Senior Accountant & AI Specialist

ABOUT BRANCH

Branch is on a mission to make insurance more accessible, so more people can be covered. We innovate using data, tech, and automation to simplify insurance from start to finish—we eliminated inaccurate quotes in favor of real prices, created a better way to bundle, and cut unnecessary costs in the traditional insurance process. Then we pass those savings along to our members. Basically, we’re doing insurance the way it was meant to be.

But we didn’t just create the insurance we’ve always wanted, we also created the company we’ve always wanted to work for. As we redefine insurance, we also want to redefine what it means to work in insurance. Find out for yourself.

Branch has a preference for candidates in Ohio, but is open to candidates located in AZ, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MO, NV, NC, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, and WI. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Branch is remote first, with most Branchers choosing to work from home. Our headquarters are located in Columbus, Ohio, where we come together from time to time to build relationships and connect with each other in real life. We also have office space in Columbia and Concordia, Missouri as well as Forreston, Illinois. Once a year, the entire company gathers for “BranchFest”, a highlight of the year for many Branchers.

ABOUT THE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT ROLE

Branch is looking for a senior accountant who wants to change how the work gets done. Roughly 70 to 80 percent of this role is core accounting: month-end close, reconciliations, investment accounting, state compliance filings, and the reporting that goes with them. The remaining 20 to 30 percent is finding the recurring work that should not be manual anymore and rebuilding it with AI.

We are building a technology-first and data-driven finance organization while eliminating traditional structural inefficiencies. This role sits at the center of that. You will pair a foundation in accounting with hands-on AI experience to identify, design, and implement improvements across close, reporting, compliance, and investment workflows, and you will do it in a way that keeps GAAP, statutory, and regulatory requirements fully intact.

Building the automation is half the deliverable. The other half is teaching it. When you rebuild a process, you hand it to the person who runs it every month so they can own it without you. That is how the whole team gets faster, not just your corner of it.

You will work alongside a team of accountants supporting an expanding set of insurance programs, each of which arrives with its own way of doing things. Making them consistent is part of the job, and the work grows as the programs do. The ideal candidate is not afraid to roll their sleeves up to ensure we are achieving the industry's best outcomes, all while making sure we are delivering on our promise to our members.

Branch is remote first. If you are near our Concordia, Missouri office you are welcome to work hybrid from there. Fully remote is equally welcome.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Core Accounting

- Own month-end close, reconciliations, and recurring reporting, delivered on deadline.

- Own investment accounting: journal entries, investment schedules, and the reconciliations behind them.

- Prepare and support state compliance filings, including the forecasts and calculations that feed them.

- Support the accounting for new insurance programs as they come onto the platform, standardizing how each one is handled rather than inheriting how each one was done before.

- Maintain compliance with GAAP, statutory, and regulatory requirements, including internal controls and documentation.

AI and Automation

- Identify recurring accounting work that should not be manual, and rebuild it using AI tools.

- Map current-state processes, prototype AI-enabled alternatives, and lead the implementation.

- Hand off every automation you build to the person who runs the process, with the documentation and training they need to own it without you.

- Evaluate and pilot AI tools for the accounting and finance team, and train team members to use them effectively.

- Ensure AI-enabled processes hold up under GAAP, statutory, and regulatory requirements, with appropriate internal controls, documentation, and human review.

- Apply AI to investment-related accounting and reporting workflows to improve data quality, analysis, and turnaround time.

- Keep the accounting team's AI work aligned with Branch's enterprise AI direction, standards, and governance.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERTISE

- 5+ years of corporate accounting experience, with month-end close, reconciliations, and compliance reporting owned independently.

- Investment accounting experience, or clear evidence that you can pick it up quickly.

- A four-year degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

- Hands-on experience applying AI to real work. Whether that came from a previous role, formal training or a certification, or teaching yourself matters less than having built something. You should be able to walk someone through what you built in enough detail that they could do it themselves.

- A track record of automating your own work. You found something repetitive, removed it, and can say what it saved.

- The ability to teach what you build, including the documentation and handoff that let someone else run the process.

- Excellent understanding of AI tools and concepts and the ability to apply them to real processes.

- A proactive and creative thinker who challenges the status quo.

- Ability to make decisions with incomplete information.

- Excellent analytical skills.

- Proven track record of managing multiple projects and prioritizing work.

- Ability to work independently and handle ambiguity. You will be handed outcomes rather than instructions.

- Strong written and oral communication skills.

- An instinct for identifying opportunities and creating data-supported solutions.

- Insurance or statutory accounting experience is a plus, not a requirement.

Why join us at Branch?

We’re all about getting back to getting each other’s back - that means Branchers, too. So we provide benefits that let you work and live to your fullest.

- Above-market salary - Branch is a data-driven company, so we do the math on salaries, too. If you get an offer from Branch, you can expect compensation that hits above the mark.

- Pay equity and transparency - Our pay isn’t just market-driven, it’s equitable. We let experience and performance drive your success, never your gender, race, orientation, or beliefs.

- Remote-first (with perks) - Work from where you’re most comfortable. We’ll take care of your work from home set-up and monthly internet. We also have a Columbus headquarters if you’d like to join us in an office.

- Flexible YouTime - We don’t just let you control your own time off. We actually encourage you to use it. After your first year at Branch, we’ll give you $1000 toward your next vacation.

- Employee stock options - You’re not just an employee. If you’re full-time, you’re also a part-owner. You’ll have stock options so you can invest in the company you’re helping to grow.

- Medical, vision, dental - Get all the coverage you need for a healthy, happy life.

- 401k and contribution matching - Invest in your future. Branch helps you get to retirement on time with a portion of your contributions matched each month.

What to expect

In light of recent hiring scams across the United States, here’s what the process will look like with Branch (so you know it’s us):

- Please apply to open positions directly through our site. If you don’t see it here, then it shouldn’t exist on another job board. If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a Branch job posting found on another site, please check the listings here to verify.

- If you're selected to move onto the next phase of the hiring process, a member of our Branch talent team will reach out to you directly from the email domain @ourbranch.com http://ourbranch.com to guide you through our process.

- The process will include a number of interviews, which will all happen either over the phone or on video calls.

- We will never ask for personal payment or require you to purchase equipment during our interview process. Always be sure to protect your personal information.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

At Branch, we are deeply committed to community. Branch is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants and/or employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to the individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.