Operational Accountant - Banking

Washington Trust is seeking an experienced Operational Accountant to serve as the primary operational accounting resource for Banking Operations and Loan Operations, working in close partnership with Financial Administration to ensure a continued strong connection between operational activity and the Bank’s financial records. This role is intended to complement, not duplicate, the responsibilities of Financial Administration by ensuring that operational processes, settlements, reconciliations, balancing activities, system changes, and exception resolution are supported by complete, accurate, and timely accounting information.

In addition, this position collaborates closely with Financial Administration, including the Vice President, Senior Corporate Accountant and Operations Liaison role, to identify downstream General Ledger impacts, support reconciliation integrity, document operational accounting processes, resolve issues at the operational source, and promote a strong control environment across the Bank.

This position is a remote/hybrid work schedule based in Westerly, RI.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the operational accounting subject matter resource supporting Banking Operations and Loan Operations, in coordination with Financial Administration.
• Analyze, create and maintain operational processes and transaction flows to identify accounting, reconciliation, settlement, and financial reporting impacts.
• Assess the accounting implications of operational issues, exceptions, losses, adjustments, and process breakdowns.
• Provide guidance regarding operational accounting treatment and appropriate financial resolution of issues.
• Act as the primary liaison between operational departments and Financial Administration to support the Senior Corporate Accountant and Operations Liaison’s oversight of accounting policy, financial reporting, and reconciliation governance.
• Ensure operational areas provide Financial Administration with complete, accurate, and timely support for reconciliations, accounting entries, settlements, clearing accounts, and exception resolution.
• Review operational reconciliation processes for adequacy, consistency, source-system support, control effectiveness, and alignment with Financial Administration expectations.
• Assist in researching and resolving aged reconciling items, settlement differences, suspense account activity, and balancing exceptions.
• Participate in system conversions, product implementations, process changes, and technology projects to evaluate downstream accounting impacts.
• Review, create and maintain General Ledger interfaces, transaction flows, and automated accounting processes from an operational perspective to ensure completeness, accuracy, and appropriate escalation to Financial Administration when accounting judgment or approval is required.
• Maintain clear role boundaries by supporting Financial Administration with operational facts, documentation, and analysis while preserving Financial Administration’s authority over accounting policy, financial reporting conclusions, and final accounting determinations.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end activities affecting operational accounting and reconciliations.
• Assist Financial Administration and operational areas with the review and resolution of settlement, clearing, suspense, and operational control accounts, with emphasis on identifying root causes within operational processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual accounting, balancing, and reconciliation activities.
• Develop and maintain operational accounting process documentation, reconciliation support procedures, issue escalation protocols, and control documentation that complement Financial Administration standards.
• Support internal audits, external audits, regulatory examinations, and issue remediation activities.
• Participate in operational risk assessments and recommend control improvements.
• Prepare reports and analyses related to reconciliation of exceptions, operational losses, accounting issues, and process trends.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance
• required.
• Minimum 7 years of accounting, finance, audit, banking operations, reconciliation, or related experience.
• Banking Operations focus strongly preferred.
• CPA or other relevant professional certification preferred.
• Experience supporting operational processes, reconciliations, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, reconciliations, General Ledger processes, operational accounting controls, and the distinction between operational support responsibilities and Financial Administration authority.
• Understanding of banking operations including deposit, loan, ACH, wire, card, ATM, and digital banking activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to assess downstream financial impacts of operational activities and changes.
• Ability to research, document, and resolve complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple departments.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business applications.

Compensation: A good‑faith, reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is $120,000 to $150,000 per year and the actual offer will depend on factors such as experience, skills, training, certifications, and education.

This base salary reflects one component of our competitive compensation package. This position may be eligible for an annual bonus and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Our employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and welfare benefits, paid time-off, work-life program, and a 401(k) plan. We believe employees who are valued, recognized, rewarded and empowered, will achieve personal and professional growth. Apply today and find out why we have been voted one of the Best Places to Work in Rhode Island since 2011!

The Washington Trust Company, and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants as protected by state and/or federal law.