Associate Director Finance - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

13h•$112,700 - $193,200•Remote

About The Position

Optum Care is seeking an Associate Director of Finance to lead the Optum Care West Region Shared Services SG&A finance team. This role will provide financial leadership for shared services costs managed on behalf of the Total West Region, with responsibility for forecasting, annual planning, month-end reporting, financial analysis, chargeback management, cost allocation, department transfers, workforce planning, and executive-level financial support. This leader will directly manage two FP&A managers and will serve as the primary finance partner for West Region leadership, sub-region finance teams, accounting, and national finance organizations. A significant focus of the role will be understanding national and enterprise chargebacks, challenging cost and allocation assumptions, identifying savings opportunities, and driving accountability for cost reductions. The role requires solid technical FP&A capabilities, people leadership, executive communication, and the ability to operate across a complex, matrixed organization. The ideal candidate will be comfortable leading through change, improving financial transparency, establishing scalable processes, and translating complex shared services and chargeback activity into clear business insights and actions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field
8+ years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting, finance, or related financial leadership roles
3+ years of people leadership experience, including coaching, developing, and directing the work of finance professionals
Experience leading budgeting, forecasting, month-end reporting, variance analysis, financial modeling, and performance management processes
Solid understanding of SG&A, shared services, cost allocations, intercompany or intersegment chargebacks, cost center management, and financial governance
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to organize, analyze, reconcile, and summarize large datasets
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex cost structures, identify savings opportunities, challenge financial assumptions, and influence outcomes across a matrixed organization
Demonstrated solid executive communication skills with the ability to develop clear financial commentary, presentations, and recommendations for senior leaders
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholder needs in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Demonstrated ability to build cross-functional relationships, influence without direct authority, and drive accountability across regional and national teams
Demonstrated proactive mindset with a willingness to improve processes, build scalable structures, and take ownership of complex or evolving workstreams

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CFA, or other advanced finance, accounting, or business credential
Experience supporting regional or enterprise shared services, corporate finance, SG&A, operating costs, chargebacks, or allocation-based financial processes
Experience partnering with national or enterprise functions to manage service costs, develop savings initiatives, and evaluate chargeback or allocation methodologies
Experience developing recurring leadership reporting packages, forecast models, allocation tools, dashboards, or standardized financial views
Experience driving process improvement, reporting automation, standardization, or finance transformation initiatives
Experience partnering with senior leaders and presenting financial results, business drivers, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions
Healthcare finance, managed care, provider organization, or other large matrixed organization experience
Knowledge of financial systems and reporting tools such as Essbase, PeopleSoft, Planful, Spotlight, Power BI, and Excel

Responsibilities

Lead the Optum Care West Region Shared Services SG&A finance team, including direct management, coaching, and development of two FP&A managers
Own forecasting, budgeting, annual planning, month-end reporting, variance analysis, and financial performance management for West Region Shared Services and assigned chargeback cost areas
Partner with national and enterprise finance teams to understand chargeback methodologies, guidance, cost drivers, service volumes, and forecast changes; challenge assumptions and advocate for appropriate West Region outcomes
Identify, quantify, and advance chargeback savings and cost reduction opportunities by analyzing trends, service utilization, unit costs, PMPM/PEPM metrics, and other relevant business drivers
Lead the allocation of West Region Shared Services costs to sub-regions and markets, including governance of allocation methodologies, maintenance of allocation percentages, communication of changes, and validation that costs are fully and appropriately distributed
Provide Total West Region chargeback reporting, high-level bridges, forecast explanations, and executive insights that clearly explain cost performance, key changes, risks, opportunities, and required actions
Oversee month-end activities for shared services and chargebacks, including early estimates, actual-to-forecast reviews, issue resolution, accounting coordination, and reconciliation across financial reporting systems
Lead financial support for department and organizational transfers within the West Region and between West, national, enterprise, and corporate organizations, ensuring accurate financial structures, forecasts, allocations, and stakeholder communication
Oversee workforce planning, census and headcount reviews, requisition finance approvals, GL string governance, and related financial analysis for supported shared services functions
Develop, refine, and maintain recurring reporting packages, forecast models, allocation tools, chargeback analyses, and management routines that improve visibility, consistency, accuracy, and accountability
Drive process improvement, reporting standardization, automation, and simplification opportunities to reduce manual effort and strengthen financial controls
Serve as a key finance partner to West Region leaders, sub-region FP&A teams, accounting, national finance teams, and cross-functional stakeholders on shared services, chargebacks, allocations, and strategic cost management
Lead special projects, cost deep dives, business cases, and ad hoc financial analyses tied to broader Total West Region and Optum Care SG&A priorities