Accounting Lead, Corporate Accounting

Company: Bridgewater Associates
Location: Westport
Posted on: November 22, 2020

Job Description:

About Bridgewater Bridgewater Associates is a premier asset management firm, focused on delivering unique insight and partnership for the most sophisticated global institutional investors. Our investment process is driven by a tireless pursuit to understand how the world---s markets and economies work --- using cutting edge technology to validate and execute on timeless and universal investment principles. Powering this engine requires a diverse community of investment professionals, technologists, managers and other specialists. The firm attracts independent thinkers who share a commitment to achieving excellence in their respective lines of work and operating in our unique culture. Bridgewater was founded in 1975 and its principal offices are located in Westport, CT --- an hour outside New York City. Our Culture Bridgewater aspires to be an idea meritocracy in which radical transparency and believability-weighted decision-making allow the best ideas to prevail. Feedback is frequent and flows in all directions, meetings are recorded and shared, mistake-based learning is encouraged, and everyone is expected to uphold high standards of excellence and personal accountability. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is central to that mission --- to develop the deepest understanding of markets and economies we must find, retain, and grow the best talent across gender identity, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gained experiences, and more. To unlock the power of that diversity also requires an inclusive environment. In pursuit of this vision, Bridgewater has a full-time D&I team reporting to our CEO, vibrant affinity networks, and several companywide initiatives to drive progress. Ask your Bridgewater recruiter to learn more. About the Finance Department Finance is the guardian of Bridgewater---s financial resources. We seek to drive sustainable shareholder value by controlling, safeguarding, and optimizing use of the firm---s financial resources. This responsibility is fulfilled by providing strategic partnership, insights and independent challenge along with the delivery of high-quality financial reporting, forecasting and analysis while maintaining effective and efficient operational control. To further Finance---s impact, the Chief Financial Officer has launched an aggressive transformation platform to enrich insights, improve reporting, risk and control operations and ultimately developing more intimate, influential relationship with business leaders. About the Corporate Accounting Team: The Corporate Accounting team is responsible for producing and maintaining the single source of financial truth within Bridgewater. The team ensures that accurate and timely financial information is readily available to a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Currently, the Corporate Accounting team is transforming how it meets the various demands of these stakeholders which include the Bridgewater management team, external auditors, and our shareholders. Central to this evolution, will be shaping our partnership with key offshore vendors and streamlining a variety of processes and methods of reporting. The team will also lead the department---s understanding and implementation of accounting policy, ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (---GAAP---) and establish and operate a controlled environment that both prevents errors and detects them in order to safeguard Bridgewater---s assets. About Your Role: The Accounting Lead will be a critical partner to the Accounting Manager, ensuring stakeholders have a complete and accurate picture of Bridgewater---s financial health. The Accounting Lead will be responsible for maintaining tight, day-to-day oversight over vendor operations and outputs, ensuring deliverables meet Bridgewater policies and expectation of excellence. The Accounting Lead will both have the ability to shape this vendor relationship and other operational processes while also broadening and deepening their accounting and financial expertise. You will drive the following responsibilities: Partner with Accounting Manager to produce timely and reliable financial information in accordance with U.S. GAAP, statutory/regulatory and management reporting requirements Provide daily oversight and guidance to critical vendor, ensuring all accounting deliverables meet Bridgewater---s expectations Improve vendor partnership, surface problems and solutions to operational and reporting processes Execute on critical judgement-based activities and processes (outside the scope of vendor relationship). You will be a click for the role if you: Have excellent interpersonal skills with a proven track-record of managing customers and vendors Are an exceptional owner with a passion for creating solutions to problems Can effectively juggle multiple workstreams on tight deadlines Are organized, reliable, detailed-orientated, with an eye for spotting and correcting errors Think logically and agilely and quickly cut through problems in fast-paced environment Have a ---continuous improvement--- mindset in all responsibilities; minimizing risk and increasing efficiency Minimum qualifications: Bachelor---s degree in Accounting with a strong academic track record CPA with 5 years of experience of progressive accounting experience; Big 4 accounting firm experience a plus Proven track record in operationalizing U.S GAAP accounting policies/interpretations Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; proficient with accounting software; experience with Workday a plus Why Choose Bridgewater? It takes all types to make Bridgewater great. We seek a diverse group of innovative thinkers and push them to engage in rigorous and thoughtful inquiry. We develop people through an honest examination of their abilities and performance, enabling personal growth and professional development. We strive to provide you opportunities that will challenge you and unlock your potential. In this role, you will grow with us by: Developing rich expertise across a broad set of accounting areas while gaining exposure to Finance and company leaders Being part of, and learning from, a group of highly intellectual and driven individuals striving to make Corporate Accounting operate excellently. Taking on oversight and mentorship responsibilities to grow talent as you gain experience. Opportunities to grow your career across Bridgewater depending on your strengths, weaknesses, and experience. One of our core priorities at Bridgewater is to enable our employees to build a great life and career, and we believe our benefits are an important extension of that philosophy. As such, currently Bridgewater offers a competitive suite of benefits including: Health insurance with 100% premium covered and access to additional concierge medical services 401(k) plan with generous employer match Paid time off, including fully paid parental leave and a competitive PTO package Workplace flexibility and access to back up childcare Financial assistance for family building support, including adoption and egg freezing Workplace wellness, including on-site gyms, free meals and healthy snacks, and meditation rooms An engaged and active community that includes many company events, affinity networks, and extracurricular interest groups Bridgewater reserves the right to change its current benefits program at any time, in a manner that is consistent with applicable federal and state regulations This job description is not a contract and confers no contractual rights, privileges, or benefits on any applicant or potential applicant. Bridgewater has the right to change any and all terms of this job description, including, but not limited to, job responsibilities, qualifications and benefits. Nothing in this job description constitutes an offer or guarantee of employment. Please note that we do not provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Keywords: Bridgewater Associates, Westport , Accounting Lead, Corporate Accounting, Accounting, Auditing , Westport, Connecticut