Director, Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis

Delta Dental of Arkansas • Sherwood, AR

4d

About The Position

Directs the accounting, payroll, financial planning and analysis, underwriting, and business intelligence functions to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and data-driven decision support. Leads complex financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and rate-setting activities, delivering insights and recommendations to company leaders and executives to inform key strategic and operating decisions. Directly manages staff responsible for accounting, payroll, FP&A, underwriting, and business intelligence, ensuring accountability for the achievement of departmental goals and objectives.

Requirements

• CPA or CMA required.
• Requires advanced knowledge of GAAP and statutory accounting principles.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to act as an effective liaison between finance and executive management.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills with a solutions-oriented approach.
• Specialized proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business intelligence reporting applications.
• Ability to analyze and interpret technical laws, regulations, and rulings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Critical thinking.
• Quantitative analysis skills.
• Ability to resolve complex problems and exercise independent judgment.
• Employees are expected to adhere to department and corporate policies and procedures, serve internal and external customers, and support the goals of other departments and the company.

Responsibilities

• Creates, monitors, and coordinates all accounting functions: accounts payable, payroll, general ledger, internal and external financial reporting, claims payments and recoupment, cash flow analysis, unclaimed property, budgeting/forecasting, and regulatory reporting required by regulatory agencies, external auditors, and organization management.
• Directs underwriting activities to ensure accurate rate recommendations for new and renewal groups, based on approved rating models and departmental guidelines.
• Directs business intelligence activities, including the collection, analysis, and presentation of business and financial analysis projects, and works with other departments to determine data requirements and deliver creative, data-driven visualizations and solutions supporting strategic decision-making, reporting, and marketing.
• Prepares, updates, and continuously improves the company's budget and forecasts, including the relationship between granular business drivers and financial statements. Develops and maintains budgeting, forecasting, operational planning, and modeling tools.
• Oversees and coordinates tax and regulatory reporting filings, including state tax returns, 990s, premium and franchise filings, W-2s, and 1099s, as well as quarterly and annual statutory statements and closing reports.
• Prepares and presents monthly financial reporting to senior management and the board of directors. Reviews reconciliation work papers and budget variance analyses for accuracy and completeness.
• Oversees rate development and risk evaluation processes, ensuring rating models, pricing methodologies, and underwriting policies are applied consistently and comply with departmental standards.
• Leads complex quantitative analyses to answer key strategic and operational business questions, and develops a deep understanding of business drivers to inform forecasting across all lines of business.
• Establishes policies, procedures, and controls for the effective and efficient utilization of financial resources, and coordinates cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Interviews, hires, evaluates, and develops staff performing accounting, payroll, FP&A, underwriting, and business intelligence work, ensuring accountability for individual and team performance.
• Coordinates and directly supports annual and interim audits and regulatory financial examinations, serving as a key point of contact for external auditors regarding audits and financial statements.
• Participates in meetings with senior management on product development, pricing methodology changes, budget performance, and reporting status of various products or lines of business.
• Develops conclusions and recommendations, and packages analysis, models, and simulations into clear, audience-appropriate formats using a variety of communication, presentation, and visualization tools and techniques.
• Identifies and leads process improvement opportunities across accounting, FP&A, underwriting, and BI workstreams.
• Performs other related duties as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities described above.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director