Senior Accountant - Payroll (Remote possible)

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<strong><b>Who We Are</b></strong><br>Join a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for ten consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.<br><br><strong><b>What We Do</b></strong><br><br>Come work with us! - We were named to the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For®" list for six years in a row!<br><br>We need someone who understands the 'big picture impact' of the payroll accounting process. Conducting insightful assessments of the internal and external business landscape with an awareness of financial impact will be an important part of your job. You will review and approve highly complex account reconciliations and ensure they accurately reflect the account's balance. You will actively pursue process improvements and identify what success looks like to the customer. Your on-going partnerships with customers will lead to continuously improving service levels.<br><br>We are looking for someone who thrives in a dynamic, established company and enjoys the challenges of understanding business needs and acting on them. Someone with a strong technical background in accounting principles and practices to provide accounting support and guidance to our operating divisions. We want a hands-on strategic individual who works independently as well as in a highly collaborative team environment. Your job duties will include:<br><ul><li>Partnership with other departments in resolving issues and streamlining the accounting process.</li><li>Perform complex accounting activities to maintain the integrity of the general ledger. This includes researching, as necessary, new pronouncements for reporting. Review and identify trends or issues and the related sources to make recommendations for change.</li><li>Prepares journal entries, reconciles general ledger accounts, and performs monthly and quarterly fluctuation analyses.</li><li>Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting schedules for SEC filings.</li><li>Interface and assists with internal and external audit.</li><li>Participates in special projects including process improvement initiatives.</li><li>Plays key role in monthly and quarterly close process.</li><li>Perform account analysis to assist with ensuring accurate financial reporting.</li><li>Perform high level review of account balances.</li><li>Ability to demonstrate critical thinking by calling out assumptions and identifying root cause.</li><li>Identify errors and risks that could have a financial impact on the company's financial statements in accordance with company policies, US GAAP and in compliance with Sarbanes Oxley.</li><li>Communicate with multiple levels in the organization and escalate issues to appropriate management.</li><li>Partner with Training or subject matter experts to develop desktop procedures and training materials</li><li>Prepares and analyzes monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports; ensures financial information has been recorded accurately.</li><li>Prepares integrated revenue/expense analyses.</li></ul><br><br><b>Job Qualifications</b><br><ul><li>Bachelor's degree in accounting or related study, MBA preferred but not required</li><li>CPA preferred but not required</li><li>4+ years of experience in the field or in a related area</li><li>Prefer 2+ years of experience working with non-domestic based accounting teams</li><li>Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field</li><li>Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.</li><li>Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.</li><li>Advanced knowledge in the interpretation and application of accounting principles and practices under US GAAP. Knowledge of IFRS a plus.</li><li>Proficient in MS Office. Strong Excel skills required. Ability to work proficiently with large data files.</li><li>Large ERP Software experience, Oracle preferred.</li><li>Hyperion experience preferred.</li><li>Critical Thinking -- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.</li><li>Complex Problem Solving -- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.</li><li>Judgment and Decision Making -- Consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.</li></ul><br><br><strong><b>What We Offer</b></strong><br>By choice, we don't simply accept individuality - we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First Culture celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion not simply because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.<br><br><b>** Note that the following statements only apply to candidates who will be working from an unincorporated area within Los Angeles County. **</b><br><br>First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).<br><br>First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant's criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer-imposed criminal history requirements.<br><br>Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.

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Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...