Investment Accounting Consultant

About the Job:

Completes accurate financial reporting for public and private fixed income and equity securities for Northwestern Mutual and related entities. Completes processes to ensure accurate monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to internal management as well as external agencies and auditors. Assists in the monthly data integrity process to ensure the accuracy of the securities system and its associated financial processing routines in recording the assets, income, and gains and losses of securities investments held by Northwestern Mutual and related entities.

What You'll Do:

• Preparation of the investment portion of the quarterly and annual statement filings with state insurance regulators and Statutory audited financials.

• Complete monthly closing of the Peoplesoft accounting system and its associated financial processing routines of recording the assets, income, and gains and losses of Northwestern Mutual and related entities to ensure that proper Statutory and U.S. GAAP principles are applied, including monthly reconciliations of the system.

• The ability to effectively maintain relations within subgroups in Investment Accounting, divisions within Controllers, Treasury and Investments Operations, Securities, Legal and other company departments as needed.

• Prepares additional periodic reporting as requested.

• Researches and recommends appropriate actions regarding Statutory and U.S. GAAP regulatory changes impacting the accounting for securities investments.

• Represents Investment Accounting (where needed) during system upgrade projects, including evaluating new system functionality and its impact on Investment Accounting and identifying problems and improvement opportunities related to the reporting and financial processing components.

• Maintains Model Audit Rule documentation.

What You'll Bring to the Role:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, or related field or equivalent education plus experience required.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional accounting experience.

• Public accounting experience preferred.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation preferred.

• A strong working knowledge of accounting principles and practices related to investment products, demonstrated decision making and analytical skills.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to effectively maintain relations within subgroups in Investment, accounting, divisions within Controllers, Treasury and Investments Operations, Securities, Legal and other company departments as needed.

• A high degree of personal initiative and self-motivation is required.

• Proficiency in Microsoft applications, specifically Excel, and People Soft applications.

• Ability to work independently to find solutions to issues and to train and review colleagues work.

• Ability to identify and drive forward efficiency opportunities.

• Adaptive Communication: Formulates strategies to be used to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences.

• Attention to Detail: Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality.

• Cross Functional Partnering & Planning :
  Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals.

• Financial Acumen: Applies the knowledge of financial statements, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling to ensure decisions are fiscally sound and responsible.

• Financial Securities: Demonstrates knowledge of various types of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, derivatives, structured securities, and alternative investments to effectively engage with stakeholders involved in the investment process.

• Learning Agility & Critical Thinking :
  Pursues learning and obtains knowledge continuously in relevant fields, methods, or technologies in current and future practices;…