Senior Accountant Accounting Operations

Company

Alaska Airlines

The Team

Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you. 

Role Specific Details

This Senior Accountant, Accounting Operations will focus on domestic payments or international payments. 

 

Specific to this position this Senior Accountant, Accounting Operations:

• Serves as the primary liaison and subject matter expert (SME) for functional users of multiple, complex database tools used to analyze credit card merchant fees and chargeback losses
• Produces and distributes statistical reports related to Sales & Credit Card Fees to key decision makers throughout the company
• Prepares reconciliations of credit card receivable accounts and works with third-party vendors to ensure correct reporting throughout the credit card transaction process from sale to receipt of cash

Role Summary

The Senior Accountant, Accounting Operations is a subject matter expert in assigned disciplines within Accounting Operations at Alaska Air Group and subsidiaries. As an individual contributor, this role exercises considerable judgement applying a broad understanding and expertise in accounting tasks and supports accurate and timely recording of transactions affecting financial statement reporting, ensuring efficiency and operational excellence while preserving compliance. Under minimal supervision, this individual contributor uses comprehensive knowledge of accounting operations to handle complex issues and problems.

Key Duties

• Prepares and records complex journal entries for assigned functional areas.
• Prepares and/or reviews reconciliations and journal entries prepared by other staff.
• Serves as the primary liaison and subject matter expert (SME) for assigned functional area to support and lead company and cross-department initiatives to success.
• Manages outsourced vendor team to ensure accuracy and timeliness of deliverables and monitor against contractual SLAs and KPIs.
• Identifies and advances the use of complex, analytical techniques to deliver critical information impacting business outcomes.
• Identifies, researches, recommends, and leads system and process improvement initiatives to drive workflow efficiencies and streamline operations.
• Performs and documents specialized accounting activities in accordance with GAAP and established policies and procedures, and industry standards
• Supports audits of financial and regulatory reporting by Corporate Audit, external auditors, and government agencies.
• Mentors other staff members and assists with training of new staff.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 3 years of experience in “Big 4” public accounting, or 4 years of experience in general accounting or related area.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting procedures, month end closing, account reconciliations, and a strong understanding of GAAP and SOX controls.
• Excellent analytical skills to effectively evaluate data, identify variances, resolve discrepancies, and leverage data to make meaningful business recommendations.
• Proven ability to plan, prioritize, and complete multiple tasks concurrently and within deadlines in a fast paced and ambiguous environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (e.g., written and verbal) with the ability to interact with stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule based on business needs.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

 

Preferred

• Airline industry experience
• PeopleSoft experience
• Experience with internal controls
• Auditing skills, with the ability to research and reconcile difficult accounts

Airport SIDA Badge Requirements

Important notification for employees working at an airport or maintenance hangar: Employees will be required to obtain a SIDA badge provided by the airport authority and maintain good standing in order