Head of Corporate Finance Information

THE OPPORTUNITY

This role is responsible for the architecture and execution of the Corporate Finance information ecosystem, which includes setting the strategy and roadmap for the interconnectivity and usability of financial information across CFO. This role will oversee the teams accountable for the various components of the financial infrastructure, including financial data (e.g., data warehouses, data lakes, and data capabilities), significant financial applications, and the successful transformation, upgrade, and maintenance of the enterprise accounting general ledger on the SAP platform.

The individual will lead and transform the integrity and actionability of the company’s financial information, as well as drive influence across Corporate Finance, Enterprise Technology, and executive leaders across the company.

This role will oversee a team that manages and supports a broad set of significant financial applications and financial data domains including the SAP general ledger, sub-ledgers, planning, reporting and treasury tools.

The team delivers an appropriately defined set of well-maintained, accurate, governed and controlled data sets and data culture through automating processes and identifying industry leading tools to enhance financial data management. This role works closely with Enterprise Technology to ensure alignment to the enterprise technology and data management strategy and framework.

This leader will champion across Corporate Finance to build a common understanding of effective technology and data usage leading to data-informed decisions and actions. The individual must have strong technical understanding of financial data, applications and software development life cycle from planning and analysis to build, test and deployment.

This highly visible role leads meaningful impact with the finance information ecosystem. The successful candidate has the ability to influence strategic finance direction and partner across Corporate Finance and business partners to effectuate positive change on enterprise results and strategic delivery.

The Head of Corporate Finance Information will lead a cross-functional team within the Controllers organization, overseeing the Corporate Finance information ecosystem. Their 30+ member team is responsible for the success of interdependencies among the Corporate Finance information infrastructure.

This role reports directly to the Corporate Controller.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Set Strategy

• Lead functional strategy and implementation of effective management, governance and sustainment of Corporate Finance information ecosystem data domains and applications
• Drive functional strategy for the near-term upgrade and ongoing maintenance of our enterprise accounting ledger
• Drive strategy on how data flow should flow through the financial systems, planning appropriately for changes while prioritizing and implementing enhancements.
• Establish the operating model for applying data governance, data management and financial application support, defining and operationalizing key processes and setting standards with clear roles and accountability

Governance

• Establish effective governance and management process around the general ledger and financial data infrastructure for master and reference data changes
• Enhance governance and internal control procedures to maintain and consistently improve on a strong control environment with key timelines, milestones and deliverables for successful initiative execution

Leading Team

• Champion a culture in Corporate Finance where employees are equipped to effectively participate in the governance of data as part of analyzing and driving decisions and action
• Solve complex business problems and have a high degree of accountability
• Foster and engage a high-performing, inclusive culture by attracting, retaining, and developing diverse talent who feel engaged in the vision and priorities
• Develop the next generation of leaders who strategically partner with internal/external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge transfer and talent mobility
• Drive employee and team engagement, development, and communication

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build a strong engagement model with the Enterprise Technology organization in partnering on our financial technology
• Collaborate with functional owners to create and maintain operational reporting and automated processes/tools
• Partner with and provide oversight of our strategic partners for support of our general ledger, treasury production and financial applications
• Influence and work with senior leadership to identify and prioritize opportunities for enhanced financial information and establish the associated delivery roadmap
• Collaborate and partner with other MassMutual business units and corporate functions to map the accurate, timely and efficient submission of data required to meet financial reporting requirements
• Collaborate closely with other Controllers teams to ensure the accurate recognition of accounting for various transactions and events
• Collaborate with accounting policy and Controllers units on the evaluation of new GAAP and statutory reporting impacts, while assisting on the implementation of new financial reporting processes on the operational aspects of accounting recognition

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with a Master’s degree or equivalent preferred
• 15+ years’ experience in a progressively more impactful leadership role involving financial applications and data governance in the financial services industry
• Direct experience in strategy design and execution management for a general ledger upgrade and financial data infrastructure development
• Excellent knowledge of SAP (or similar enterprise ERP) general ledger and related configuration opportunities for a complex financial institution
• Ability to assess alternative configuration options within the general ledger and financial data infrastructure, given regulatory and business reporting requirements and make comprehensive recommendations for optimal design
• Leadership experience and detail orientation with complex cross-functional projects involving multiple business areas across a diverse value stream
• Demonstrated experience in driving innovation, automation and change leadership
• Effective knowledge and experience with corporate governance best practices, as well as internal control principles and execution
• Strong understanding of US GAAP and insurance statutory accounting and financial reporting regulations
• Knowledge and background with life insurance, annuities, disability income, and investments preferred
• Track record presenting complex matters in a clear concise manner, with the ability to influence positive action among executives, partners and teams
• Ability to effectively identify, communicate and share solutions through both written and verbal communication
• Sound business judgment in an environment of rapid change with the ability to respond to changes in conditions, tight deadlines and high-pressure situations
• Experience working in a transformational setting through driving change to achieve improved outcomes while managing competing priorities
• Demonstrated experience in leading, managing and developing a high impact team that exhibits strong results delivery, diversity in thought and composition, strong business partnerships and talent development
• Experience as a senior leader in a Corporate Finance function