Operating Expense Management Senior Director - Eden Prairie, MN

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 159,000 - 273,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Optum, Eden Prairie, MN, seeks an Senior Director for Operating Expense Management to partner with senior leaders on financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization. You will oversee finance staff and drive end-to-end financial processes, reporting, and decision-support across technology and enterprise functions.

You will lead a team, implement AI-enabled analytics, and champion cross-functional collaboration to align financial plans with business goals while fostering a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial planning, accounting, internal controls, financial analysis.
• 4+ years of progressive leadership experience, with a proven track record of leading high-impact teams.
• Proven deep understanding of accounting principles, financial systems (Essbase, PeopleSoft).
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide transformation including automation, analytics, and forecasting tools.

Responsibilities

• Finance Lead of Optum Technology: oversee financials, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and P&L IOI management.
• Develop financial solutions and robust modeling for complex issues.
• Drive process improvements and cross-functional collaboration for cost optimization.
• Lead AI-driven analysis and reporting to shift focus from data collection to strategic support.
• Mentor and develop a team of managers and analysts; set direction and guide problem-solving.

Skills

Financial planning

Leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

Automation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field

Tools

Essbase

PeopleSoft

Job description

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Job Description - Operating Expense Management Senior Director - Eden Prairie, MN (2388032)

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Reporting to and partnering with the Optum Operating Expense Management Senior Vice President, the Optum Operating Expense Management Senior Director will play a key role as the financial advisor and strategic business partner driving financial administration, budgeting/planning/forecasting, analysis/modeling, involvement in capital planning, etc. as well as helping with business strategy and decision support. The role will be an advisor to both senior operating and finance leadership responsible for evaluating and assisting with financial plans. The role will also be responsible for overseeing finance staff.

Primary Responsibilities:

Finance Lead of Optum Technology

• Manage team that is accountable for Optum Technology financials, responsible for financial oversight, accuracy, business support, forecasting and reporting, and overall P&L IOI management
• Demonstrated ability to manage end-to-end ownership of financials (budgeting, forecasting, etc.) and monthly reporting processes
• Develop solutions to complex financial issues. Provide business recommendations and solutions based in sound financial principles and robust financial modeling
• Possess solid financial skills: Applying financial rigor leveraging key metrics, activity-based costing, cost allocations
• Demonstrated effectiveness working across a highly matrixed organization influencing business leaders and driving decision-making and action utilizing financial skills and business acumen
• Understand and synthesize complex strategic business and financial information from an end-to-end perspective and translate into succinct, easy to understand and actionable information on the impacts to the overall financial picture of the Optum business
• Proven ability to implement new financial processes in an ever-changing environment, understanding how technology is advancing and financial implications of those advancements
• Develops solid relationships across the business by proactively meeting with key leaders within Technology, Finance, Accounting, and local business teams
• Perform ad-hoc financial and operational analyses to support cost optimization and strategic decision-making
  

Planning Process Enhancement & Optimization

• Drive system and process improvement initiatives to enhance financial and operational efficiency
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement technology and process upgrades
• Establish policies, procedures, and internal controls for consistent financial reporting
  

Foster AI Advancement

• Lead the advancement of AI-driven analysis and reporting, transition more team time to strategic business support and away from data collection
• Self-starter in AI and technology advancement
  
• Foster a high-performance culture that emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Lead and guide larger, cross-divisional teams, even those outside of your direct span of control, to ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives
• Implement strategies to enhance team performance and drive innovation across various departments
• Mentor and develop a team of managers and financial Analysts and help them to create solutions to problems. Set team direction, resolve problems, and provide guidance to team members

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in financial planning, accounting, internal controls, financial analysis
• 4+ years of progressive leadership experience, with a proven track record of leading high-impact teams, driving enterprise-level financial strategy, and influencing cross-functional decision-making in a complex organizational environment
• Proven deep understanding of accounting principles, financial systems (e.g., Essbase, Peoplesoft)
• Proven solid analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated ability to identify and solve complex business problems and solid analytical skills with ability to drive transformational change
• Experience leading enterprise-wide transformation and change including automation, advanced analytics, and tools to enhance forecasting and decision-making
• Demonstrated experience setting vision and delivering on an Operating Cost Management Model
• Demonstrated exceptional business and financial insight. Capable of foreseeing and recognizing planning, forecasting, and operational challenges; assessing their impact and devising and executing effective action plans

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $159,300 - $273,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation for any part of the application process, please call 1-866-566-8715 to be connected to Recruitment Services. Recruitment Services hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

UnitedHealth Group is a registered service mark of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The UnitedHealth Group name with the dimensional logo, as well as the dimensional logo alone, are both service marks for the UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.