Senior Director Finance and Strategy – E&S/Specialty Programs, Wholesale, and Indemnity

As a team member in the Finance department at Nationwide, the opportunities are endless! You can grow and learn in diverse areas across many disciplines such as Advanced Analytics, Investments, Actuarial, Accounting, Risk Management, Critical Business Advisor, Internal Audit, and so much more. 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.

In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in driving transformational change across the enterprise. As a strategic leader, you will influence key leaders and drive internal alignment to ensure cohesive and effective financial strategies. We are seeking a candidate with a strong background in strategic finance, who can bring their expertise to lead a small, dynamic team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Foster strong partnerships with business leaders to ensure alignment and support for financial initiatives.

• Be accountable for the multi-year long-term strategic financial management framework.

• Provide thought leadership to functional level leaders, guiding them through financial strategies and decisions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience in driving transformational change within a large organization.

• Strong background in Property and Casualty insurance.

• Demonstrated ability to influence and align key leaders across the enterprise.

• Experience leading and developing a small team.

• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

This position will be staffed at the internal grade 8.  This role can be fully remote.

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Job Description Summary

Do you have a big picture point of view as well as a keen eye for details? Our success depends on staying ahead of the curve, making sure our businesses and leaders are on top of financial trends and changes. If you are a highly skilled business professional, who can develop and communicate financial information and forecasts, we want to hear from you!

As a Sr Director, you’ll lead current and multi-year financial management strategies across all Excess & Surplus Specialty (E&SS) Programs & Wholesale businesses and Indemnity. You’ll establish policy/governance, ensure consistent processes and tools, develop financial analysis and reporting to drive better business decisions, and identify process improvements across the planning units. We’ll count on you to development the expense operating budget, conduct forecasting and regular reporting for E&SS functions including sales, claims, product, and underwriting, as well as strong partnership with business leaders. You’ll be accountable for the multi-year long term strategic financial management framework along with providing thought leadership to functional level leaders

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:   

• Develops and leads the financial design, evaluation, and implementation of new Wholesale process and Excess Surplus and Specialty Programs. 

• Provides oversight and manages the financial integration of all Wholesale and Program activity. 

• Partners with multiple business leaders to coordinate use of resources, staffing, and consult on capital management across E&SS business planning units. 

• Leads the strategy supporting the reserves, risk and capital management, and productivity for Nationwide Indemnity, a run-off claims organization. 

• Participates in the Indemnity Loss Reserve Working Group, the small reserve working group subset. Oversees the completion of the A&O reserve study. 

• Oversees and is responsible for all finance activities regarding planning and forecasting.  Conducts expense oversight/management, including oversight on Technology build related spend. Oversees preparation and review of Underwriting leadership cell reviews. 

• Builds, maintains, and influences relationships involving all enterprise business and staff offices, vendor systems, customer training, insurers, reinsurers, and brokers.  

• Communicates and presents financial results and projections, risk, and opportunity analysis to Executive Leadership team, OCFO and business unit management teams. Assists in the planning, development, and creation of Senior Leadership business briefings and presentations for internal and external audiences. 

• Actively participates in and influences the product development processes and supports operational teams in the business decision process. Develops and validates all assumptions including expenses and customer behavior. 

• Develops and cultivates an engaging environment for associates that supports both personal and professional development and growth. Works across the organization on training, talent acquisition and development. 

• Oversees associate management including performance management, salary planning, training and development, workflow, and organizational planning, hiring and placement, and disciplinary actions. 

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.   

 

Reporting Relationships: Reports to VP, CFO – E&S Specialty & Commercial Lines; Manages a team of four direct reports.   

 

Typical Skills and Experiences:   

 

Education: Undergraduate studies in Finance or Accounting. MBA Preferred. 

License/Certification/Designation: FCAS, ACAS, CPA or similar certifications preferred. Progress toward or completion of CPCU, CLU, or similar designations a plus. 

 

Experience: Typically, ten or more years of relevant experience related to accounting, finance, insurance, or administrative business function. 

 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Proven extensive knowledge of property and casualty business operations, financial systems, insurance accounting, and financial reporting (GAAP and Statutory). Demonstrated strong financial and technical insurance skills, excellent communication abilities, and demonstrated critical and creative thinking. Proven leadership, including the ability to lead with courage and emotional intelligence, is essential. Must be adept at talent development, building business cases, and providing executive-level recommendations. 

 

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 Resource Business Partner. 

 

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values. 

 

Job Conditions:   

 

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible) 

 

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. 

  

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.   

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 01/01/2025. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: 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, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range.

The national salary range for Sr Director, Finance - E&S/Specialty Programs & Wholesale and Indemnity : $127,000.00-$250,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Sr Director, Finance - E&S/Specialty Programs & Wholesale and Indemnity : $134,000.00 - $224,000.00

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