Director, Financial Reporting

Role: Director Financial Reporting

 

Location: Greensboro, NC

 

Industry: Insurance

 

Function: Accounting or Finance

 

Exempt/Full Time

 

Our client is a Fortune 500 diversified Financial Services company with over $10 billion in revenue. The organization’s Controller has decided to round out his team with a high performing finance and accounting professional. He/she will play a key role in its growing Financial Reporting group and provide valuable bench strength for the function. This position will report directly to the Controller and is based in Greensboro, North Carolina (although a Radnor, PA location may be considered for the ideal candidate). Responsibility at hire will include running and coordinating the SEC process which will enable the incoming leader to learn the organization and gain an understanding of our client’s different businesses.  Since our client is in the process of consolidating their life reporting function to Greensboro, the incoming leader will need to be a trusted advisor in the area of Life Insurance reporting and analysis to ease any knowledge gap within the organization. Still, it’s critical that he/she have an appetite to add broader value in all areas of Controllership and reinforce the organization’s philosophical shift to building a team of “financial athletes”.

The incoming leader will work within the Financial Reporting team, which consists of 15-20 members, in the preparation of internal earnings analysis, GAAP financial statements, earnings releases and SEC filings for the company and its life and non-life insurance subsidiaries.  The Director supervises staff throughout the quarterly close process, interacts with other departments providing financial accruals, and assists in financial statement analysis. 

 

The position provides leadership to the enterprise in the area of financial reporting and analysis.  This role will have responsibilities for issuance of audited GAAP financial statements and SEC filings (10q, 10-k, 8-k, etc.), preparation of the company’s earnings release statistical supplement, review and support of press releases and analyst call scripts, and supporting business unit reporting and analysis.  This position will also be expected to manage projects to integrate and improve financial reporting and accounting processes and to support strategic transactions requiring financial analysis / reporting support.  Strong relationship and communication skills are critical as this role will be responsible for coordinating with cross-functional teams and serving business units with a customer-focus orientation.  Previous life insurance accounting and reporting experience is required and this role will be expected to further develop understanding of life insurance industry accounting and concepts in the accounting and financial reporting team.

 

 

 

 

Responsibilities

 

·  Assist in the preparation of external and internal financial statements and financial analysis

·  Manage SEC reporting processes

·  Coordinate and supervise team of 5 - 10 financial reporting professionals

·  Lead internal and external financial statement analysis and explanations, including the earnings analysis package used for analyst call preparation

·  Work with external and internal auditors on requests for assistance

·  Manage workflow of team and ensure deadlines are met timely with quality

·  Lead special projects to improve the financial reporting process

·  Assist with the assessment and implementation on new accounting pronouncements

·  Develop mentoring relationship with financial reporting staff

·  Develop life insurance accounting and reporting skills on the financial reporting team through mentoring, training, and coaching

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Experience/Education

 

·  Combination of Big 4 CPA firm experience and corporate experience preferred

·  Minimum of 6 years of accounting / reporting experience

·  Experience with SEC reporting, including preparation of annual and quarterly filings, earnings release and analyst call preparation support, and investor relations support.

·  Insurance industry experience required – emphasis on interest-sensitive business (FAS 97 products)

·  In-depth knowledge of U.S. GAAP and Statutory accounting guidance, principles and rules; especially as relates to life insurance products, including annuities, and the financial services industry

·  Self-starter with excellent project management, organizational and people skills

·  Experience in working in a matrix environment

·  Strong process mindset and proven ability to facilitate process improvements

·  Strong interpersonal skills with the demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external customer and partners.

·  Bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting or finance

·  Working knowledge of GAAP and SEC rules and regulations

·  Knowledge and understanding of statutory insurance accounting and reporting concepts

·  CPA required (or willingness to earn it in the very short term)