SVP, Chief Operating Officer Global Finance

Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated•Chesterfield, MO

2d•$323,600 - $479,733•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer, Global Finance is the senior executive leader responsible for the operational excellence and holistic transformation of the Finance function across all global markets. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), this role serves as the operational backbone of Global Finance — translating financial strategy into scalable, technology-enabled operating models that are fit for the dynamic environment of RGA. This position will own and drive the Finance modernization agenda, overseeing the design and execution of large-scale transformation initiatives spanning process re-engineering, technology and systems implementation, building new capabilities, data and analytics capabilities, and organizational design. The COO, Global Finance will be a key partner to the CFO, business unit finance leaders, and enterprise shared services functions, ensuring that Finance operates as a high-performance, insights-driven organization capable of meeting the demands of global regulators, capital markets, and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related discipline required
15+ Years of progressive Finance leadership experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior executive Finance role (VP, SVP, or C-suite equivalent) required
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale Finance transformation programs in a global, complex, matrixed organization required
Proven track record of leading ERP and Finance technology implementations (SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, OneStream, or equivalent) at enterprise scale required
Experience managing global Finance shared services or GBS models across multiple geographies required
Deep knowledge of IFRS 17, US GAAP (LDTI), SOX, and international regulatory reporting requirements required
Demonstrated experience managing and influencing executive-level stakeholders, including Boards, Audit Committees, and external regulators required
Visionary leadership: ability to articulate a compelling future-state for Finance and rally large, diverse teams behind the transformation agenda. required
Change leadership: proven ability to lead organizations through significant ambiguity, disruption, and multi-dimensional change. required
Strategic acumen: demonstrates strong commercial judgment and the ability to connect Finance strategy to enterprise value creation. required
Executive presence and influence: outstanding communication and relationship-building skills at the Board, C-suite, and global team levels. required
Digital fluency: deep understanding of modern Finance technology, data platforms, AI/ML applications, and automation tools. required
Cultural intelligence: ability to lead effectively across geographies, cultures, and organizational contexts in a global environment. required

