Technical Director, Accounting - Reinsurance Speciality Finance

Nationwide Mutual Insurance•Columbus, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a team member in Finance at Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, the opportunities are endless! Let Nationwide help create your career journey! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care. This is a unique and high-impact opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation within our Property & Casualty Controllership team. The role is deeply embedded in our new Specialty Finance business—an area where Nationwide is breaking new ground by introducing products we've never written before. As the accounting and Controllership lead for Specialty Finance reinsurance, you will serve as the end‑to‑end expert for technical accounting, reporting, and control environment design. You will apply and interpret GAAP and statutory guidance across specialized, complex reinsurance and financing structures, providing strategic insights and value‑added advisory support that directly influence business decision‑making. In addition, you will oversee the operational accounting for these structures, including designing and scaling processes that are currently highly manual, with significant opportunity to build automated and scalable solutions from the ground up. This role offers exceptional visibility and cross‑functional engagement. You will partner closely with Reinsurance Placement, Specialty Finance, Legal, FRAP, Finance and other enterprise teams, with direct exposure to the P&C Controller. Strong communication skills—both verbal and written—are essential, as you will regularly influence and align diverse stakeholders and senior leaders. Beyond Specialty Finance, you will have opportunities to support key P&C initiatives, including project work, technical accounting research, operational accounting, and broader team engagement efforts.. If you're looking for a role that blends technical expertise, strategic thinking, leadership, and visibility—this is it. You’ll help shape the future of how we support and scale a brand-new business area at Nationwide. This is a hybrid position located in Columbus Ohio and you will be required to come into the office two days per week. This role does not qualify for employer sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT extension program. Do you want to invest in yourself and thrive in an environment of innovation, problem solving, collaboration and learning? If you’re prepared to work in a technology-enabled, digitally-focused organization, where Controllership is a captivating and respected career, we want to hear from you! As a Technical Director, you'll build and maintain product/business unit accounting policies, practices and standards to meet regulatory and management requirements. We'll count on you to direct the recording, consolidation, arrangement, reporting and preservation of all financial data. In addition, you'll have opportunities to provide accounting consultation, assistance and service to leadership and other internal customers.

Requirements

Undergraduate studies in accounting or finance; post-graduate level studies desirable.
Ten years of accounting experience in insurance or financial services industry.
GAAP and/or STAT accounting, tax and systems principles.
Insurance accounting and management principles, practices and procedures.
Insurance regulatory requirements.
Advanced verbal and written communication skills for contact with all levels of associates including business unit leadership, external parties such as public accountants, state examiners, industry professionals and other clients.
Ability to analyze and solve accounting problems, interpret financial documents and data, analyze legal requirements, examine and monitor accounting cycles and flows and review general ledger entries and audit work papers and schedules.
Ability to advise associates in all aspects of assigned accounting record maintenance, financial statement preparation and special projects.

Nice To Haves

Progress toward CPA preferred.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Responsibilities

Directs the accounting, preparation, analysis and required filing of all relative financial statements and related data and exhibits.
Directs the preparation, analysis and filing of financial statements and other reports for internal and external sources.
Reviews, advises, counsels and participates actively concerning new systems developments and other systems related matters to ensure accuracy of all financial data.
Manages special projects/assignments as advised by senior management.
Provides advise, counsel and assistance concerning accounting policies and practices.
Responds to applicable inquiries from State Insurance Departments, internal and external auditors and other regulatory agencies.
Provides financial information to various Nationwide offices to be used in the support of other filing, analysis and reporting requirements.
Directs the preparation of special reports, analyses and financials as requested by management and external agencies.
Represents officer/executive as assigned.
May attend trade association meetings as Company representative.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

medical/dental/vision
life insurance
short and long term disability coverage
paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
company-paid pension plan
business casual attire