Director-Accounting & Controller

Society Insurance; Wisconsin; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Society Insurance is seeking a Director - Accounting & Controller to oversee statutory and financial reporting, internal controls, and performance analytics. The role leads financial reporting processes, tax reporting, and audits, aligning with governance and strategy.

The candidate will direct accounting operations, ensure SAP/GAAP compliance, and drive process improvements. A CPA and 10 years in accounting/finance leadership in P&C insurance are preferred; hybrid work with in-person meetings

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field; ongoing learning in insurance leadership.
• 10 years progressive accounting/finance experience with leadership in reporting/operations.
• 10 years P&C insurance industry experience.
• 5 years people leadership over accounting/reporting functions.
• CPA designation.
• Experience with SAP and US GAAP; internal controls design and remediation.

Responsibilities

• Directs all accounting operations: financial statements, general ledger, statutory reporting, close processes, tax reporting, audited statements.
• Ensures compliance with SAP and regulatory requirements (NAIC, IRS) and maintains internal controls.
• Oversees cash management, liquidity, banking relationships, and coordination with treasurer.
• Leads audits; liaison with external auditors and regulators.
• Drives process improvements, automation, and system integrations for efficiency and control.

Skills

Coaching & mentoring

Data-driven decision making

Clear communication

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting

CPA designation

MBA in Finance/Accounting desirable

Tools

SAP

Financial reporting software

Data analytics tools

Job description

This position offers flexible remote/hybrid work scheduling. We are targeting candidates who are either within commuting distance of our home office in Fond du Lac, WI for infrequent in-person meetings, or who are open to relocation. Visit us at societyinsurance.com to learn more.

Overview

Protecting our policyholders’ dreams, passions, and livelihoods has a direct impact on the communities we serve. We work towards excellence, conduct ourselves with high integrity, and take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Small Details. Big Difference. Find out how you can make a difference with a career at Society.

Society Insurance is seeking an experienced Director - Accounting & Controller to join our Accounting and Financial Planning team. This role is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of statutory and financial reporting, as well as the design and effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. The Director will oversee compliance with statutory accounting principles and regulatory requirements (NAIC, IRS, and insurance examiners) while aligning controllership activities with organizational strategy and governance expectations. In addition, this position provides leadership and oversight of financial reporting processes, delivering insights that support informed decision-making, strong governance, and continuous improvement.

About the Role

• Directs and oversees all accounting operational functions, including financial statements, general ledger, statutory reporting, financial close processes, tax reporting and audited financial statements.
• Ensures accounting practices comply with statutory accounting principles and requirements of regulatory and governing bodies, including NAIC, IRS, and insurance examiners.
• Oversees controllership and assistant treasurer responsibilities, including cash management, liquidity monitoring, and banking relationships, in coordination with the VP – Finance & Treasurer.
• Designs, implements, and monitors effective internal controls over financial reporting; evaluates control effectiveness and leads remediation of identified risks.
• Develops, implements, and monitors performance metrics that drive business decisions and support achievement of organizational goals.
• Leads finance transformation initiatives, including close optimization, reporting automation, and system integrations to enhance efficiency, accuracy, scalability and control effectiveness.
• Leads and coordinates internal and external audits and serves as a primary liaison with auditors and regulators.
• Oversees expense management, including monitoring, analysis, and control of operating costs, identifying efficiency opportunities, and supporting profitability and expense discipline.
• Oversees income tax provision processes, coordinating with internal teams and external advisors to ensure accurate calculations, proper reporting, and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Drives performance insights and provides actionable financial analysis to support informed business decision-making.
• Drives continuous improvement through process optimization, automation, and system enhancements, ensuring accounting and control requirements are embedded into business processes.
• Partners cross-functionally to ensure financial governance, risk mitigation, and reporting integrity as the organization evolves.
• Responsible for understanding new accounting standards and any new accounting transactions to implement the required changes needed for reporting.
• Ensures employee development by coaching and assisting in the development of career goals and providing opportunities for employees to gain additional knowledge in areas outlined in their development plans.

About You

• You enjoy coaching others by providing clear feedback, guidance, and opportunities to build their skills and reach their potential.
• You take calculated risks and make timely and informed decisions.
• You assign work clearly, ensure accountability, and empower ownership while driving results.
• You use data to make sound decisions that are rational and based on evidence.
• You communicate clearly to build alignment and navigate relationships effectively.
• You take a systematic approach to making workflows more effective, efficient, and agile.
• You create a high-performing team to achieve goals that individuals could not accomplish alone.

What it Will Take

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, with evidence of ongoing, continuous learning in insurance and leadership development.
• 10 years of progressive experience in accounting or finance, including leadership roles with responsibility for financial reporting and accounting operations.
• 10 years of property and casualty insurance industry experience.
• 5 years of people leadership experience, including direct oversight of accounting and financial reporting functions.
• Possess the Certified Public Accounting designation.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating internal controls over financial reporting, including risk assessment, control testing, and remediation of identified deficiencies.
• Demonstrated experience with statutory accounting principles (SAP) and working knowledge of U.S. GAAP.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging financial systems, data analytics, and reporting tools to enhance reporting accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making.
• Strong understanding of income tax accounting, including experience with tax provision and deferred tax calculations and related financial reporting requirements.
• MBA in Finance or Accounting highly desirable.
• Experience within Mutual Holding Company (MHC) structure, including statutory reporting, capital structure, and intercompany considerations highly desirable.
• Experience operating in a multi-state regulatory insurance environment highly desirable.
• Experience leading finance transformation initiatives, including close optimization, automation, or system integrations highly desirable.