Vice President, Cost Optimization & Performance Management (COPM)

Prudential Financial • Newark, NJ

1d

About The Position

At Prudential, we believe talent is key to achieving our vision. When you join Prudential, you’ll unlock a motivating and impactful career – all while growing your skills and advancing your profession at one of the world’s leading financial services institutions. The Vice President, Cost Optimization and Performance Management (COPM) is a senior finance leadership role within Group Insurance Finance, responsible for setting the strategic direction and execution of enterprise cost management, performance analytics, and expense governance across the GI business. This role partners closely with Group Insurance leadership, Corporate Finance, and functional leaders to ensure expense discipline, transparency, and alignment with strategic growth priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance, with significant leadership experience in expense management, FP&A, controllership, or performance management.
• Deep understanding of financial reporting, forecasting, expense governance, and management judgment frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and influence senior executive stakeholders.
• Strong people leadership experience, with a track record of developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Executive presence with the ability to translate complex financial analyses into clear, decision-ready insights.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience leveraging data, models, and systems to drive business outcomes.
• Ability to exercise sound financial judgment within robust governance and control environments.

Nice To Haves

• CPA, CMA, or MBA designation.
• Experience leading large-scale cost transformation or finance modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience within insurance or financial services organizations.

Responsibilities

• Set and lead Group Insurance’s cost optimization and performance management strategy, including expense targets, governance frameworks, and transformation initiatives.
• Provide executive-level insight into expense drivers, productivity metrics, and operating leverage to inform strategic and financial decision-making.
• Oversee quarterly and annual expense reporting, analysis, and forecasting, including multi-year outlooks aligned to Group Insurance strategy.
• Partner with Controllers, FP&A, and Business Finance teams to ensure accurate expense recognition, accruals, and transparency across functions.
• Lead preparation and delivery of senior management materials, including Business Results Reviews and strategic cost deep dives.
• Support GI and enterprise strategic initiatives, including growth investments, transformation programs, and M&A-related cost assessments.
• Advance automation, data, and analytics capabilities to improve expense reporting efficiency, insight, and controls.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of finance professionals across onshore and offshore locations.

Benefits

• Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%).
• Company-funded pension plan.
• Wellness Programs including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs.
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Education Benefit to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree and many accredited certificate programs.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period), after one year of service.
• Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

What This Job Offers

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