Accountant I

This position is located at ourBillings, MT Downtown branch.

What's Important to You

We know your career is just one aspect of a meaningful, complex, and demanding life. That's why we designed our compensation and benefits package to provide employees and their families with as much choice as possible.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) in addition to paid federal holidays.
• Child Care Assistance Program for eligible dependent(s).
• Exercise reimbursement program for employees.
• The health and happiness of the places we call home matter to us. Learn a little more about what we do for the communities we serve and why we want YOU to be a part of it.

We encourage you to apply. Reach for what you want and tell us why your work ethic and willingness to learn make you a natural fit for #TeamFirstInterstate.

SUMMARY

An Accountant I is responsible for the financial functions and activities of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. and its subsidiaries including general accounting, reporting, and merger and acquisitions. This role could also focus on accounting for fixed assets, lease accounting, the bank's investment and derivative portfolio, bank and holding company debt, capital stock, and other treasury accounting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: other duties may be assigned.

• Collaborate with managers in the field to ensure proper understanding of accounting treatment and ensure items are accounted for properly.
• Assist branch management as needed with financial information requests.
• Compile and analyze financial information to prepare journal entries for assigned accounts and areas.
• Maintain organized, accurate and complete accounting records, electronically and hardcopies, as necessary.
• Document desktop procedures and workflow for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Master desk procedures in performing tasks as well as understand the purpose and connectivity of the task.
• Participate in cross training efforts for developmental purposes and departmental coverage.
• Maintain, analyze, and reconcile assigned GL accounts.
• Prepare multiple monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
• Identify and resolve accounting discrepancies and irregularities.
• On-going review of accounting procedures, systems, and processes to ensure efficiency and implementation of best practices.
• Perform ad-hoc requests as needed.
• Assist with preparing external reporting and external audit PBC requests for quarterly reviews and year-end audits.
• Ensure that all processing and reporting deadlines are consistently achieved.
• Develop trustworthy relationships with colleagues and maintain relationships with lines of business to provide appropriate information to assist in achievement of company goals.
• Assist FP&A team with variance and trend analysis.
• Back-up month-end duties assigned to other Accountants.
• Work with project groups to gather information to account for capital project costs and begin depreciation.
• Determine the correct asset classification, depreciation life and proper accounting treatment for fixed assets.
• Assist with review leases and analyze for proper accounting treatment.
• Move costs from asset/construction in progress to the appropriate category during month-end close.
• Help perform detailed analysis of major project costs to allocate costs accordingly.
• Reconcile subledger and non-subledger accounts to the general ledger.
• Perform asset retirement as required and conduct periodic impairment reviews.
• Prepare property tax returns, sales and use tax returns for bank footprint.
• Compile and analyze financial information to prepare journal entries for assigned accounts and areas.
• Maintain organized, accurate and complete accounting records, electronically and hardcopies, as necessary.
• Filing and payment of withholding taxes for IRA distributions, including quarterly and annual filings for withholdings.
• Monitor and process daily cash activity, such as capital calls distributions, interest payments, paydowns, etc.
• Communicate with treasury to resolve any issues related to daily operations.
• Prepare quarterly investment roll forward.
• Responsible for Portfolio Management adhocs as needed.
• On-going review of accounting procedures, systems, and processes to ensure efficiency and implementation of best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily and be highly competent in communicating, leading, problem solving and team building. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university in accounting and 2+ years of experience in accounting or finance. Public accounting experience or a blend of public and industry highly preferred.

CPA license or CPA track preferred. Oracle experience a plus.

OTHER SKILLS

Able to organize and prioritize workload. Demonstrate skill in use of microcomputer, financial software and spreadsheets. Proficiency of utilizing Word and Excel. Possess required technical skills in area of accounting. Strive to improve efficiencies and quality. Strong analytical, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Be organized with high level of attention to detail. Ability to work independently with minimal direction in routine job functions. Knowledge of accounting theory, principles and practices sufficient to apply the Company's accounting policies and procedures.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, financial reports, legal documents, technical procedures and government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and respond to common inquiries or complaints from bank customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors. Applies oral and written communication in a clear and concise manner. Uses effective communication skills in working with co-workers and internal customers. Influences others with clear explanations of facts and ideas.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Identify problems and develop solutions. Exhibit sound and accurate judgment. Demonstrate common sense and logic in day-to-day activities. Demonstrate original thinking and willingness to make decisions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk. The employee frequently is required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low.