ASSISTANT CONTROLLER

About the Company

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 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.

About the Role

Performs a variety of administrative, managerial, and professional technical duties as needed to assure the accuracy of the general financial functions of the Utah Retirement Systems and its various departments.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the development and implementation of accounting policies and procedures designed to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of accounting and financial management programs.
• Manages aspects of the accounting operational functions.
• Manages and supervises accumulation of financial data necessary for accurate financial reports.
• Creates complex financial information in clear terms to all types of audiences.
• Coordinates and prepares internal and external financial statements.
• Protects assets by monitoring and enforcing internal controls.
• Prepares special reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
• Performs analysis of asset valuations, revenues, expenses, and budget to actual variance reports.
• Hires and trains competent accounting staff.
• Evaluates worker performance and makes decisions affecting job retention, advancement, discipline, and discharge.
• Participates in recruitment and selection process for new hires.
• Ensures all team deadlines and responsibilities are met.
• Develops team members to maximize potential, helps team members meet goals, welcomes newcomers, and promotes a team atmosphere.
• Supervises training, sets employee goals, coaches, delegates assignments, coordinates special training, maintains quality control, and sets goals and priorities in a timely and efficient manner.
• Evaluates accounting internal controls systems and coordinates adherence to policies and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Participates in activities with external auditors.
• Manages portions of comprehensive bank reconciliation, fixed assets, and reconciliation of various fund and subsidiary accounts.
• Monitors and participates in complex cash management process for operations and budgetary funds.
• Resolves technical issues related to accounting procedures, reporting, balancing, and reconciling using generally accepted accounting principles.
• Assures compliance with tax laws, regulation, and reporting for federal and state.
• Assists in the preparation of annual operating budget of retirement office for acceptance and submission by the Executive Director to the Retirement Board, legislature, and Governor.
• Coordinates with the state budget office and analysts.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; establishing personal networks; and participating in professional societies.
• Assists in the design, control, and ongoing revision of all accounting systems.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
• Maintains strict confidentiality.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, business management, public administration, computer programming or a related field and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management or accounting; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred.

Skills

• Technical Skills: Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and computer accounting applications.
• Mathematical Skills: Working knowledge of budgetary principles, statistical measures, calculations, and terminology. Ability to compute basis points, return calculations, trends, forecasting, and percentage changes year over year.
• Extensive Knowledge: Professional accounting standards and ethics, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) established by AICPA and GASB, internal control principles and methods of application, laws and regulations pertaining to tax reporting, pension and deferred compensation funds, and standard investment procedures such as trading, funds transfers, and security handling.
• Communication Skills: Organizational communication, design, and motivation techniques; business and technical writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with executives, administrators, managers, boards, department heads, and the public.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical financial reports and legal documents; analyze a variety of financial problems and make recommendations; coordinate a variety of financial administrative matters between executives and department heads.
• Additional Abilities: Apply generally accepted accounting principles in financial reporting; prepare and implement budgets; follow written and verbal instructions; prioritize work; perform within deadlines; work well in a team environment as well as independently; multi-task by handling a variety of duties in a timely and efficient manner; follow through with assignments; deal effectively with stress caused by workload and time deadlines.

Work Environment

Incumbent performs in a typical office setting with appropriate climate controls. Tasks require a variety of physical activities which do not generally involve muscular strain, but do require activities related to walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and seeing. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity required to perform essential functions.

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.