Career Center

SURS is seeking a Senior Accountant to join our team as a resource in the finance department. The responsibilities include preparing, coordinating, and distributing timely and accurate financial, statistical, tax, or qualitative information as needed to SURS employees, external auditors, members, vendors, other designated agencies of the State of Illinois or the U.S. Government, or other persons to ensure SURS remains compliant with relevant laws and regulations. This position reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer.

Required Qualifications
1. Bachelor’s degree with a major in accountancy (or equivalent course work).
2. A total of four (4) years (48 months) of progressively responsible experience in professional level accounting work consistent with the next lower level of this series. An advanced degree in accountancy or registration as a Certified Public Accountant may be substituted for one year of professional experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
• Ability to research complex accounting and financial reporting matters.
• Strong problem-solving skills, a curiosity of how systems/processes work, and a desire to improve systems/processes when appropriate.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including comfort with analyzing and manipulating large data sets.
• Ability to learn new computer systems quickly.
• Experience working with internal and external auditors.
• Self-driven with the ability to work independently as needed.
• Strong time management skills with a deadline-oriented focus.
• Ability to work in a continuously changing environment with numerous filing deadlines. 
• Excellent verbal, analytical, organizational, and written skills. 

Preferred Qualifications
• Certified Public Accountant designation is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP accounting.
• GASB experience is a plus.

About State Universities Retirement System (SURS)

SURS is the administrator of a cost-sharing, multiple-employer, public employee retirement system that provides retirement, survivor, disability and death benefits to employees of Illinois state universities, community colleges, and certain other affiliated organizations and agencies. SURS was created in 1941, by an act of the Illinois General Assembly, and is governed by the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/15-101 et seq.). SURS provides benefit services to over 255,000 members who work for 61 employers. SURS is responsible for investing assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds, real estate and alternative investments. SURS maintains a defined benefit plan, which on June 30, 2024, had assets valued at approximately $24.3 billion. SURS also administers two defined contribution plans, the Retirement Savings Plan, which on June 30, 2024, had assets of approximately $4.3 billion and the Deferred Compensation Plan, which had assets of approximately $67.4 million. Northern Trust serves as SURS’ master trustee custodian.

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