Investment Accounting Analyst Lead

At American Equity we offer leading annuity products that help empower our clients to fulfill their needs and wants in retirement. Our success comes from hiring high-energy individuals who embody the beliefs that drive our unique culture. We currently fund over half a million retirements nationwide, and have been headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, for over twenty-five years with satellite offices in Charlotte, NC and New York, NY.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Investment Accounting Analyst Lead will support strategic and operational initiatives across the Investment Accounting function. This role is responsible for driving process improvements, supporting system implementations, enhancing reporting capabilities, and ensuring accurate and timely accounting outcomes for new and existing investment-related activities. The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills, the ability to navigate complex data, and comfort working cross-functionally with technology, accounting policy, operations, and external partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads or assists with investment accounting projects, including system upgrades, automation initiatives and process redesign efforts.
• Coordinate across internal teams to gather requirements, monitor progress, and ensure deliverables align with accounting standards and business needs.
• Supports integration efforts following acquisitions, including reconciling data and validating new processes.
• Analyze existing workflows, identify inefficiencies, and propose solutions that enhance accuracy, timeliness, and scalability.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures for new processes, controls, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure proper internal controls are embedded in all project solutions and comply with GAAP, statutory, and internal audit requirements.
• Partner with Accounting Policy to assess impacts of new policies, elections, or system logic changes.
• Support reporting enhancements such as reconciliations, data validations, and process checks to improve financial data integrity.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Reports:

None

General Description of Indirect Reports (2 and 3-downs):

None

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree from four-year credited college or university in finance, business or related field of study; plus six years of progressively responsible related investment accounting experience, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Experience working with financial systems, subledgers, or reporting tools.
• Proficiency with investment accounting systems (e.g., Clearwater, BlackRock/Aladdin, PAM, SAP, or similar).

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

CPA or MBA preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with high attention to detail.
• Adaptability & continuous improvement mindset.
• Project management and organization.
• Knowledge of investment accounting best practices and procedures, including but not limited to, statutory and U.S. GAAP reporting standards, and investment disclosures.
• Ability to format detailed numeric and other information in reports, dashboards and other mediums and effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with internal and external parties at all levels.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to successfully handle pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.

This description covers the major purpose and essential functions of the job. It is not intended to give all details or a step-by-step account of the way each task is to be performed. Employees may receive other job related instructions and be required to perform other job related work requested by their manager. All requirements are subject to possible modification to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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At American Equity, our core values-Empowered, Passion, Integrity, and Caring-are more than words. They guide how we support one another and how we serve our clients every day. To learn more about American Equity, our culture, and our values, visit the Careers site.

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