Cost Accountant

Job Description

Cost Accountant | Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, located in Lansing, MI. Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan is a 1,447-person organization dedicated to providing comprehensive insurance services to its members. The Cost Accountant plays a pivotal role in the financial operations of the company, specifically by coordinating and preparing annual expense budgets and performing critical expense variance analysis. This position directly contributes to financial accuracy, strategic planning, and informed decision-making across all levels of management and for external stakeholders.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person Lansing, MI
• Mission: To manage and analyze company expenses, coordinate annual budgets, and support financial reporting and compliance for Farm Bureau Insurance Companies.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office Suite, Great Plains, Solver Reporting

What You’ll Actually Do
• Budget Coordination: Systematically coordinate the comprehensive preparation and meticulous completion of all annual expense budgets for the Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. This includes establishing a clear development schedule and arranging necessary meetings to ensure the budget is finalized both timely and accurately.
• Financial Reporting & Presentation: Develop and prepare detailed management reports, offering in-depth budget analysis and crafting professional presentations for the board of directors, corporate staff, various senior levels of management, and interested external parties to support strategic decision-making.
• Asset Management & Depreciation: Execute the monthly depreciation expense process within the Great Plains system, maintaining accurate records and accounting for all fixed asset disposals and acquisitions across the companies.
• Expense Variance Analysis & Resolution: Proactively research, thoroughly explain, and adeptly respond to all questions and challenges concerning the companies’ expense variance issues. Furthermore, you will propose and implement effective solutions for expense-related matters as they pertain to accounting and budgeting objectives.
• Operational Accounting & Compliance: Oversee a range of essential accounting functions, including the development and ongoing maintenance of analysis reports, providing support for the accounts payable function, ensuring accurate Personal Property Tax reporting, and diligently maintaining all Farm Bureau vendor contracts. Additionally, you will assist with special projects aimed at achieving key accounting and reporting objectives, and review and analyze the allocation of company expenses across various product lines of business.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting or a related field. Career level is Early Career.
• Experience: One to three years of professional experience in an accounting role.
• Skills: Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite products.
• Bonus: Prior insurance accounting experience, and experience utilizing Great Plains and Solver Reporting platforms.