Financial Examinations Bureau Chief

State of Montana•Helena, MT

10h•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Montana State Auditor, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) has an exciting opportunity available for a Financial Examinations Bureau Chief in the Insurance Division. The CSI is a small, family-friendly agency that values unity, effective working relationships, and mutual respect. We challenge our team members to excel as individuals and as supportive leaders of a team, offering education and training, for continued development toward excellence. We protect all Montanans by regulating two of the state’s largest industries - securities and insurance. Our mission is to foster a thriving marketplace through education, common-sense regulation, and equitable enforcement of the law, ensuring swift accountability for fraudsters and justice for victims. CSI is a criminal justice agency. We are seeking a candidate to fill the challenging and mission-critical role of Chief Financial Examiner. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a team of professionals in the financial regulation of insurance companies. This is an onsite position located in Helena, Montana. Accredited by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the CSI Examinations Bureau is primarily responsible for the financial oversight of licensed insurers and captive insurance companies domiciled in Montana. The Examinations Bureau also licenses insurance and insurance-related companies desiring to do business in Montana, ensuring the companies are financially sound. In addition, the Bureau is responsible for the collection and reconciliation of premium taxes and the regulation of medical discount card suppliers. The Chief Financial Examiner serves as the Examinations Bureau Chief for the Examinations Bureau which is charged with the financial regulation of insurance companies, both traditional and captive, domiciled and/or operating in Montana through licensing, financial examination, and financial analysis. This position assumes full responsibility for the department’s function of financial regulation of insurance companies who operate in the State of Montana and provides overall management and supervision of the Examinations Bureau. This role also advises and represents the Commissioner on all matters related to the above responsibilities.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in accounting or business-related relevant field of study.
CPA, AFE or CFE designation.
Five to ten years of related job experience.
Strong ability to lead a team, prioritize and assign tasks, and develop others.
Knowledge of Title 33 of the Montana Code Annotated, NAIC Model Laws, Statutory Accounting Principles, the risk-focused analysis and examination processes, and the formation and regulation of captive insurance companies.
Demonstrate responsiveness, credibility, confidence, tact, cooperation, and sensitivity, as this position deals with confidential and sensitive material that requires effective handling, and the ability to maintain professionalism when challenged by perturbed customers.
Keen attention to detail and the ability to assess the financial position of a company through review of financial statements and other documentation and make decisions or recommendations, accordingly.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential to engage people and develop collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders, to include the industry, NAIC staff, consumer advocacy groups, employees, other agencies, and the general public.
This position will represent the agency at meetings, seminars, and participate in round table discussions specific to Montana statues for insurance regulation.
Ability to build, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, industry professionals, and the public.
Strong organizational skills and effective time management, flexibility, multi-tasking abilities, attention to detail and follow-through.
Reflective approach to department procedures and practices to assess effectiveness, consistency, and efficiency.
Willingness to attend conferences and training events, including NAIC national meetings.
Cover Letter: Describe your knowledge and experience in insurance regulation and/or the insurance industry and how your experience and abilities qualify you for this position.
Resume
CPA, AFE or CFE certificate and/or direct evidence of current license status

Responsibilities

Manage and lead all aspects of the Examinations Bureau including planning, selecting, and implementing methods and procedures to achieve the goals of the bureau.
Ensure that financial solvency monitoring and staffing are conducted in accordance with NAIC accreditation standards and Montana statutes and regulations.
Assign and supervise workload and performance in the Examinations Bureau. Promote staff development and certification.
Support current technology solutions in the Examinations Bureau. Regularly evaluate technology use and needs through evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of current processes and priorities.
Facilitate the collection and reconciliation of premium tax revenue and other funds collected by the Financial Examinations Bureau.
Monitor the bureau’s budget and provide input to the Fiscal Department during budget planning and preparation.
Participate in the legislative and rule adoption processes, to include providing testimony as an expert witness while recommending legislative or rule changes that are necessary or desirable to meet the goals and objectives of the division and bureau.
Assist staff in implementing regulatory decisions made by the Commissioner, CSI Leadership or the CSI Legal Department.
Recruit, hire, and train effective and productive staff as needed to accomplish bureau goals.
Represents the Commissioner at a variety of meetings, which include, but are not limited to meetings of the NAIC, round table discussions specific to Montana statutes for insurance regulation, presenting at workshops or seminars sponsored by insurance companies, producer associations, or consumer groups. Evaluating and identifying where changes in processes or priorities may be needed and ensuring implementation of those processes both internally within the bureau or agency and externally as necessary.
Oversee the annual internal audit of the CSI