Principal, Accounting Policy
Job description
About the role
The position influences financial reporting, investment accounting, and compliance outcomes. You will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for the development, execution, and maintenance of critical accounting policies that govern how the company reports its financial position. This role requires deep engagement with complex accounting standards, translating regulatory requirements into practical guidance that ensures accurate and reliable financial statements. You will partner closely with investment accounting, actuarial, and reporting teams to resolve emerging issues and maintain consistency across business units. The work is precise, deadline driven, and directly tied to business results, requiring a high level of ownership and accountability. You will guide technical change across the organization, ensuring that new standards are implemented efficiently and effectively. Accuracy and auditability are expected on every deliverable, and your judgment will be essential in areas involving GAAP and Statutory Accounting Principles.
Key facts
What you'll do
Evaluating, implementing, and adopting new accounting and reporting standards organizes technical change across the organization. You will analyze the impact of new GAAP and Statutory Accounting Principles on financial statements and lead the development of guidance for application. Participating in industry advocacy efforts tracks developments that affect the insurance sector, allowing the company to anticipate and respond to regulatory changes. Leading special projects and strategic initiatives responds to assignments defined by leadership, often involving cross-functional coordination and detailed analysis. You will research and resolve complex accounting issues that arise from transactions, estimates, and interpretations of authoritative literature. Managing projects and driving crossfunctional initiatives is required to ensure timely implementation and alignment with business objectives. Influencing senior leadership on complex accounting matters must be shown through clear articulation of risks, trade-offs, and recommendations. Owning the documentation of policies, procedures, and technical memos ensures that decisions are transparent and supportable. You will serve as a key technical resource for finance, investment accounting, actuarial, and business partners. Ensuring consistency in application across the enterprise supports high-quality financial reporting and compliance.
Requirements
A Bachelor's degree in Accounting or equivalent accounting-focused coursework is mandatory for this position. You must hold a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation to practice in this role. At least 7 years of technical accounting experience must be demonstrated through prior professional responsibilities. The ability to interpret and apply U.S. GAAP guidance is essential for accurate financial reporting. Experience researching and resolving complex accounting issues is necessary to handle the inherent challenges of the role. Managing projects and driving crossfunctional initiatives is required to coordinate efforts across diverse teams. Influencing senior leadership on complex accounting matters must be shown to ensure alignment and decision support. A demonstrated understanding of Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) and regulatory reporting is required for compliance in the insurance context. You must be able to work effectively in a matrixed environment while maintaining strong ownership of deliverables. Professional skepticism and attention to detail are expected in all aspects of the work.
Nice to have
10 to 12 years of progressive accounting experience strengthens the role by providing deeper perspective. Public accounting background, especially with a Big Four accounting firm, is valued for exposure to rigorous standards. Life insurance industry experience supports context for the business environment and regulatory expectations. Experience within an insurance carrier environment is preferred for familiarity with internal processes. Accounting policy and technical accounting experience enhances the position through focused expertise. Knowledge of Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) and regulatory reporting is beneficial for broader applicability. Experience supporting acquisitions, reinsurance transactions, and complex investment structures is preferred to manage growth and partnerships. A Master's degree in Accounting is an asset for advanced technical understanding and research capability. Familiarity with IFRS and international accounting standards is advantageous for global consistency and comparison.
Skills & tools
GAAP accounting and financial reporting underpins this role and ensures standardized communication. Influence and advisory skills facilitate discussions with senior leaders and crossfunctional stakeholders. Project coordination organizes multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently to meet reporting requirements. Research and problem solving navigate intricate accounting challenges with structured approaches. Negotiation and stakeholder management enable effective collaboration across teams. Written and verbal communication conveys information clearly to diverse audiences. Attention to detail ensures accuracy in all deliverables and documentation. Collaboration across business, finance, and regulatory functions builds integrated solutions and alignment. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications supports daily workflows and analysis.
Practical notes
Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available by contacting eric.hess@protective.com.
Typical interview steps
Finance interviews usually include technical questions on accounting or modeling, a case study, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to build a forecast or explain a variance. Spreadsheet skills are tested in most loops. Accuracy and clear explanations matter. Interviewers may give a real dataset and ask for a quick analysis. Showing your work and explaining assumptions matters as much as the final number.
Career growth
Finance careers move from analyst to senior analyst, manager, and controller or FP&A director levels. Some people earn certifications such as CPA or CFA. Cross-functional work with operations and leadership grows with seniority. Finance careers reward precision early and business partnership later. Learning the operations of the company beyond the numbers accelerates growth and increases impact.
Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.