About TRS

Since 1917, the Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York (TRS) has been securing better futures for NYC educators. With a pension fund valued at approximately $123 billion, TRS serves over 274,000 members, providing them with retirement, disability, and death benefit services.

At TRS, we seek dedicated professionals who are passionate about their work and committed to excellence. We pride ourselves on our member-centric culture, focused on delivering outstanding service and support to our members.

Position Summary

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Senior Accounting Specialist to support key accounting operations through accurate record maintenance, payment processing, reconciliations, and member account support. This role requires strong analytical skills, excellent organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting critical deadlines. The ideal candidate is dependable with excellent communication skills, and a commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

EFT Processing & Reconciliation:
- Process EFT deletions, reversals, returns, reclaims, and replacement payments for both periodic and non-periodic disbursements in accordance with pensioner and member account activity.
- Ensure compliance with established OLA and SLA requirements while performing detailed reconciliations of EFT payments, returns, reversals, and reclaims.
- Monitor and maintain hold-check listings to ensure timely resolution and accuracy.

Records Management & Data Maintenance:
- Maintain, update, retrieve, and validate financial and member records across multiple systems, databases, and applications while ensuring data accuracy, completeness, and confidentiality.

Member & Beneficiary Communication:
- Communicate directly with members, pensioners, and beneficiaries regarding replacement payments, returned checks, and account-related inquiries.
- Prepare and distribute professional correspondence and documentation in a timely and accurate manner.

Banking Operations & Account Support:
- Support banking operations and exception-processing activities by coordinating with financial institutions and internal stakeholders.
- Research and retrieve financial data to respond to inquiries related to pensioner and beneficiary accounts, and update demographic and account information as needed.

Team Support & Quality Oversight:
- Assist in training team members and reviewing work for accuracy and compliance.
- Maintain production metrics, tracking reports, and operational documentation to support departmental goals and continuous improvement initiatives.

Systems & Process Improvement:
- Participate in unit modernization efforts, system enhancements, production support activities, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
- Contribute to process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.

ACCOUNTANT - 40510

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in accounting, including one course each in advanced accounting and auditing; or
2. A valid New York State Certified Public Accountant license.
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II individuals must have, in addition to meeting the minimum requirements, at least one year of experience as an Accountant - Assignment Level I or at least two years of satisfactory full-time professional accounting or auditing experience.

Preferred Skills

Preferred Skills & Competencies - Strong knowledge of banking operations, accounting, reconciliation processes, Microsoft Excel, and GAAP principles. - Ability to reconcile, analyze, and interpret financial data accurately using spreadsheets and financial systems. - Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders. - Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment. - Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to work independently and meet established timelines. - Analytical, adaptable, and results-driven professional with a strong commitment to accuracy, member service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.