Senior Manager, Accounting Policy

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

What You'll Contribute

The Senior Manager, Accounting Policy will support broader accounting policy initiatives, including accounting for new products, initiatives, or transactions. The candidate will also own the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) allowance methodology, including monitoring monthly results, evaluating model assumptions, and ensuring consistency with regulatory and accounting standards. The candidate will provide insightful analysis of CECL outputs and present findings to senior management, translating complex technical details into clear, actionable insights. The candidate should demonstrate advanced expertise in loan accounting and CECL frameworks, with a strong understanding of financial instruments and risk modeling. The candidate will serve as a subject matter expert on CECL-related matters. 

What You'll Do

• Support the CFO organization in interpreting and applying relevant accounting rules and guidance, by conducting accounting research and documenting findings.

• Collaborate with internal business partners to understand new transactions and/or products to advise on appropriate accounting treatment, including accounting scenario analysis of key decision points.

• Monitor and ensure compliance with new accounting regulations and standards, updating and maintaining related accounting policies and procedures.

• Lead the monthly CECL process, including analysis of the CECL methodology and associated reporting packages, communicating findings and implications. Complete the quarterly Allowance for Credit Losses update report for Audit Committee meeting, and documentation for the annual CECL methodology review.

• Evaluate the impacts of default and prepayment models on the allowance for credit losses, the impact of macroeconomic trends, new strategies, and changes to underlying models. Identify, analyze, and support significant assumptions used in credit loss models and methodologies.

• Perform analysis of the discounted cash flow approach and the impact on the CECL reserve process.

• Prepare and interpret analysis of loan portfolio composition and performance, including trend and migration analysis. 

• Conduct scenario analysis to estimate the effects of changes in forecasts and assumptions.

• Support capital planning processes by modeling credit losses under stress scenarios.

• Ensure documentation, testing, and reporting of internal controls for the CECL process is properly maintained and tested timely; provide issue identification and resolution.

• Work with internal and external auditors to assist in understanding new accounting policies and the ACL methodology and quarterly results.

• Collaborate with other departments, such as Credit, Accounting, FP&A, and Enterprise Risk Management to ensure accurate financial reporting.

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role.
 

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