Specialist, Accounting

As a team member in Finance at Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, the opportunities are endless! Let Nationwide help create your career journey! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This role is open on the Reconciliation Assurance team, which drives resolution on material, high risk, high volume, and significantly aged balance sheet reconciliation exceptions. The team does this through collaboration with reconcilers, reviewers, exception owners, and Business Unit Controllership using metric-based reporting and analytics for the purpose of mitigating risk to the financial statements. This role leads and provides critical support for the Reconciliation Assurance initiatives including but not limited to: helping to problem solve complex reconciling items, researching via the GL and other source systems, communicating with business partners to identify and resolve issues, presenting monthly status updates to Business Unit Controllers regarding aged reconciling items, reconciliation quality assurance testing, building and maintenance Power BI reporting. I am looking for a strong self-starter with a high degree of curiosity, engaged in self-driven continuous improvement, problem solving skills, an analytic mindset, and the ability to quickly adapt. Effective communication skills, both written and spoken, required with the ability to clearly summarize complex problems and emphasize the importance of an issue with a sense of urgency. Familiarization with or interested in Power BI and other technologies is preferred.

This is a hybrid role based in Columbus, Ohio, requiring on‑site presence at least two days per week.

This role does not qualify for employer sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT extension program.

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Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an inclusive work environment where you can lead, adapt and innovate? Do you want to invest in yourself and work in an environment of problem solving, collaboration and learning? If you’re ready to lead in a technology-enable, digitally focused organization, where Controllership is a captivating and respected career, we want to hear from you!

As a Specialist, you'll plan, coordinate and perform the most complex accounting functions. We'll count on you to acquire, assemble, evaluate, interpret, record and analyze financial data of all types and sources ultimately utilized in the preparation of financial documents for various regulatory and statutory authorities and for internal management of all levels.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Performs a lead role in establishing and implementing of new or revised accounting policies and procedures.

Prepares and analyzes the most sophisticated financial and regulatory statements for the company(ies) and/or business areas assigned.

Develops and submits sophisticated accounting and financial transactions required to ensure accurate reporting.

Ensures the completeness and accuracy of all reports, forms and data provided to internal and external clients/customers.

Recommends management actions or alternatives when the analysis of financial documents discloses unfavorable trends, situations or deviations.

Keeps informed of changes to GAAP and/or STAT regulatory requirements which ultimately impact the submission of statements, reports and other financial data.

Recommends changes to area(s) of responsibility that would enhance, improve or facilitate job performance, processing or workflow.

Leads the development and design of new and enhanced systems and processes, under general guidance, within the assigned area(s).

Prepares and analyzes the most complex pro forma financial data required for compliance with new requirements.

Assists management in applying financial data and analysis to solve administrative and operating problems.

Prepares state and supplemental reporting requirements.

Prepares complex financial information to provide to internal and external auditors, IRS, state examiners and other regulatory agencies.

Prepares special reports and presentations.

Serves in a group leader capacity to other accountants on selected projects.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Accounting Manager or Director.

Typical Skills and Experience:

Education: Undergraduate studies in accounting, finance or business administration; accounting major and degree preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Progress towards CPA preferred.

Experience: Four to six years of related accounting experience; insurance experience preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: GAAP and/or STAT knowledge and/or functional business area regulatory requirements. Complex financial statement preparation, including consolidation of companies/subsidiaries. Principles of taxation and the related impact on financial statement preparation. Accounting and/or business computer systems. Company organizational structure and products and services. Verbal and written communication skills for internal/external contacts. Ability to analyze, discover and solve accounting problems, to interpret financial documents and data and to analyze and interpret legal requirements. Project management skills. Ability to interpret changes in financial reporting and legal requirements relative to the impact on financial statement preparation and to the formulation of company or business area policies and procedures. Ability to effectively operate a personal computer and related software using advanced techniques. Ability to apply accounting principles, theories, concepts and practices to specialized, unique and/or nonrecurring complex problems.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. May require extended hours in periods of high volume.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities within this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here .

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Natio