J-1 Visa Staff Accountant Jobs
Staff Accountant roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through J-1 visa sponsorship under the Trainee or Intern program category, depending on your career stage. A State Department-designated sponsor organization issues your DS-2019 and oversees your training plan, while the U.S. accounting firm or corporation acts as your host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
We're Looking for a Corporate Staff Accountant Intern!
About the Company:
Security Benefit is a leader in the U.S. retirement market with more than $60 billion in assets under management. We offer opportunities to thrive, innovate, and make an impact. As part of our team, you’ll play a key role in driving the future of the U.S. retirement industry. Security Benefit is a PLACE where we promise to help our customers To and Through Retirement®.
We’re proud to have been recognized as one of the best in the business:
- Named to Ward’s 50 list of top-performing life-health insurance companies
- Recognized on list of Ingram’s Top 100 Private Companies in the Kansas City area in 2024
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Corporate Staff Accountant Intern, you’ll be an integral part of a collaborative, agile team. The Intern position reports to the Manager, Corporate Accounting and can be based out of our home office in Topeka, Kansas. We work a hybrid schedule, offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.
- Reconciliation: Assist in preparing balance sheets and bank reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of financial records.
- Invoice Analysis: Learn to analyze invoices and apply appropriate accounting treatment, following company policies.
- Voucher Preparation: Accurately prepare vouchers in PeopleSoft, learning to do so in a timely manner.
- Audit Support: Provide support in gathering and organizing documentation for audit requests.
- Journal Entries: Learn to compile and analyze financial information and assist in preparing journal entries to general ledger accounts.
- Special Projects: Collaborate on special projects and be willing to take on other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in accounting or a related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of information processing systems is a plus.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- A willingness to learn and develop industry-related knowledge.
- Effective communication skills, both verbally and in written form.
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to work independently with guidance.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Experience with PeopleSoft is preferred but not required.
- A team player with a collaborative mindset.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
When you join our team, you’re not just getting a paycheck — you’re getting a career path full of growth opportunities, plus a robust benefits package that puts your well-being first. Here’s what you can expect as part of our internship program at Security Benefit:
- Hands-on Experience
- Skill Development
- Networking Opportunities
- Resume Enhancement
- Exploration of Career Paths
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Industry Insights
- Holiday Pay
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Apply today by visiting our career page to submit your resume. We’re excited to meet you!
Security Benefit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
INTRODUCTION
We're Looking for a Corporate Staff Accountant Intern!
About the Company:
Security Benefit is a leader in the U.S. retirement market with more than $60 billion in assets under management. We offer opportunities to thrive, innovate, and make an impact. As part of our team, you’ll play a key role in driving the future of the U.S. retirement industry. Security Benefit is a PLACE where we promise to help our customers To and Through Retirement®.
We’re proud to have been recognized as one of the best in the business:
- Named to Ward’s 50 list of top-performing life-health insurance companies
- Recognized on list of Ingram’s Top 100 Private Companies in the Kansas City area in 2024
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a Corporate Staff Accountant Intern, you’ll be an integral part of a collaborative, agile team. The Intern position reports to the Manager, Corporate Accounting and can be based out of our home office in Topeka, Kansas. We work a hybrid schedule, offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.
- Reconciliation: Assist in preparing balance sheets and bank reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of financial records.
- Invoice Analysis: Learn to analyze invoices and apply appropriate accounting treatment, following company policies.
- Voucher Preparation: Accurately prepare vouchers in PeopleSoft, learning to do so in a timely manner.
- Audit Support: Provide support in gathering and organizing documentation for audit requests.
- Journal Entries: Learn to compile and analyze financial information and assist in preparing journal entries to general ledger accounts.
- Special Projects: Collaborate on special projects and be willing to take on other duties as assigned.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in accounting or a related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of information processing systems is a plus.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- A willingness to learn and develop industry-related knowledge.
- Effective communication skills, both verbally and in written form.
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to work independently with guidance.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Experience with PeopleSoft is preferred but not required.
- A team player with a collaborative mindset.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
When you join our team, you’re not just getting a paycheck — you’re getting a career path full of growth opportunities, plus a robust benefits package that puts your well-being first. Here’s what you can expect as part of our internship program at Security Benefit:
- Hands-on Experience
- Skill Development
- Networking Opportunities
- Resume Enhancement
- Exploration of Career Paths
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Industry Insights
- Holiday Pay
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Apply today by visiting our career page to submit your resume. We’re excited to meet you!
Security Benefit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Staff Accountant roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Staff Accountant
Align your credentials with specialty occupation standards
Gather transcripts, a degree equivalency evaluation, and a translated resume before applying. Designated sponsors require documentation proving your accounting background meets the J-1 Trainee or Intern category's educational and professional standards.
Target host employers with existing training infrastructure
Accounting firms and corporate finance departments that already run structured rotation programs are far more willing to complete the required Form DS-7002 training plan. Look for roles with defined learning objectives, not open-ended accounting positions.
Search Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned accounting roles
Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting international accounting professionals. Filtering by role and sponsorship history surfaces host organizations that have completed J-1 training plans before, shortening your outreach cycle significantly.
Verify your role clears the two-year home residency requirement
Some Staff Accountant J-1 participants from countries with skills-shortage designations face a two-year home-country residency requirement before qualifying for H-1B or green card status. Confirm your country and funding source with your designated sponsor before accepting an offer.
Confirm wage compliance before signing your training plan
Your host employer must pay you at the prevailing wage for your accounting role and location. Cross-reference the offered compensation against the OFLC Wage Search before your designated sponsor submits the DS-7002, since wage discrepancies can delay or void your DS-2019 issuance.
Sequence your DS-2019 request around your program start date
Designated sponsors typically need four to six weeks to issue a DS-2019 after the host employer submits a complete training plan. Build that window into your offer negotiation so your visa appointment at a U.S. consulate isn't delayed by a late document.
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Find Staff Accountant JobsStaff Accountant J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Staff Accountant positions?
It depends on your career stage. If you're currently enrolled in a degree program, the Intern category applies and covers accounting-related training directly tied to your field of study. If you've already graduated and have at least one year of professional accounting experience outside the United States, the Trainee category is the correct fit. Your designated sponsor makes the final determination based on your documentation.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Staff Accountant, the employer or someone else?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, not the accounting firm or company where you'll work. Organizations like Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or AIPT administer the program, issue your DS-2019 form, and monitor your compliance. The employer is your host organization. You'll need both: a host willing to complete your training plan and a designated sponsor willing to issue the DS-2019.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 Staff Accountant?
Search Migrate Mate to surface accounting roles at employers who have hosted international professionals before. Host employers for J-1 Trainee or Intern positions must complete a structured Form DS-7002 training plan, so firms already familiar with that process are your strongest prospects. Cold outreach to employers with no prior J-1 experience adds significant friction to the placement process.
Does the J-1 training plan affect what work I can do as a Staff Accountant?
Yes, and this is a common friction point. The DS-7002 training plan must specify the exact accounting tasks, learning objectives, and supervision structure for your program. You're legally limited to the activities listed in that plan. If the host employer later reassigns you to a different function, such as payroll instead of general ledger, your designated sponsor must be notified and the plan may need amendment before you can continue.
Can a Staff Accountant on a J-1 visa transition to H-1B status afterward?
Potentially, but the two-year home residency requirement is the key variable. If your J-1 program was funded by your home government, or if your home country appears on the State Department's Exchange Visitor Skills List, you may be required to return home for two years before applying for H-1B or permanent residence. A waiver exists but requires a separate application process. Confirm your requirement status with your designated sponsor at the start of your program, not at the end.
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