Senior Accounting Policy Accountant - Salt Lake

Senior Accounting Policy Accountant - Salt Lake City

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (NYSE: ZION) is a premier financial services company with ~$100B in assets operating through 8 brands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. With a leading market share in small and middle-market banking, the Bank’s 500+ client managers and 200+ wealth advisors have vigorous client development strategies that feed into Zions Capital Markets.

We are seeking a highly technical and analytical Senior Accounting Policy Accountant to join our Enterprise Accounting Policy team. In this critical role, you will serve as a subject matter expert on US GAAP, SEC reporting, and bank regulatory guidance. You will be responsible for evaluating complex transactions, interpreting new accounting standards, and ensuring our accounting policies accurately reflect regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Complex Transaction Analysis: Evaluate and determine the appropriate accounting treatment for complicated, non-routine transactions (e.g., M&A, derivatives, loan structuring) and communicate findings to leadership.
• Financial and Regulatory Reporting: Prepare and review financial statements, disclosures, and other regulatory filings (e.g., Call Report)
• Cross-functional Teamwork: Collaborate with treasury, risk management, and other finance teams to provide accurate and timely financial information.
• Audit Support: Support internal and external audits across bank business lines
• Technical Research & Documentation: Conduct deep-dive research into US GAAP, SEC guidance, and bank regulatory requirements. Draft robust technical accounting memos to document the bank's position and rationale.
• Policy Development: Lead the drafting, reviewing, and ongoing maintenance of the bank's corporate accounting policies to ensure alignment with current standards and business practices.
• Standards Implementation: Proactively monitor standard-setting bodies (FASB, SEC). Review the impact of proposed and newly issued accounting standards on the bank's financial statements and lead the implementation efforts.
• Compliance with GAAP: Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards (e.g., GAAP) and regulatory requirements.
• Regulatory Alignment: Leverage your familiarity with bank regulatory reporting to ensure accounting policies support accurate Call Report and other regulatory filings.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with internal audit, external auditors, financial reporting, and business line leaders to provide technical accounting advisory support.
• SOX/Internal Controls: Understanding of Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) and financial reporting process controls

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive, professional accounting experience.
• Knowledge: Strong knowledge of US GAAP reporting requirements including bank financial statements and derivative disclosures.
• Audit Background: Proven experience working as an auditor (public accounting or robust internal audit).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• Licensure: CPA active license (or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Education: Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field or accounting policy experience
• Industry Expertise: Direct experience working within or auditing financial institutions (banks, credit unions, etc.) or similar regulated industries
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with bank regulatory reporting frameworks and guidance from regulators (e.g., FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC).
• Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven track record of distilling complex accounting…