VP, Controller & Deputy Chief Accounting Officer

Job Summary

The VP, Controller & Deputy CAO will lead and direct all financial close and reporting, financial systems and reinsurance controllership functions of the Finance Department.  This role is responsible for setting the financial reporting strategy, managing all accounting records and for the production of financial reports ensuring they meet GAAP, SEC and Statutory standards for the Company’s insurance and non-insurance entities. This role will own the relationship with the external auditors and is responsible for completion of financial statement audits.  

Organization

This position reports directly to the SVP, Chief Accounting Officer and will interact with all levels of senior management including the Executive Committee and leaders of the retail and institutional business lines in support of the Company’s strategic objectives.  This position also is a primary point of contact with regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC) for financial reporting matters.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Financial reporting involving all aspects of U.S. GAAP, SEC and Statutory financial statement preparation and analysis. Accurate and timely preparation of financial information in accordance with corporate, statutory and management information and timing requirements.  Requires a high degree of collaboration with the Investor Relations and Financial Reporting and Analysis teams to design and deliver financial information and reports to effectively communicate the Company’s financial position and results of operations.;
• Partners with various functional areas to ensure timely, adequate account analysis, balancing and documentation of the general ledger accounts. This involves ensuring the balancing and validation of all sub system financial feeds into the general ledger including policy administration TPAs, commission system, investment recording TPA, reinsurance sub system, as well as various worksheets, or subsidiary records utilized for other records. 
• Partners with internal and external auditing teams to ensure timely and smooth closing processes in compliance with U.S. GAAP, Statutory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.  Responsible for setting and managing the audit budgets and identifying opportunities to improve the audit process.
• Partners with various functional areas and project teams to ensure proper accounting of transactions and initiatives, analysis of results and integrity of the general ledger and the financial reporting system.
• Responsible for the oversight of financial statement reporting and analysis for the company’s offshore entities on all appropriate basis of accounting, including supporting local management with regulatory reporting and audit requirements.
• Oversees the financial controls team to ensure proper oversight and reporting surrounding the financial statement closing process. 
• Lead the Financial Systems Support team within the Finance Department to maximize Oracle functionality along with other financial systems reporting and accounting functionality and capabilities.  Partner with IT to achieve single source of financial information from which all data is sourced for external (GAAP / STAT) and internal management reporting

Experience and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; CPA and/or MBA required
• 15+ years in corporate accounting roles with increasing responsibilities and leadership aspects 
• 7+ years’ experience leading a team
• Public company insurance industry (life, annuity, reinsurance) experience required
• At least 5 years’ experience with life insurance GAAP and statutory accounting
• Familiar with SOX (404) compliance programs

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership skills in a fast-paced financial services organization
• Highly motivated, self-starter and team player with a high energy level and willingness to seek out and take on responsibilities
• Strong computer knowledge of financial based accounting packages (Oracle, Essbase)
• Ability to work and effectively communicate with all levels of management, including executive leaders, public company audit committee and board of directors
• Strong verbal and writing skills; an open and direct communicator who provides clear direction with a results-oriented style;
• Excellent team-building skills, with the ability to recruit/retain/mentor top-quality staff
• Ability to establish goals, structures, and processes necessary to implement a mission and strategic vision
• Support effective partnerships with key groups and individuals
• Effective change management skills.