related sections of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

Research & Process Improvement

* Research complex investment accounting issues and provide guidance on GASB and GAAP compliance.

* Review and refine IPERS accounting processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and workflow.

* Act as a key liaison between the Finance Division, Investment Division, external managers, the custodial bank, and external auditors.

What We're Looking For:

A finance-minded problem solver with the drive to understand IPERS' full range of investments - and the ability to translate that knowledge into accurate reporting and sound accounting.

Experience with GASB, GAAP, and investment accounting is highly valued.

What We Offer:

* Health, Dental, Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance - Insurance begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2026 health and dental premiums can be found here.  

* Paid time off - separate vacation and sick leave - accruals begin on day one.

* Paid holidays (nine per year)

* Flex Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care)

* Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (IPERS)

* Voluntary Retirement Plan (Retirement Investors Club)

Find out more:
State of Iowa - Benefits at a Glance.

Unlock the complete value of State of Iowa benefits with the Total Compensation Calculator.  

Finalists are subject to a background check.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees' rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

For more information, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..gov

Graduation from an accredited college or university with twelve semester hours in accounting course work and experience equal to thirty months of responsible full-time work in accounting, accounts examination or verification, budgeting or closely related fiscal work with a governmental agency, public accounting firm, or private industry;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of the required experience for each year of the required education to a maximum of four years;

OR

an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting thirty semester hours of graduate level course work in accounting, business administration or finance for each year of the required experience to a maximum substitution of sixty hours;

OR

Certified Public Accountants will qualify with eighteen months of the required experience;

OR

employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to nine months of full-time work. as an Accountant 2.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.