Benefits Accountant

Requisition Id 13008 

Overview:  

We are seeking a Benefits Accountant who will focus on providing benefit accounting services supporting Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Health and Welfare plans, and Pension and Savings plans. This position resides in the Cost/GL, Capital, Inventory, Benefits and Tax Accounting Department in the General Ledger and Reporting Group in the Accounting Division, Business Services Directorate, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As part of our team, you will work closely with managers and other personnel to address complex accounting and benefit issues by providing technical accounting advice and strategic guidance for complex issues relating to employee benefit plans. Activities involve working closely with other groups such as Human Resources and Pension & Savings Administration to support accounting activities for the UT-Battelle employee benefit plans. The position involves a high level of independent judgment, decision-making, accuracy, creativity, and initiative while protecting business sensitive employee information. The incumbent will assist the Group Leader of this section with various assignments and other projects as they are assigned.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Compilation, analysis, and reconciliation of benefit plan transactions and general ledger activity.
• Adhere to strict weekly, monthly, fiscal and calendar year submission and required reporting deadlines.
• Summarization and reporting of benefit plan activity for employees, retirees, and eligible plan beneficiaries.
• Accountability and reporting of benefit recipient collections from payroll deductions and direct billing.
• Calculations of accruals for the company cost of the benefit plans.
• Develop support for journal entries to document UT-Battelle’s accounting treatment of the events relating to the entries.
• Assess whether significant accounting events occur as a result of management decisions or workforce events.
• Prepare analyses to model the accounting impact of potential workforce events or plan changes.
• Interface between external vendors and internal accounts payable and contract services personnel.
• Identify, interpret, and analyze potential accounting risks and issues.
• Develop understanding of and ability to apply accounting and financial reporting standards and government rules and regulations.
• Develop understanding of current benefit structures/plans and any amendments for current plans.
• Analyze quantitative data or complex problems of various types.
• Identify/correct inconsistent data, solve problems and develop new methods of analysis.
• Ability to become familiar with the ORNL Accounting system and external databases to proficiently perform required tasks.
• Provides assistance, backup, and other special projects assigned within other areas of the General Ledger and Reporting group.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS in accounting or finance.
• Minimum of five years of related accounting or finance experience.
• Demonstrated planning and organizing skills, ability to coordinate many projects simultaneously with changing priorities, and excellent problem analysis and resolution skills are required. 
• Motivated self-starter with the ability and willingness to work effectively as a member of a team as well as independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Excellent attention to detail, well-developed written and oral communication skills, and an ability to conduct analysis of accounting information and effectively present impacts.
• Demonstrated ability to function well in a fast-paced environment, assess and set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within conflicting deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Requires proficiency in applying accounting principles, policies, and procedures, and knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). 
• Requires proficiency in Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, databases, and word processing software, such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in benefit plan accounting.
• Public accounting experience involving financial reporting and audit. 
• Master's degree in accounting or finance with four or more years of broad training and experience.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or candidate preferred. 
• Knowledge of UT-Battelle, LLC and DOE accounting systems, policies, and procedures is desired.
• SAP experience.

HSPD-12 PIV Badge: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov or call 1.866.963.9545.

For Hybrid Eligible Positions:

In addition, we offer a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. A hybrid/onsite working arrangement may be available with this position.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.