PURPOSE:

The Finance Specialist (FS) position closely collaborates with the rest of the Finance Team and support Finance management by contributing to and maintaining a best-in-class finance organization that successfully services, with high quality, the remainder of the Company and external parties. 

Execute daily operations of the department, including treasury; preparing and reconciling financial results; preparation of audit requests and interaction with auditors; compliance with financial and technical laws, regulations and controls; response to third party requests and questions; knowledge sharing with peers and other Team members; team member on corporate and Finance Team projects

The detailed responsibilities below collectively roll up to form the functional areas and are shared across the FSs to meet the strategic and operating goals of the Finance Department. 

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist Finance and Company management by:

1. PARTICIPATING ON FINANCE OR CORPORATE PROJECTS

As part of executing the corporate and department strategic plans, participate as necessary on corporate and departmental project teams. For smaller, individual assigned Finance projects ensure successful completion by independently performing required task steps and utilizing knowledge resources.

2. EXECUTING DAILY FINANCE OPERATIONS, REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE FUNCTIONS

Execute daily financial transactions and procedures while ensuring compliance with Company policy and technical and regulatory body requirements. Keep current on technical accounting and finance approach and positions of the Company.

Prepares timely, accurate, and complete documents, reports, and other requests. Executes the monthly financial close cycle and reports out progress. Reviews the work of peers, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial and operational reports for accuracy and completeness.

Identify system-related issues, including the General Ledger, data, and reports and assists the Finance Team and technical specialists to address these problems. 

Performs other operational duties, such as execution of business unit or client requests (e.g. new reports), explanation and research of significant and/or unusual transactions or balances, administration of assigned general ledger accounts, etc. 

3. EXECUTING TREASURY ACTIVITIES

Assist the rest of the Finance Team to efficiently execute treasury services, including premium billing and collections; accounts receivable management; claimant and provider disbursements; policyholder disbursements; agent compensation; accounts payable; business unit and external party research and responses; and other services billings and collections. Identify and recommend areas for improvement. 

4. SUPPORTING EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF INTERNAL CONTROLS AND POLICIES/PROCEDURES

Support the continuous improve internal controls and policies/procedures to address the current operating environment, including touch points with other departments and operating entities, and suggest best practices. Review policies, procedures, and internal and controls and update documentation for assigned areas. Recommend changes to procedures, controls, and reports. Interacts with auditors and other specialists as necessary. 

5. CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING DEPARTMENT SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Assist other Team members, including management, in their daily duties during absences or peak periods. Perform self-development, training, proactively participate in coaching sessions, and discuss upward feedback with supervisors and coaches. 

6. DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICE TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS

Report and resolve internal and external stakeholder issues or inefficiencies. Identify and support ease of doing business projects and other user-friendly improvements and maintain the customer-centric focus within the department. Foster strong inter-departmental collaboration on projects, initiatives, and problem resolutions. 

7. MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

Participate in industry and technical seminars/training; maintain and/or acquire additional certifications and skills; research best practices and knowledge share with others.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

· BS degree in Accounting, Finance, or Audit or long-tenured industry/professional experience. 

· Industry accounting knowledge (e.g. medical/pharmacy brokering, insurance/group benefits, third party administration, revenue recognition, etc.) with a broad range of accounting and/or financial analysis exposure preferred

· Experience with executing financial close procedures, treasury operations, and/or financial analysis

· Project team experience

· Knowledge of Finance processes and controls, ability to identify weaknesses and recommend solutions

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS

· Experience with Great Plains or similar G/L packages

· Experience with administrative systems and financial planning/budgeting software desirable

· Advanced skills in Microsoft Office products with emphasis on Excel, Word, (Access a plus)

COMPETENCIES

· Ethics, integrity, high quality service delivery

· Issue identification and recommendation, brainstorming

· Internal and external customer service

· Communication, verbal and written

· Relationship-building, teamwork, collaboration

• · Open-minded, change focused