Utah Retirement Systems provides benefits for state and other Utah Public employees through the work of two divisions. The Retirement Office administers pension and retirement benefits. PEHP Health & Benefits specializes in medical, dental, life, and other benefits. We take pride in providing a peace of mind for thousands of Utah families. We are committed to our public mission and maintaining a positive team environment. We offer a competitive salary, and our benefits far exceed what most modern employers offer.
Summary:
Performs a variety of professional accounting and technical duties to assure the accuracy of the general accounting functions of Utah Retirement Systems and its various departments. Directs and manages various segments of accounting and financial reporting functions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Implements policy, guidelines and practices, processes and procedures designed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of accounting and financial management programs and internal controls. Resolves technical issues related to accounting procedures, reporting, balancing, reconciling, and recommends new procedures as necessary. Manages and performs functions in maintaining general ledgers and subsidiaries, prepares financial reports and various reconciliations of subsidiary data to general ledger balances. Coordinates between departments to resolve discrepancies. Monitors fiscal activity and accounting for programs and funds of the retirement systems as well as real estate, investments and defined contributions. Prepares adjusting and formal year-end closing entries. Prepares, reviews and analyzes financial statements, revenues and expenses and assures accuracy. Develops, prepares, and performs audit schedules for various funds. Supports audit personnel during special audits. Prepares and evaluates journal entries, cash receipts, and cash disbursements and verifies accuracy and assures posting to proper fund and accounts. Traces expenditures, gains and losses related to various transactions and issues authorization for various fund transfers and expenditures. Formulates accounting data for entry into system. Produces detailed reports related to real estate and security transactions showing losses, gains, securities values, share holdings, and market values. Performs ongoing and monthly comprehensive bank reconciliation. Designs and develops data processing accounting programs for investment and retirement funds. Creates automated general ledger for investments and related funds. Tracks and monitors investment transactions and assets and generates specialized reports. Assists in preparation of annual operating budget. Performs tax reporting requirements Performs and reconciles quarterly commission recapture statements. Develops procedures and assures accountability of fixed assets and supervises annual inventory. On a daily basis, analyze cash flow needs and prepares, authorizes or approves inter-account wire transfers of excess cash to higher interest rate accounts. Processes other requested wire transfers. Confirms accuracy of periodic debt and interest rate swap payments or receipts. Prepares, authorizes or approves the appropriate wire transfers Prepares journal entries to record debt obligations, debt payments and interest rate swap receipts and disbursements. Allocates debt and interest rate swap obligations to real estate properties. Maintains strict confidentiality. Performs other related duties as required. Education and Experience Bachelors Degree in accounting, finance, business management, public administration, computer programming or a related field; and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management or accounting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preference for professional designation as Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requires a thorough knowledge of professional accounting standards and ethics; generally accepted accounting principles established by AICPA and GASB; internal control principles and methods of application; laws and regulations pertaining to tax reporting, pension and deferred compensation funds; budgetary principles; standard investment procedures such as trading, funds transfers, security handling, etc.; statistical measures, calculations and terminology; and software language. Requires a working knowledge of principles of supervision; organizational communication, design, and motivation techniques; business and technical writing; computer accounting applications.
Must have the ability to analyze a variety of financial problems and make recommendations; coordinate a variety of financial administrative matters between executives and department heads; apply generally accepted accounting principles in financial reporting; prepare and implement budgets; plan, organize, direct and supervise the work of subordinates; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to follow written and verbal instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with executives, administrators, managers, boards, department heads, employees and the public.
As a requirement of this position, the employee will submit to the URS Investment Compliance Officer a record of trade confirmations or monthly transaction summaries, as they become available, of all security transactions (excluding mutual funds), in any account under the employee's control and direction, or under the control and direction of the employee's spouse.
