Head of Enterprise Finance - New York, United States - Guardian Life Insurance Company

Description

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer Kevin Molloy, the Head of Enterprise Finance will be a key senior leader on the enterprise Finance team. The Head of Enterprise Finance will be responsible for transforming the function, enhancing standardization, and driving process improvement. Success in this role will require a strong leader who can be a change agent, build credibility and engage with the most senior levels of the organization, including the Board. While not mandatory, prior experience in life insurance and group benefits will be advantageous in order to demonstrate strong strategic, commercial and business partnering capabilities.

The Head of Enterprise Finance will lead company-wide financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, and analysis, and be responsible for a direct team of professionals that manage the forecasting and roll-up of the long-range plan. This role will lead the financial systems strategy, execution, and implementation for the function and identify opportunities to drive business growth, profitability, and improvement through analysis, innovation, and best practices. This executive will partner with senior finance and business leaders and will be responsible for enhancing the usability of information that critically impacts the business. This executive is expected to take a proactive and strategic stance toward the execution of the FP&A function, and must develop an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of the company's operations, financial performance, and strategies through regular interaction with company executives and business leaders. This leader will work in close partnership with the CFO and function as the go-to person for issue deep-dives, and the creation of management summaries and board-level communications.

Success in this role will require a strong leader who can be a change agent, build credibility and engage with the most senior levels of the organization, including the Board. The role will be based in New York City.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Developing and leading Finance function transformational efforts to create standardization and improve processes.
• Driving financial forecasting, planning, and analysis processes and analytics at corporate, working closely with the business and operations Finance colleagues throughout the organization.
• Translating financial strategies into tactical plans, reporting requirements, procedures and processes.
• Driving streamlined preparation of management reporting, focusing on key metrics, drivers, and insightful analysis, including executive and Board financial packages. Driving a focus on common and insightful analytics across both P&L and cash flow metrics.
• Leading the forecasting and budgeting process and focusing on analytical insights to 'pressure test' budgets.
• Evaluating new methodologies and practices, such as the use of data analytics, alternative forecasting and/or planning cycles to bring new thinking into the organization.
• Leading efforts to develop and implement a robust financial system strategy and related process improvements across budgeting, forecasting and management reporting activities.
• Working with the Finance team to develop materials for financial presentations to the Board.
• Managing and developing a team of FP&A professionals and establishing and reviewing goals for the broader FP&A organization team in collaboration with finance and business leadership.
• Working closely with the finance leadership team to coordinate company-wide strategic planning, budget, and quarterly target-setting processes, including ongoing forecasts and key performance monitoring.
• Performing ad hoc financial analysis to support key business decisions.

Candidate Profile

The Head of Enterprise Finance will be an accomplished, strategically and operationally orientated finance executive who possesses a strong understanding of operational financial management, decision support, and FP&A. The successful candidate will ideally have relevant experience at a life insurance and / or group benefits carrier of scale similar to Guardian and demonstrated ability to understand profitability drivers and to deliver financial results large-scale environment. The ideal candidate will be adept at appropriately challenging business leaders and others within the organization and have strong communication skills with a range of audiences. This is a role with a high level of exposure to the executive leadership team and the board. This executive will exhibit the ability to handle detailed, complex concepts and problems requiring timely decisions using sound judgment.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

Setting Strategy

• The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for Guardian, not only for the areas they are directly responsible for, but the enterprise as a whole
• The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with Guardian's overall strategy
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch Guardian and push the boundaries within the industry
• The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change Guardian is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful

Executing for Results

• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing Guardian to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations
• A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for Guardian

Leading Teams

• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives Guardian's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement

Relationships and Influence

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and active drive
• Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond their own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for Guardian as a whole

Driving Sustainability

• Firmly believes that both sustainability and profit are in Guardian's best long-term interest
• Integrates economic, societal, and environmental factors into a purpose-driven strategy, turning sustainability into a competitive advantage
• Understands and incorporates viewpoints from all key stakeholders to drive decision making and share the benefits
• Delivers breakthrough innovations and business models that create value for all stakeholders, continually challenging traditional approaches
• Sets audacious business and sustainability goals, driving concerted action and investments, and stays the course in the face of setbacks or push-back from short-term oriented stakeholders

Salary Range

$325,000 - $437,500

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you'll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian's Purpose - to inspire well-being - we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues.

Health Care

• Choice of [high deductible/copay] medical plans* with prescription drugs, including coverage for fertility and transgender inclusive benefits
• Dental plan
• Vision plan
• Health care accounts - flexible spending, health reimbursement, and health savings accounts
• Critical illness insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

• Company-paid Life and Disability insurance plus voluntary supplemental coverage
• Accident insurance

Retirement and Financial

• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match, plus an annual age/service-based Company contribution and an annual profit-sharing contribution, if applicable
• Complimentary 1:1 financial guidance with a licensed Fidelity representative

Time Off and Remote Work

• Flexible work arrangements (part in-person/part remote)
• Unlimited paid time off for most roles plus time off for volunteering, jury duty, voting, and bereavement
• Personal holidays for colleagues to use in recognition of religious, cultural, or civic days
• Paid parental leave and paid family and medical leave policies

Emotional Well-being and Work-Life

• Emotional well-being, mental health, and work/life resources powered by Spring Health
• Wellness programs, including fitness program and equipment reimbursement
• Child, adult, and elder back-up care support through Bright Horizons
• Adoption assistance
• College planning
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan assistance
• Commuter benefits in select metropolitan areas

Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact