Staff Accountant – Accounting Operations

Job Description

Staff Accountant – Accounting Operations | Farmer Mac

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Farmer Mac, based in Washington, DC. Farmer Mac operates as a financial institution, handling a variety of financial instruments including loans, investments, debt, and derivatives. This Staff Accountant position is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and compliance of the company’s financial records, directly supporting daily general accounting activities and the comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes. This role ensures timely and precise financial information.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid – Washington DC-Baltimore Area
• Pay: $75000–$85000 yearly
• Team: Reports directly to the Senior Manager, Accounting Operations, and works with Accounting and Financial Reporting teams.
• Mission: Prepare, record, and reconcile financial transactions to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with accounting policies.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Excel, Word, Access, Visio

What You’ll Actually Do
• Prepare journal entries across diverse financial instruments, including loans, investments, debt, and derivatives.
• Reconcile subledgers to general ledger accounts, actively investigating and resolving any discrepancies.
• Analyze account balances through detailed roll-forward and fluctuation analyses to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Support the financial close process by meeting deadlines and assist in preparing quarterly and annual SEC filings (10-Q/10-K).
• Manage the reconciliation of cash activity and account for various balance sheet items such as prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and accruals.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a strong knowledge and understanding of accounting principles and financial statements.
• Experience: Minimum of 1 year in public or private accounting, internal audit, and/or internal control assessments.
• Skills: Excellent analytical skills, demonstrated attention to detail, strong computer skills (especially Microsoft Excel), ability to work under tight deadlines, and effective communication skills.
• Bonus: Registered as, or working towards, a Certified Public Accountant; experience in the financial services industry.