Accountant & Benefits Specialist

Tennessee Education Association

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Job Summary

The Tennessee Education Association is seeking applicants for the position of Confidential Accounting Associate on its Business Operations Team. TEA is Tennessee’s largest professional association representing elementary and secondary teachers, school administrators, education support professionals, higher education faculty, and students preparing to become teachers.

Candidates must have demonstrated skills working in confidential settings on a regular basis. Applicants should have strong personal organization, time management, and priority establishment skills and the ability to work both independently and interdependently under tight deadlines with limited supervision. We are also looking for candidates who are committed to the principle of progress through collective action. This position reports to the Controller and Business Manager and is a full-time, hybrid salaried position.

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare and review analyses or reconciliations to support journal entries for assigned accounts that require a level of judgment or estimation.  Additional account responsibilities may include vendor compliance, invoices, and various accrued expenses.
• Process routine, recurring transactions via journal entries into the general ledger.
• Accurately enter and maintain time-keeping edits, adjustments, voluntary deductions, involuntary deductions, and review/analysis for applicable payroll reports.
• Manage workflow to ensure all payroll transactions are processed accurately and timely.
• Process benefit enrollment for new employees and maintain up-to-date information in PeopleSoft.
• Manage retirement and insurance benefits.
• Perform HR benefit functions for staff.
• Understand proper taxation of employer-paid benefits.
• Prepare standard analyses that will assist in the development of period-end financial reporting.
• Assist Management with annual budgets and periodic forecasts, proper internal control/procedure documentation, and streamline close cycle responsibilities.
• Provide information and respond to inquiries regarding internal and external audit functions.
• Assist with credit card and bank reconciliations.
• Provide data and information to third-party collection services.
• Lead the delivery of employee benefits plans to employees; resolve issues and address employee questions; manage benefit plans through 3rd party providers.
• Organize and maintain employee records and various HR documents in compliance with specific guidelines.
• Assist in the development of communication materials for benefit enrollment and changes.
• Review compliance with governmental guidelines, applicable laws, and regulations and propose actions as needed.
• Assist Management in labor relations matters.

Qualifications

Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills demonstrated by the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with an ability to follow through and meet deadlines.
• Highly detail-oriented approach to daily activities and a self-starter attitude.
• Synthesize and analyze data, information, and evidence to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Create innovative ideas for the continuous improvement of TEA’s financial operations.
• Use strong interpersonal skills to assess challenging issues and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization in a courteous, professional, and productive manner.
• Engage a highly collaborative, team-building work style for a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to enforce policies and procedures.

 Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related discipline (i.e., Accounting, Finance or Business, etc.)
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in finance/accounting and payroll or equivalency
• Knowledge of payroll processing functions
• Excellent technology skills, adept at using such programs as Outlook, Access, MS Word, Excel
• Above average written and verbal communication skills
• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen and maintain residence in the Nashville area
• Ability to work some weekends and evenings and travel as needed (less than 5%)

Desired Skills:

• Master’s Degree in Accounting, Business or Finance
• Experience/knowledge of Human Resources management and data functions
• Experience with audit and/or actuary functions
• Familiar with financial software (ex. PeopleSoft)

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Candidates who wish to apply may do so by submitting an application, resume, and cover letter to the Controller and Business Manager, Courtney Hatfield by emailing chatfield@tnea.org.   

Details

• Date Posted: December 22, 2023
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Accounting / Financial Management
• Service Area: Education
• Salary Range: $72,500-$77,500 DOE