Jobs › Ryan Specialty

Senior Accountant, Accounting and Reporting

Ryan Specialty · Chicago, IL · $72,000–$90,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a reconciling item you found that turned out to be a real error. How did you track it down?

What they are checking: Whether they dig into the cause of a difference instead of parking it as an unexplained plug month after month.

Tell me about a close process you made faster or more accurate. What did you change and how did you know it worked?

What they are checking: Whether they improve processes with measurable results instead of just suggesting ideas nobody acts on.

When a business partner tells you how a transaction works, how do you check that the accounting reflects what actually happened?

What they are checking: Whether they verify business explanations against contracts and data instead of booking entries on someone's word.

What would you do

An auditor asks for support on an international entity's balance and the local team is slow to respond. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage audit timelines across entities they don't control without passing the problem upward.

You're pulling data from several source systems and they don't agree. How do you figure out which one is right?

What they are checking: Whether they can trace data back to its origin, which matters a lot during system integration work after acquisitions.

It's day three of close, you have four reconciliations left, and a cross-functional partner hasn't sent the data you need. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the close deadline by escalating early and working around gaps rather than waiting quietly.

About the work

Walk me through how you build a balance sheet reconciliation from scratch for an account you've never owned before.

What they are checking: Whether they understand what a reconciliation proves, not just how to tie two numbers together in a template.

An income statement account is up 40 percent over last quarter. How do you write a variance explanation that a controller would actually accept?

What they are checking: Whether they explain the business driver behind a number rather than just restating that it went up.

What's a journal entry you prepared under U.S. GAAP where the right treatment wasn't obvious? How did you decide?

What they are checking: Whether they reason from accounting guidance and document their judgment instead of copying what was booked last period.

You've helped prepare support for SEC filing footnotes. What makes footnote support hold up when the external auditors start asking questions?

What they are checking: Whether they know public-company support must tie cleanly to the ledger and survive line-by-line scrutiny.

What Excel or data tools do you lean on when you're working with very large data sets, and where have they let you down?

What they are checking: Whether their tools match the volume of data here and whether they know the limits that cause silent errors.

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The full job description

As published by Ryan Specialty.

Position Summary The Senior Accountant is a key member of the Controllership team, reporting to the Senior Accounting and Reporting Manager. This role will support period-end close activities, including preparation of journal entries, account reconciliations, financial analysis, and reporting. Partnering closely with cross-functional teams to understand business activity, validate financial data and accounting inputs, and ensure transactions are recorded accurately and in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This hybrid position is based in Chicago and requires 2-3 days per week in our downtown Chicago office. What will your job entail? Responsibilities • Prepare detailed account reconciliations for assigned income statement and balance sheet accounts • Prepare journal entries in accordance with US GAAP • Perform other period-end related close activities, including variance analyses and related explanations • Prepare support for footnotes and other information included in SEC filings • Assist with internal and external audits for both domestic and international entities • Work with large data sets across multiple source systems to validate, reconcile and analyze financial information, and support system integration efforts • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy Required Experience • Licensed CPA • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting • 3+ years of accounting experience, including exposure to complex or non-routine transactions • Strong working knowledge of US GAAP • Advanced Excel skills and ability to work with complex formulas • Experience working with large data sets • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills Preferred Experience • Experience with Workday • Big 4 audit experience • Familiarity with ASC 606 • Proficiency in ERP systems (Workday) Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce throughout the organization. Our vision is an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees are valued for and evaluated on their performance and contributions. Differences in race, creed, color, religious beliefs, physical or mental capabilities, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and many other characteristics bring together varied perspectives and add value to the service we provide our clients, trading partners, and communities. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, firing, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms, conditions, and benefits of employment. How We Support Our Teammates Ryan Specialty seeks to offer our employees a comprehensive and best-in-class benefits package that helps them — and their family members — achieve their physical, financial, and emotional well-being goals. In addition to paid time off for company holidays, vacation, sick and personal days, Ryan offers paid parental leave, mental health services and more. The target salary range for this position is $72,000.00 - $90,000.00 annually. The wage range for this role considers many factors, such as training, transferable skills, work experience, licensure and certification, business needs, and market demands. The pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Full-time roles are eligible for bonuses and benefits. For additional information on Ryan Specialty Total Rewards, visit our website https://benefits.ryansg.com/. We provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. Please contact us to request an accommodation at HR@Ryansg.com The above is intended to describe this job's general requirements. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

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