ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ACCOUNTANT Boston, MA

                    *******INSURANCE EXPERIENCE ONLY*******

BACKGROUND

The companies US Controllers group provides oversight and leadership to the finance areas within the US Division and is a key strategic and financial advisor to the divisional management.  It is responsible for financial reporting and analysis, accounting and controls for the US Division, as well as external financial reporting for the division’s many legal entities.  

THE POSITION

The Assistant Vice President and Chief Accountant, will report to the Vice President and Controller, US Controllers area, and play a key role on the US Controllers Senior Leadership team with responsibilities that include, but are not limited to, defining and establishing critical capabilities that will position US Controllers to proactively support the business requirements as it relates to changing business needs and the related accounting and reporting for a multi-billion organization.  He/she will also provide counsel on accounting related issues, disclosure obligations related to business transactions, and financial statements ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial records. He/she will be involved in understanding critical policy issues as they relate to the business and will provide guidance in the areas of NAIC SAP and US GAAP (and some Canadian GAAP (CGAAP) standards), and the interpretation and application of new accounting pronouncements.  

Additional responsibilities may include:

         Play a leading role in directing finance change initiatives, including controls, systems and processes to enable more insightful reporting;

         Develop, implement, and oversee financial and accounting policies and procedures, as well as best practices to ensure compliance with NAIC SAP, US GAAP and CGAAP;

         Enhance internal controls, improve operating efficiencies and ensure accuracy of essential information and data;

         Provide accounting leadership and direction to all operating businesses;

         Act as a resource to business unit accounting contacts and other division groups on accounting interpretations, implementations of new standards, and financial statement close issues;

         Coordinate and facilitate audits with internal audit partners and external accounting firms;

         Drive process improvement and change management.

By and large, the company is seeking to bring in a finance talent within the US Controllers group to help the new VP and Controller ensure that the US Controllers organization is able to provide exceptional service to its internal clients in a complex operating environment. The exact nature of this individual’s responsibilities will be partly a function of his/her technical and leadership strengths. The opportunity is to help transform the organization and provide strategic input; it requires an individual who is comfortable with a certain degree of ambiguity and sees promise, rather than risk, in a changing environment.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned professional with a minimum of 10 years of financial management experience within a multi-faceted and sophisticated, complex organization. He or she will likely have gathered several years of experience with a major public accounting firm before acting in a senior accounting or control capacity with a financial services company; life insurance experience is highly desirable. Although the educational training of the successful candidate is not as relevant as experience, the successful candidate has most likely earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in finance, accounting or business, and achieved and kept current with a CPA certification.

 To meet the priorities of the position, candidates should possess the following core competencies and experience:

         Strong Accounting Functional Expertise – The successful candidate must possess strong knowledge of accounting and financial reporting, including NAIC SAP and US GAAP accounting, and current NAIC and  FASB releases. The individual will be responsible for ensuring a highly accurate and disciplined financial record keeping, control and reporting environment. He or she must be a hands-on, highly competent and technically strong accounting and control professional. Experience in setting accounting policy and in implementing and managing SOX 404 would be highly beneficial.

         Ability to Set Direction – The candidate will have demonstrated instances of thinking strategically by understanding business issues and opportunities and translating them into a vision, strategies and plans to chart a course of action; of setting clear goals and priorities in the face of competing demands to keep people focused on achieving business objectives; and of inspiring others by communicating a compelling vision and goals that motivate them to achieve more than they think they can.

         Talent Management and Leadership Skills – It is critical that the successful candidate have displayed a strong aptitude to develop an employee base capable of meeting the company’s current and future talent needs, to evaluate performance and provide constructive feedback to strengthen team and individual effectiveness, and to create and sustain high performing teams committed to outperforming business goals.

         Collaboration and Influencing Skills – The successful candidate must be highly effective in managing internal relationships, effectively collaborating across the business units of a complex company, and across functional departments, with peers and other senior executives. She or he must possess an energetic and service-oriented style, be easy to approach and enjoyable to deal with.

         Change Management – The successful candidate will have a track record of leading change, such as the implementation of new financial systems or transforming an organization from the inside. Specifically, the candidate will have implemented new processes, systems and other management initiatives that measurably improved organizational performance.

         Character and Aptitude – From a personal standpoint, the candidate will have demonstrated instances of addressing difficult issues with candor, speaking the truth, and displaying the courage and confidence to express a point of view and take a stand. A high degree of interpersonal awareness, as evidenced by understanding others’ thoughts, emotions and concerns, recognizing his/her impact on others and adapting to be effective in different situations, is also critical for success. Finally, the candidate will demonstrate the energy, communication skills, and executive presence necessary to operate at the highest levels of management in a high performance culture.

LOCATION

The position will be based in the companies offices inBoston.

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