Sr Associate Investment Accountant

Overview

The organization is seeking a Senior Associate Investment Accountant to join its Investment Accounting team within Principal Asset Management. This role performs investment accounting and reporting activities across various investment strategies and asset classes. The position partners with asset management and servicing, portfolio managers, investment operations, risk, compliance, tax, internal/external auditors, and technology teams to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant investment accounting and reporting supported by strong controls and documentation.

Responsibilities

Investment Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Perform investment accounting and transaction analysis activities across multiple asset classes, including evaluation of income recognition, yield performance, cash flows, impairments, and valuation changes
• Reconcile and validate investment data across multiple accounting and reporting systems to ensure completeness and accuracy
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and supporting workpapers to validate completeness, accuracy, and compliance with accounting guidance
• Research, analyze, and resolve accounting, reporting, and data discrepancies by partnering with internal and external stakeholders
• Assess accounting implications of investment strategies, transactions, and classification decisions; escalate matters as appropriate to senior team members
• Apply U.S. GAAP and Statutory accounting principles and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for investment transactions across multiple asset classes

Compliance, Controls, and Risk Management

• Execute and enhance investment accounting controls to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance of financial reporting
• Identify, investigate, and communicate control gaps, data-quality concerns, and operational risks while supporting root-cause resolution
• Maintain audit-ready documentation, support internal and external audits, and contribute to walkthroughs and control reviews

Project Implementation & Process Improvement

• Participate in and contribute to system implementations, accounting change initiatives, and process redesign efforts impacting investment accounting and reporting
• Support user acceptance testing (UAT) and documentation of business and reporting requirements
• Identify, design, and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and reporting enhancements to improve efficiency, scalability, and control effectiveness in reporting and reconciliation processes

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Business Support

• Coordinate with cross-functional partners to ensure consistent and accurate treatment of investment data
• Analyze reporting trends, accounting results, and process outputs to identify issues, explain fluctuations, and provide actionable insights to stakeholders
• Serve as a primary contact for assigned processes, independently resolve routine issues, and partner with investment operations, portfolio management, tax, risk, compliance, and technology teams to address more complex matters and improve outcomes

Continuous Improvement & Strategic Insight

• Develop subject matter expertise in assigned accounting processes, asset classes, and systems while supporting documentation, cross-training, and knowledge transfer across the team
• Stay current on investment accounting standards, NAIC guidance, regulatory requirements, and best practices
• Identify and recommend improvements to controls, workflows, and operating procedures to enhance efficiency and control
• Leverage technology and data tools to reduce manual processes and improve the quality of accounting and reporting outputs

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or equivalent work experience is required
• Minimum of 2+ years of relevant accounting experience in financial services is required
• Advanced Excel skills required
• This position may require successful completion of a criminal background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience researching and resolving accounting or reconciliation discrepancies
• Working knowledge of common investment products and strategies or insurance investment accounting
• Experience with Power Query, reporting tools, automation solutions, or investment accounting systems
• CPA designation or progress toward CPA certification

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range (base): $69,300 - $126,000 / year
• Non-sales positions may participate in a bonus program
• Pension eligible: Yes
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees, with paid vacation, personal time, and short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Example market-specific ranges

• Wichita, KS: $69,300 – $94,500 / year
• Des Moines, IA: $73,150 – $99,750 / year
• Charlotte, NC: $77,000 – $105,000 / year
• Chicago, IL / Minneapolis, MN: $84,700 – $115,500 / year
• Los Angeles, CA / New York City, NY: $92,400 – $126,000 / year

Location

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC). Work arrangement will be determined with the leader based on several factors.

Work Authorization / Sponsorship

At this time, applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) are not being considered now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc.

Additional Information

• For Principal Asset Management positions, adherence to an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household is required. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.
• Equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
• Posting window: Applications will be accepted for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date (10/5/2026).