AVP Expense Management and Accounting

Sun LifeWaterloo, ON
CA$140,000 - CA$225,000Hybrid

About The Position

The AVP, Expense Management & Accounting is a leadership role within Retail Advice & Solutions, accountable for leading the Insurance accounting function and expense management discipline. This role provides strategic financial leadership, functional expertise, and disciplined oversight to support business performance, strengthen decision-making, and advance key priorities across the organization. The incumbent will partner closely with senior leaders to shape expense strategy, deliver clear and actionable insights, and drive accountability for forecasting, planning, reporting, controls, and cost optimization. Success in this role requires strong leadership presence, sound judgment, operational excellence, and the ability to influence outcomes across multiple stakeholder groups while maintaining a robust control environment and high standards of governance.

Requirements

  • Professional accounting designation or related credential, with 10+ years of progressive experience in senior finance, accounting, expense management, or financial leadership roles
  • Proven people leader with demonstrated ability to attract, retain, coach, and develop high-performing teams while building succession depth and leadership capability
  • Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex financial information and present insights, recommendations, and trade-offs clearly to senior audiences
  • Sound business judgment and management acumen, with the ability to prioritize competing demands, make informed decisions, and lead through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
  • High degree of discretion, professionalism, and integrity in handling confidential financial, business, and people-related information
  • Demonstrated track record leading complex initiatives, process improvements, or cross-functional projects from strategy through execution and sustainable adoption
  • Strong operational expertise in financial reporting, accounting systems, controls, and automation, with a continuous improvement mindset and focus on scalable, efficient processes
  • Bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only as the position includes managing both French and English-speaking staff (Quebec and outside Quebec) and providing daily support to the team.

Nice To Haves

  • Strong business knowledge and experience in the insurance and/or financial services industry, with an understanding of expense drivers, product economics, and financial performance management
  • Experience operating in a medium to large organization with multiple divisions, functions, and lines of business, including exposure to senior leadership decision-making forums
  • Strong insurance product knowledge and the ability to connect product, distribution, expense, and financial reporting considerations to business outcomes

Responsibilities

  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, talent development, and continuous improvement
  • Provide senior-level leadership and governance over financial reporting cycles, accounting processes, ledger controls, and the overall internal control environment
  • Design, sponsor, and oversee end-to-end control and accounting process enhancements, ensuring effective implementation, adoption, and sustainable operational outcomes
  • Own the full expense management mandate, including monthly expense reporting, forecasting, planning, budgeting, performance analysis, and business partner engagement
  • Drive disciplined expense management and cost optimization across Retail Advice & Solutions, identifying efficiency opportunities and enabling productivity savings
  • Prepare and present executive-ready materials for senior management, translating trends, risks, opportunities, and business drivers into clear recommendations and actionable insights
  • Build trusted relationships with senior business partners, Finance leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to influence decisions, align priorities, and deliver high-quality service to the business
  • Champion process simplification, automation, and continuous improvement to strengthen operational efficiency, scalability, and financial management effectiveness

Benefits

  • Sabbatical Program
  • Care Days
  • Sick Days
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