Our high-performing staff is key to what makes us a premier investment manager. SWIB is committed to investing in talented professionals to implement our robust, sophisticated investment strategies and to keep the organization at the forefront of the investment industry. We encourage innovation and offer professional development opportunities to help staff sharpen and expand their skills. Approximately 61 percent of SWIB’s investment professionals are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholders.
About the Team
The Finance Division (Finance) serves the entire organization and is under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer. Finance is responsible for several critical functions at SWIB and comprises six teams: Accounting & Financial Services, Financial Planning & Analysis, Vendor Engagement & Oversight, Performance, Operational, Financing, & Counterparty Risk Management, and Fund Administration.
Finance Operations oversees SWIB’s general ledger, accounts payable, procurement, business travel, budget, cost management and reporting, and contract management.
Financial Planning & Analysis assists management in creating analysis of division profitability, prepares extensive financial analytics leveraged across the agency, and manages SWIB’s incentive compensation program.
Vendor Engagement & Oversight manages both SWIB’s procurement process and vendor relationships.
Performance plays an essential role in supporting SWIB’s fund and portfolio management process; through the creation, modeling, maintenance, analysis, and delivery of benchmarks, performance, risk, and investment strategy metrics necessary for achieving absolute and relative risk/return goals for SWIB's sophisticated-multidimensional-leveraged portfolio.
Operational, Financing, & Counterparty Risk Management monitors SWIB’s sources and uses of liquidity, the risks associated with SWIB’s counterparty exposures and relationships, and the overall design and effectiveness of SWIB’s key operating processes.
Fund Administration is responsible for various accounting and financial activities related to the accurate and timely production of financial statements, accounting oversight, statutory reporting, and valuations for a diverse set of complex, multi-asset investment strategies.
This Financial Reporting Accountant will play a key role in supporting the Fund Administration team at SWIB. This position reports to the Fund Administration Director within the Finance Division. The Financial Reporting Accountant is responsible for key processes related to accounting oversight, statutory reporting, valuations and the accurate and timely production of financial statements. The position’s essential activities and ideal candidate attributes are included below.
Essential activities:
- Produce accurate and timely financial statements and related notes to the financial statements for the WRS and SIF. Assist with the financial statement notes for the Separately Managed Funds and prepare financial reporting documents for inclusion in the State of Wisconsin ACFR (Annual Consolidated Financial Report).
- According to all relevant GASB pronouncements and knowledge of the broad spectrum of asset classes & investments held by the Investment Board ensure the proper presentation of the financial statements and related notes.
- Perform analysis of new and current GASB pronouncements and ensure they are implemented properly at SWIB.
- Oversee the daily import of accounting data into SWIB’s accounting system and the monthly overlay of accounting information into the state’s PeopleSoft system.
- Perform complex reconciliations of financial data, create journal entries as necessary, and perform financial data analysis.
- Test and implement accounting system process and data enhancements.
- For SWIB’s official books and records: ensure the integrity and completeness of data, support other financial staff as needed, develop and maintain reports, and assist in resolving issues related to the system and data.
- Track and report on SWIB’s investments in companies with significant employment in Wisconsin.
- Produce various statutorily required reports.
- Assist with pricing and valuation of securities.
- Assist with the month-end close and other Fund Administration accounting activity, as needed.
- Back-up other accounting tasks within the Fund Administration Team and Finance Division.
- Complete ad hoc requests and analysis, as needed.
The ideal candidate:
- Earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, focused in Accounting
- Are progressing toward, currently are, or previously were, a CPA
- At least 2-5 years of financial reporting experience (preferably in the investment / financial services industry)
- Strong analysis, Excel, and communication skills
- Ability to work on a wide variety of financial tasks
- Leverages their intellectual curiosity continually learn and develop their skills
- Can effectively carry out standardized processes with accuracy in a timely manner
- Is interested in financial markets
- Is a self-starter with the ability to nimbly manage competing priorities
- Is adaptable and organized
- Is driven by results, but focused on process
- Can efficiently consume, distill, and communicate complex issues
- Challenges the status quo when appropriate
- Independently seeks out the “why” behind key tasks
SWIB Offers:
- Competitive total cash compensation, based on AON (formerly McLagan) industry benchmarks
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Educational and training opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- Challenging work in a professional environment
- Hybrid work environment
The position requires U.S. work authorization.
Pursuant to our Hybrid Remote Work Policy, all staff have the flexibility to work remotely, but are required to have a weekly presence in our offices, the frequency of which is dependent on their distance from office. Staff are not required to reside locally; however, we offer relocation reimbursement to the Dane County area per our policy.
All SWIB employees are subject to SWIB’s Ethics Policy and Personal Trade Approvals Policy. These policies include restrictions on outside business activities and employment and have limits on personal trading. You may request copies of these policies from SWIB’s talent acquisition team and any questions can be answered by SWIB’s compliance team.