Vice President Finance, Controller

Delta Dental • Oakland, CA

63d

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Vice President Finance, Controller will play a pivotal leadership role in overseeing corporate accounting operations and activities. Responsibilities include ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, managing efficient financial close processes, and facilitating effective cross-functional communication. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership during periods of business transformation, uphold operational excellence, deliver timely and accurate financial analysis, and promote financial stewardship and accountability across the organization.

Requirements

• 16+ years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; 10+ years of experience in a leadership capacity.
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) designation required.
• Proven experience in a Controller role demonstrating a deep understanding of accounting processes, technical accounting, and financial management.
• Demonstrates strong executive presence, effectively earning respect and trust among executive management, colleagues, customers, team members, board of directors, and external stakeholders, with well-developed influencing and interpersonal skills that enable quick relationship building and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Possesses in-depth technical expertise in GAAP, a solid understanding of SAP, and comprehensive knowledge of controllership practices.
• Ability to identify and assess risks with a history of implementing appropriate, effective, and cost-effective mitigation strategies to reduce business exposure to an acceptable level.
• Demonstrates effectiveness in navigating uncertainty and adapting to evolving environments. Excels at establishing direction, formulating actionable plans amid ambiguity, embracing change and continuous learning, and questioning established practices when necessary.
• Self-motivated person who is adept at structuring ways to break down complex business and financial problems into digestible components and who can work well under pressure and tight deadlines.
• A problem solver and data-driven decision-maker.
• Demonstrates a proven history of integrity and adherence to the highest ethical standards, as evidenced by their approach to business, commitment to corporate and regulatory governance, and an impeccable reputation for honesty aligned with professional obligations.
• Highly self-aware and mindful of their impact on the team and work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in accounting within the insurance or healthcare sectors, including knowledge of industry-specific financial and accounting practices (SAP), regulatory and compliance standards, and operational processes, is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the leadership, quality, and execution of all aspects of corporate accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll.
• Direct the monthly, quarterly, and annual closing processes, along with financial reporting, compliance, and year-end audits involving external auditors. Ensure all activities are accurate, timely, and adhere to GAAP and Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP), while maintaining standardized, high-quality reporting to deliver clear insights and facilitate effective decision-making.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and filing of tax returns in collaboration with external tax consultants.
• Responsible for evaluating and updating Delta Dental's processes using established industry standards to improve departmental operations. Focus includes enhancing operational efficiency and scalability through investments in technology, leading transformation initiatives, and implementing process changes to support business partners and internal teams.
• Provide strategic leadership by developing effective solutions to address present challenges and proactively anticipate future needs using insights from emerging technologies, finance transformation trends, and data analytics.
• Assess and analyze business initiatives and strategic objectives with a comprehensive understanding of their implications for accounting and financial reporting, influencing financial strategy across the Enterprise.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships leveraging excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage stakeholders across the organization.
• Provide leadership, guidance, support, and inspiration to the accounting team, fostering collaboration across the broader finance function to achieve Delta Dental's strategic and financial objectives. Ensures delivery of consistent, reliable, and accurate results within a positive, high-performance, innovative, and growth-focused environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees