Financial Accountant Jobs in Alabama

INTRODUCTION

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it. We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.

Protective is seeking an analytical accounting professional to join our Financial Reporting team in our Birmingham, AL office. This role supports the preparation and analysis of financial results across our life insurance and annuity businesses, including the Protection, Retirement, and Acquisitions segments.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in accounting and financial analysis, along with a collaborative mindset and attention to detail. This position offers the opportunity to partner cross-functionally with accounting, FP&A, and actuarial teams, contributing to accurate and timely financial reporting while supporting ongoing process improvements.

This is a Hybrid role which reports to the office 3 times a week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Perform analysis of traditional life product performance, including review of trends and variance drivers
- Prepare segment-level reporting packages and disclosures for the Acquisitions segment
- Partner with accounting, FP&A, and actuarial teams to understand and communicate financial results
- Serve as a primary contact for assigned products or acquisition transactions, including accounting analysis and journal entries
- Support quarterly close processes through income statement and balance sheet analytics and explanations
- Ensure assigned controls are performed and operating effectively in support of accurate financial reporting
- Coordinate with internal teams to improve processes impacting financial reporting and analysis
- Support internal and external audit requests and respond to accounting-related inquiries
- Contribute to process improvement initiatives, including reducing manual processes

CORE COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES):

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret financial results
- Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial information to non-financial partners
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams
- Strong organizational skills and commitment to accuracy
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial analysis tools

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in accounting or financial reporting
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Word
- Experience performing accounting functions and financial analysis

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Insurance or financial services accounting experience
- CPA designation or progress toward certification
- Experience with SAP S/4HANA or other ERP systems
- Experience with Workiva (Wdesk)
- Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot or other AI tools

Protective’s targeted salary range for this position is $70,000 to $94,000. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors, including but not limited to, job location, skills, and experience. The range listed is just one component of Protective’s total compensation package for employees.

The internal title for this role is Analyst II Financial Reporting. #LI-AP1

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health. Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR APPLICANTS WITH A DISABILITY:

If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email eric.hess@protective.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.

Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation. General employment questions should not be sent through this process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.