Director, Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis

Delta-Dental; Sherwood (AR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Delta-Dental seeks a Director of Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis to lead accounting, FP&A, underwriting, and BI functions in support of strategic decisions. You will guide budgeting, forecasting, rate setting, tax and regulatory reporting, and provide leadership to a cross-functional team.

You will partner with executives to drive data-driven insights, ensure GAAP compliance, and influence company performance across all lines of business in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• CPA or CMA certification required.
• Advanced knowledge of GAAP and statutory accounting principles; strong business acumen and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Directs accounting functions including payroll, GL, and financial reporting.
• Leads FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, and rate-setting activities.
• Directs underwriting and BI efforts to deliver data-driven insights.
• Prepares monthly financial reporting to senior management and the board of directors.
• Oversees audits and regulatory filings.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Strong communication

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Education

CPA or CMA

Tools

Microsoft Excel

BI reporting tools

Job description

Director, Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis

Directs the accounting, payroll, financial planning and analysis, underwriting, and business intelligence functions to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and data-driven decision support. Leads complex financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and rate-setting activities, delivering insights and recommendations to company leaders and executives to inform key strategic and operating decisions. Directly manages staff responsible for accounting, payroll, FP&A, underwriting, and business intelligence, ensuring accountability for the achievement of departmental goals and objectives.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Creates, monitors, and coordinates all accounting functions: accounts payable, payroll, general ledger, internal and external financial reporting, claims payments and recoupment, cash flow analysis, unclaimed property, budgeting/forecasting, and regulatory reporting required by regulatory agencies, external auditors, and organization management.
• Directs underwriting activities to ensure accurate rate recommendations for new and renewal groups, based on approved rating models and departmental guidelines.
• Directs business intelligence activities, including the collection, analysis, and presentation of business and financial analysis projects, and works with other departments to determine data requirements and deliver creative, data-driven visualizations and solutions supporting strategic decision-making, reporting, and marketing.
• Prepares, updates, and continuously improves the company's budget and forecasts, including the relationship between granular business drivers and financial statements. Develops and maintains budgeting, forecasting, operational planning, and modeling tools.
• Oversees and coordinates tax and regulatory reporting filings, including state tax returns, 990s, premium and franchise filings, W-2s, and 1099s, as well as quarterly and annual statutory statements and closing reports.
• Prepares and presents monthly financial reporting to senior management and the board of directors. Reviews reconciliation work papers and budget variance analyses for accuracy and completeness.
• Oversees rate development and risk evaluation processes, ensuring rating models, pricing methodologies, and underwriting policies are applied consistently and comply with departmental standards.
• Leads complex quantitative analyses to answer key strategic and operational business questions, and develops a deep understanding of business drivers to inform forecasting across all lines of business.
• Establishes policies, procedures, and controls for the effective and efficient utilization of financial resources, and coordinates cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Interviews, hires, evaluates, and develops staff performing accounting, payroll, FP&A, underwriting, and business intelligence work, ensuring accountability for individual and team performance.
• Coordinates and directly supports annual and interim audits and regulatory financial examinations, serving as a key point of contact for external auditors regarding audits and financial statements.
• Participates in meetings with senior management on product development, pricing methodology changes, budget performance, and reporting status of various products or lines of business.
• Develops conclusions and recommendations, and packages analysis, models, and simulations into clear, audience-appropriate formats using a variety of communication, presentation, and visualization tools and techniques.
• Identifies and leads process improvement opportunities across accounting, FP&A, underwriting, and BI workstreams.
• Performs other related duties as necessary to fulfill the responsibilities described above.
• Champions organizational values by modeling the company's mission and culture in daily decisions and interactions, and by holding self and others to those standards consistently.
• Champions operational excellence by continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, and quality across accounting, FP&A, underwriting, and business intelligence functions.
• Makes sound decisions by gathering relevant information, weighing risks and trade-offs, and exercising sound judgment in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Holds people accountable by setting clear expectations, providing timely and constructive feedback, and ensuring staff are responsible for their commitments and results.
• Develops people by coaching, mentoring, and creating opportunities for staff to build skills, grow professionally, and advance within the organization.
• Communicates with excellence by delivering clear, accurate, and timely information to staff, peers, and executive leadership, and by adapting communication style to the audience and situation.

Minimum Qualifications

CPA or CMA required. Requires advanced knowledge of GAAP and statutory accounting principles; strong business acumen and the ability to act as an effective liaison between finance and executive management; superior analytical and problem-solving skills with a solutions-oriented approach; specialized proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business intelligence reporting applications; and the ability to analyze and interpret technical laws, regulations, and rulings. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, attention to detail and accuracy, critical thinking, quantitative analysis skills, and the ability to resolve complex problems and exercise independent judgment.

Employees are expected to adhere to department and corporate policies and procedures, serve internal and external customers, and support the goals of other departments and the company.