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CFA, or equivalent advanced qualification preferred
Prior experience in life insurance, reinsurance, or financial services preferred
Actuarial credentials (FSA, ACAS) or insurance-specific finance certifications preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior operational leader of the Global Finance function, accountable for day-to-day operational performance, resource deployment, and cross-functional finance governance.
Establish and maintain a robust operating model that enables consistent, high-quality financial reporting, controls, and service delivery across all geographies and business units.
Define and enforce the Global Finance Operating Model, including roles, responsibilities, service levels, and accountability frameworks.
Drive standardization and automation of finance processes across all regions.
Oversee the Finance calendar (close cycles, regulatory submissions, planning cycles), ensuring on-time, accurate delivery.
Manage Finance function headcount planning, resource allocation, and workforce strategy in partnership with HR.
Lead the comprehensive modernization of the Finance function, driving the evolution from traditional operations to a strategic data-driven business partner.
Oversee the implementation of AI, automation, and technology-based solutions to shift Finance teams from information assembly to strategic influence and impact.
Design and execute multi-year transformation roadmaps that deliver measurable efficiency gains, enhanced analytics capabilities, and improved decision support across the enterprise.
Develop and own the Global Finance Transformation Roadmap, aligning it to enterprise strategy, CFO priorities, and board-level commitments.
Drive large-scale, cross-functional change initiatives using structured program management disciplines (e.g., Agile, Stage-Gate, or hybrid frameworks).
Establish transformation governance structures including Steering Committees, Program Management Offices (PMOs), and executive reporting cadences.
Build change management capabilities within Finance to ensure adoption, sustainability, and value realization from transformation investments.
Benchmark Finance capabilities against Fortune 200 peers and best-in-class reinsurance/insurance organizations to identify gaps and opportunities.
Drive the digital transformation and modernization of Finance technology infrastructure, replacing legacy systems with modern autonomous platforms.
Drive the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, robotic process automation (RPA), consolidation systems, planning tools, regulatory reporting platforms, and emerging AI/ML-powered financial analytics.
Own the Finance technology strategy, including decision-making for all major Finance technology investments.
Own the Finance Technology strategy, partnering with Global Technology, Procurement, and vendors to deliver transformative capabilities.
Lead ERP and adjacent system implementations, upgrades, and migrations.
Champion the adoption of AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation (RPA) within Finance to enhance productivity, accuracy, and insights globally.
Govern Finance technology investments through disciplined business case development, vendor selection, and benefits realization tracking.
Ensure all Finance systems meet cybersecurity, data privacy, and regulatory requirements across global jurisdictions.
Design and implement standardized, scalable finance processes across global operations spanning multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments.
Eliminate inefficiencies, reduce cycle times, and enhance accuracy in financial close, reporting, consolidation, and analysis processes.
Establish and embed a culture of continuous improvement within Global Finance.
Lead the systematic identification, prioritization, and elimination of process inefficiencies through Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies, with a relentless focus on quality, speed, and cost efficiency.
Map and rationalize end-to-end Finance processes to identify automation and simplification opportunities.
Establish Finance process ownership and governance, maintaining a global process repository and performance standards.
Define and track Finance efficiency metrics (e.g., cost per transaction, close cycle time, error rates) and drive year-over-year improvement.
Leverage external benchmarking to set aspirational targets and close performance gaps.
Lead the development and execution of the Global Finance data strategy, establishing Finance as a data insights-driven function capable of delivering real-time insights, predictive analytics, and decision-support capabilities to finance leadership, the Executive Committee, and the Board.
Define Finance data architecture, including data governance frameworks, master data management standards, and data quality controls.
Build, modernize and refine Finance-specific data products, dashboards, and reporting capabilities on modern platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Power BI, Tableau).
Drive the shift from backward-looking reporting to forward-looking, scenario-based financial intelligence and decision analytics.
Establish Finance data literacy programs to upskill the Finance team on data tools, interpretation, and application.
Ensure the Global Finance function operates within the bounds of all applicable regulatory frameworks, internal control standards, and risk management requirements across all jurisdictions in which the Company operates.
Oversee the Finance internal control environment, including SOX 302/404 compliance, risk and control self-assessments (RCSAs), and remediation tracking.
Partner with Internal Audit, Legal, and Risk to ensure Finance risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated within the enterprise risk framework.
Embed risk management and compliance into daily workflows and processes across all Finance operations.
Lead readiness for new regulatory requirements (e.g., IFRS 17/9 implementation, LDTI under US GAAP, BEPS Pillar Two) from an operational and systems perspective.
Build resilient control environments that protect the organization while enabling operational agility.
Maintain relationships with external auditors, rating agencies, and regulatory bodies as a senior Finance representative.
Design, implement, and continuously optimize the Global Finance operating model, including the strategic deployment of shared services, centers of excellence (CoEs), and global business services (GBS) capabilities.
Ensure Finance services are delivered efficiently, consistently, and at scale across all markets.
Define the optimal Finance delivery model (centralized, hybrid, or decentralized), including the right balance of onshore, nearshore, and offshore execution.
Establish and govern Global Finance Shared Services and Centers of Excellence for key domains (e.g., Tax CoE, Actuarial Finance CoE, Financial Reporting CoE).
Drive Finance sourcing strategy decisions, including the assessment, selection, and management of third-party outsourcing and managed service providers.
Define and manage Finance SLAs, OLAs, and customer satisfaction frameworks for internal business unit stakeholders.
Build and sustain a high-performing, digitally-fit Finance organization with capabilities spanning traditional financial expertise and emerging digital skills including data analytics, automation, and AI by leading Finance talent strategy, driving a culture of excellence and innovation, and ensuring the function attracts, develops, and retains world-class finance professionals across all global markets.
Partner with the CFO and HR to develop and execute the Finance Talent Strategy, including workforce planning, succession planning, and critical role identification.
Address critical skills gap by leading Finance upskilling programs, talent acquisition strategies, and organizational design initiatives.
Champion a culture of high performance, intellectual curiosity, execution excellence, and innovation within the Global Finance community.
Oversee Finance organizational design changes, including restructuring, role evolution, and team integration as part of transformation initiatives.
Develop succession plans and retain a strong leadership pipeline, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion across all geographies, to ensure sustainable organizational capability.
Drive the integration of Finance strategy with enterprise business strategy by elevating Finance’s role as a strategic business partner.
Collaborate with the Executive Committee, the CFO, and business unit leaders to ensure Finance capabilities directly enable business growth, capital allocation decisions, and competitive differentiation.
Lead the strategic planning cycle for Global Finance, including the annual Finance Operating Plan, multi-year capability roadmap, and investment prioritization.
Serve as a senior Finance liaison to business units, providing insight-driven support for M&A, market expansion, product strategy, and capital structure decisions.
Drive Finance integration activities for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, ensuring seamless financial reporting and control environments from Day 1.
Represent the Finance function in enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, ensuring Finance considerations are embedded in all major business decisions.
Serve as a principal spokesperson and representative of Global Finance with senior internal and external stakeholders.
Communicate complex financial, operational, and transformation topics with clarity, precision, and executive presence to influence decision-making at the highest organizational levels.
Prepare and present Finance transformation progress reports, operational scorecards, and strategic updates to the CFO, Executive Committee, Audit Committee, and Board of Directors.
Maintain strong working relationships with the CEO, CRO, CTO, Chief Legal Officer, and other C-suite leaders to ensure Finance is aligned with enterprise priorities.
Represent Finance in investor relations activities, rating agency discussions, and external audit interactions as required.
Serve as a cultural ambassador for Global Finance, promoting the function’s value, achievements, and strategic contributions across the organization.