Staff Accountant I

About the role

Midwest Family Mutual, a property and casualty insurer licensed in 32 states, is seeking a Staff Accountant I to join our accounting team. This is a work-from-home position that reports to the Controller and requires a dependable, highly motivated, self-starter who works well independently and can be a functional team player. High-speed internet access, a dedicated home office space, and occasional travel to the Urbandale, IA office may be required.

Responsibilities

• Process and post premium receipts, including checks, ACH, lockbox, electronic payments, and other payment activity, to the policy administration system accurately and timely.
• Perform daily deposit reconciliation by comparing bank, lockbox, payment processor, and internal system activity to ensure all premium payments are properly recorded and applied.
• Research and resolve unapplied, misapplied, duplicate, or returned payments, including coordinating corrections with internal departments, agents, and customers as needed.
• Review and reconcile premium billing activity, direct bill balances, agency bill accounts, and other receivable activity to ensure accurate policyholder and agent account balances.
• Process direct billing adjustments, payment transfers, refunds, write-offs, and other billing-related corrections in accordance with company procedures.
• Respond to billing and payment inquiries from policyholders, agents, customer service, underwriting, and other internal departments in a professional and timely manner.
• Prepare and maintain documentation to support premium receipts, billing adjustments, reconciliations, refunds, and other accounts receivable transactions.
• Assist with claim recoveries, subrogation receipts, returned payments, NSF items, and other miscellaneous receivable transactions as assigned.
• Support agency commission-related adjustments or billing corrections that impact agent or policyholder receivable balances.
• Assist with escheatment, unclaimed property, and stale-dated payment review as it relates to accounts receivable or premium refund activity.
• Support other day-to-day accounting department functions and assist with special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to research and resolve payment discrepancies.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy in processing financial transactions.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as a member of the accounting team.
• Proficient in reconciling accounts, researching variances, and maintaining accurate financial records.
• Customer-focused with the ability to provide professional service to policyholders, agents, vendors, and internal business partners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive financial information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Knowledge of insurance premium billing, direct bill and agency bill processes.
• Familiarity with agency commission processing and premium adjustments.
• Dependable high-speed internet access and a dedicated home office workspace.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in accounts receivable, billing, cash application, banking operations, or general accounting.
• Experience processing customer payments, performing account reconciliations, and researching payment discrepancies.
• Experience with general ledger systems and accounting software.
• Experience with policy administration systems, billing systems, or agency management systems is a plus.
• Property and Casualty insurance experience or insurance accounting experience is a plus.
• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is a plus.

Benefits

• Medical (HDHP) with wellness incentives
• Dental
• Vision (materials only plan)
• Flexible Spending – Medical, Limited FSA (Dental/Vision), and Dependent Care
• Employer-paid Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Employer-paid Life Insurance (2x annual salary) including dependent coverage
• Employee and Dependent Life Insurance Plan Options
• Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Critical Illness Plan Options
• LifeLock Identity Protection Plan Options
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays (nine per year)
• Paid time off for continuing education
• Education reimbursement
• Eight hours of paid time off per year for volunteer work
• Employer matching for employee 501c donations (limited)
• Internet reimbursement

Pay

Competitive salary

Retirement Benefits

• 401K and Roth 401K with company match
• Employer-sponsored Defined Benefit Pension Plan