Investment Accounting Associate

Job Description

Investment Accounting Associate (Entry-Level) | William Blair

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at William Blair, located in Chicago, IL with a hybrid work model. William Blair is a Premier Global Partnership, delivering trusted advice and solutions across investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. This role ensures the accuracy of investment accounting records, reconciling client custodial books and records, which is vital to providing reliable service and support to the firm’s internal and external clients.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid Chicago, IL
• Pay: $68000–$83000 USD yearly
• Team: Part of the investment accounting & corporate actions team, focusing on reconciliation, and assisting supervisor/team lead.
• Mission: Ensure William Blair’s investment accounting records are accurate and reconciled with clients’ custodial books and records.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word

What You’ll Actually Do
• Reconcile Accounts: Perform daily accounting reconciliation for assigned investment accounts, including transaction activity, security positions, market value, and cost value.
• Client Support: Address all accounting and account-related requests and inquiries promptly from both external and internal clients.
• Process Improvement: Ensure adherence to reconciliation policies and procedures, recommending updates or changes to senior staff when warranted.
• Knowledge Development: Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in investment accounting principles.
• Team Collaboration: Provide backup coverage for investment accountants and assist supervisors with the training of new team members.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field; this is an Entry-Level role focused on learning investment accounting concepts.
• Experience: No specific years required for this entry-level role; however, prior experience in an investment accounting role within equities is preferred, as is experience working with or at an investment management firm (through an internship or full-time).
• Skills: Excellent quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills; detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize tasks; proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Bonus: Strong desire to learn investment accounting concepts, processes, and the platform; demonstrates initiative and persistence; able to exercise independent judgment; commits to satisfying internal and external customers; delivers clear, effective communication and commits to understanding others.