VP, FP&A for Sales and Distribution

Northwestern Mutual • Wauwatosa, WI

5d

About The Position

The VP of FP&A - Sales & Distribution is responsible for driving financial insight, planning, and decision support across the product, sales, field, and strategy organizations. This role partners closely with the Chief Field Officer, Chief Product Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and their leadership teams to ensure disciplined financial management, optimized resource allocation, and alignment between financial outcomes and the company's long-term strategic objectives and mutual mission. The ideal candidate is a seasoned finance leader with deep experience supporting multi-functional business areas such as sales, operations, underwriting, claims, marketing, and service organizations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required . Finance, Actuarial Science, Accounting preferred.
• Expert financial planning and analysis skills.
• Must have extensive and in-depth knowledge of company operations and culture.
• 12+ years or more of relevant work experience in positions with increasing leadership responsibilities.
• Superior organizational agility, communication, and negotiation skills to maintain strong relationships with all levels of leadership.
• Superior analytical, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Ability to challenge effectively while building strong relationships at all levels in the company.
• Ability to lead people, build teams and improve work processes.
• Advanced Excel and Expense Management Systems.
• E xcellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills .
• Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on delivering results.
• Proficiency in financial modeling and analysis tools.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of accountability.
• Adaptable and resilient in the face of change.
• Innovative mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

• A CPA or MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Deliver analysis on key drivers of field productivity, sales performance, expense allocations, and unit costs.
• Led cross-function efforts for multi-year sales and field growth plans.
• Work closely with leadership to assess field performance and distribution economics.
• Partner with marketing to evaluate marketing spend efficiency, ROI, campaign performance, and brand investment strategy.
• Support operational and service areas (Underwriting, Claims, Service, and Operations) with cost analysis, staffing plans, productivity measures, and process optimization insights.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, concise narratives for executive and board-level presentations.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team focused on transformation and business planning.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability.
• Provide leadership and guidance to project teams to ensure timely and successful completion of initiatives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees