Principal Financial Analyst

Protective Life; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Pension plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Protective Life is seeking a Principal, Financial Reporting to lead FP&A and strategic finance initiatives within the Asset Protection Division. The role partners with executive leadership to deliver financial insights, forecast results, and drive profitable growth.

The ideal candidate combines strong FP&A expertise with business acumen and executive presence, translating complex data into actionable recommendations and supporting cross-functional decision-making across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in finance-related roles.
• Experience supporting executive leadership with financial analyses.
• Ability to build financial models, forecasts and performance reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain financial models for earnings, premiums, claims, expenses, and cash flow.
• Lead forecasting, budgeting, long-range planning, and scenario analyses.
• Analyze performance and provide actionable profitability recommendations.
• Evaluate profitability across products, channels, dealers, and segments.
• Develop and monitor KPIs to support strategic objectives.
• Partner with leaders on growth opportunities and capital allocation.
• Support business cases, valuations, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level presentations and financial reporting packages.
• Translate complex data into concise executive insights.
• Drive FP&A process improvements and automation initiatives.
• Collaborate with Accounting, Actuarial, Product, and Operations teams.

Skills

Financial modeling

Forecasting

KPIs development

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Power BI

SQL

Python

Anaplan

Ownership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics

CPA, MBA, CFA or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Python

TM1

Hyperion

Anaplan

Job description

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it.

We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.

Protective is seeking a Principal, Financial Reporting to serve as a strategic finance leader and trusted advisor supporting the Asset Protection Division (APD). This highly visible role will partner with executive leadership and cross-functional business teams to deliver financial insights, forecasting, profitability analysis, and strategic decision support that drives business performance and profitable growth. The ideal candidate combines strong FP&A expertise with business acumen, executive presence, and the ability to translate complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations. This role reports directly to the VP of Finance and will play a key role in supporting business strategy, financial planning, and operational decision-making across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain financial models supporting earnings, premiums, claims, expenses, and cash flow projections
• Lead forecasting, budgeting, long-range planning, and scenario analyses to evaluate business risks and opportunities
• Analyze business performance, identify emerging trends, and provide actionable recommendations to improve profitability and operational results
• Evaluate profitability across products, distribution channels, dealers, reinsurance structures, and business segments
• Develop and monitor financial and operational KPIs that support business performance and strategic objectives
• Partner with business leaders to assess growth opportunities, pricing initiatives, capital allocation decisions, and strategic investments
• Support business cases, valuation analyses, and other strategic initiatives that influence executive decision-making
• Prepare executive-level presentations, financial reporting packages, quarterly business reviews, and materials for senior leadership
• Translate complex financial and operational data into concise insights for executive and non-financial audiences
• Lead process improvement, reporting enhancement, and automation initiatives across FP&A and finance functions
• Partner with Accounting, Actuarial, Product, Operations, Claims, and Distribution leaders to support enterprise objectives
• Support audit, compliance, governance, and risk management activities while ensuring the integrity of financial models and reporting processes

Core Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Abilities):

• Advanced financial modeling, forecasting, and business performance analysis capabilities
• Strong understanding of financial statements, profitability analysis, and strategic finance concepts
• Experience developing KPIs and leveraging data to drive business decisions
• Ability to analyze complex business issues and translate findings into practical recommendations
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities
• Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and drive results in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with Power BI, SQL, Python, TM1, Hyperion, Anaplan, or similar analytical tools preferred
• High level of ownership, accountability, and attention to detail

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in finance, FP&A, accounting, analytics, business intelligence, or related financial disciplines
• Demonstrated experience supporting executive leadership and preparing executive-level financial analyses and presentations
• Experience building financial models, forecasts, and performance reporting that support business decision-making
• Strong background in budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and strategic planning
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and drive cross-functional initiatives
• Experience interacting with and influencing senior leadership

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA, MBA, CFA, or other advanced financial credential
• 10+ years of progressive finance, FP&A, accounting, or analytics experience
• Insurance, financial services, automotive finance, reinsurance, warranty, or service contract industry experience
• Public accounting experience, particularly as part of a broader career progression into corporate finance or FP&A
• Well-rounded FP&A experience supporting strategic planning, profitability analysis, forecasting, and executive decision-making
• Experience leading finance transformation, reporting automation, or process improvement initiatives
• Advanced experience with business intelligence and financial planning tools

The internal title for this role is Principal, Financial Analysis.

Employee Benefits:

We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health. Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.

Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability:

If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.

Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation. General employment questions should not be sent through this process.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.

Protective’s targeted salary range for this position is $125,000 to $160,000. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors, including but not limited to, job location, skills, and experience. The range listed is just one component of Protective’s total compensation package for employees. This position also offers additional incentive opportunities through an annual incentive based on individual and Company performance.