Accounting Consulting Director - Financial Control

01460 Continental Casualty Company; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

CNA is seeking an Accounting Consulting Director to join the Financial Control team. The role leads complex financial reporting risks and internal controls, partnering with senior leadership and auditors to promote a strong control environment.

The ideal candidate is experienced in SOX and GAAP with executive communication skills, capable of directing controls optimization across the organization.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of SOX requirements and internal control frameworks.
• Experience with financial reporting risk and audit methodologies.
• Ability to assess complex financial reporting and control issues with sound judgment.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on financial reporting risk and control requirements.
• Oversee assessment of complex control gaps, deficiencies, and emerging risks with remediation.
• Lead development and implementation of sustainable controls in evolving business environments.
• Coordinate with CNA’s external auditors and drive continuous improvement of financial controls.

Skills

SOX compliance

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Auditing

Executive communication

Leadership

GAAP knowledge

Tools

Optro

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION:

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. CNA is seeking an Accounting Consulting Director to join the Financial Control team. The Financial Control team within the Corporate Finance Department is comprised of risk management experts who collaborate with business leaders to establish and manage internal controls over financial reporting while educating the company on financial risk. The team consults, advises, and provides governance over the Company's financial control environment. This individual contributor role will serve as a financial control leader and strategic advisor across the organization, providing direction and oversight over complex financial reporting risks, internal control matters, and significant business initiatives. This role will partner with senior leadership, process and control owners, and internal and external audit stakeholders to promote a strong and sustainable internal control environment. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced, self-directed thought leader with deep expertise in SOX, internal controls, financial reporting risk, and audit. This individual will demonstrate strong professional judgment and the ability to evaluate complex issues, effectively challenge business partners, influence senior stakeholders, and drive resolution of significant control matters. The role requires executive-level communication, strong business acumen, and the ability to translate complex financial and operational risks into clear, practical actions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership and business partners on financial reporting risk, internal control requirements, control design, and risk mitigation.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the assessment of complex control gaps, deficiencies, and emerging risks, including root cause, potential financial reporting impact, severity, and appropriate remediation.
• Lead the development and implementation of practical, sustainable controls that keep pace with business changes, system implementations, and evolving risk.
• Lead coordination with CNA’s external auditors.
• Drive continuous improvement of the Financial Control process, including opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, and enhance controls and related processes.
• Monitor changes in the business, regulatory environment, accounting requirements, and technology landscape to identify emerging financial reporting risks and determine appropriate control responses.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to Financial Control team members and promote a culture of accountability, professional judgment, collaboration, and continuous development.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge and experience with SOX requirements, internal control frameworks, financial reporting risk, and audit methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to assess complex financial reporting and control issues and exercise sound professional judgment regarding risk, impact, and appropriate resolution.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, Statutory accounting, and complex accounting and financial reporting concepts; insurance industry experience preferred.
• Proven ability to influence, advise, and constructively challenge senior business leaders and other stakeholders.
• Executive-level written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex risk and control matters.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives across multiple functions and effectively manage competing priorities.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related software systems; experience in Optro preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent, provide technical leadership, and foster a strong culture of learning and accountability.

#LI-MR1 #LI-Hybrid

In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, the national base pay range for this job level is $97,000 to $189,000 annually. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location.

CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals. For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

CNA utilizes AI-enabled technology during the recruiting process. For more information, please visit our careers page. CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]

At CNA, we are focused on success, individually and collectively. We pride ourselves on promoting a culture that challenges and engages people. We strive to connect people, departments and business areas, to function as a team, and to serve our customers and communities with professionalism and respect. Our dedication to employee engagement, continuous learning and the open exchange of ideas is the cornerstone of our business. These ideals, combined with our focus on the customer, enable us to explore new market opportunities and build on our success. Our values, culture and financial strength are what differentiates us from other employers and make CNA the place you want to work. At CNA, we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion – one that attracts talent from all walks of life, fosters respect and collaboration, and enables all of our colleagues to do their best work. At CNA, we have a long standing commitment to the diverse communities in which we live and work. We actively make a difference for the greater good through partnerships, sustainability, initiatives, and working together for a better tomorrow. Corporate Social Responsibility is not one person, or one department, it's the entire enterprise coming together to make the world a better place.