Strategic Finance Lead - Agency Investment Program

Full-Time

Boston, MA or Springfield, MA

The Opportunity

Develop and manage the achievement of business objectives for assigned area. Contribute to the development of strategies and business goals and measures. Contribute to the development of financial and resource plans and budget management. Oversee daily operation of department. Implement short and medium-term business strategies. Manage available resources at the single or multi-departmental level. Mentor and/or direct less experienced managers or employees.

The Strategic Finance Lead will work with business partners in Brand, Product & Affiliated Distribution (BP&AD) and across Corporate Finance to provide high quality information and analysis to facilitate assessment and reporting of business performance, identification of options and decision-making.

This role reports to the Head of Agency Accounting & Analytics within Strategic Finance Business Partners, will comprise these critical functions to the success of BP&AD:

• Lead the development of a comprehensive and holistic Loan Investment Program dashboard, strategically aligning loan activity analytics (loans outstanding, forgiven, production metrics) with strategic growth. Create an “ROI” view of the Loan Program with actionable insights. Provide consultation and recommendations to Business Owner (Head of MMFA Distribution)
• In conjunction with business owners, evaluate existing recommendations for control enhancements and automation/ efficiencies to reduce risk and streamline processes. Oversee the Strategic Program & Delivery (SP&D) process for these initiatives where applicable. Develop additional recommendations for control enhancements as business or process needs dictate.
• Develop and maintain a programmatic forecast by program to support management of the loan investment program, and traceability to our balance sheet and income statement
• Serve a ‘second in command’ to the Head of Agency Accounting & Analytics for day to day activities across loan programs, rent and lease commitments and agency accounting, along with strategic project support.

You’ll have an opportunity to contribute to helping our businesses grow and become more profitable. The General Agency Loan program is a key driver of our ability to strategically grow our business. You will develop and maintain strong knowledge of products, markets, competitors and key industry metrics. You will utilize your understanding of the business’ challenges and priorities to help drive decision-making. You will partner across Finance to understand the financials, leveraging data platforms to identify key information that will help to tell the story. You will provide support to CFO customers on performance, opportunities for cost efficiencies, benchmarking comparisons, sales, profitability results and considerations for decision-making. You will contribute to engagement for change, innovation and value creation.

The Team

In this role, you will join our Strategic Finance Team primarily supporting our MassMutual Life and MMFA business, which manufactures and sells protection and annuity products as well as wealth management solutions. The Strategic Finance team is a collaborative team whose members demonstrate accountability, agility, a dedication to be inclusive, strong business acumen, and show courage, even in the most difficult situations. Effective communication skills are key to successful relationship-building and the ability to articulate the reasoning and bases for recommendations and conclusions are imperative. Our team demonstrates an inquisitive approach, asking probing questions to identify issues with specificity.

The Impact

As a Strategic Finance Lead your work will impact strategic decisions made by the MMFA Distribution business; enabling better strategic decisions utilizing the financial data and tools. You will accomplish that through the responsibilities listed below:

Monitor and Communicate Business Drivers and Results

• Identify and monitor key performance drivers and risks with timely communications of trends and observations. This supports decision making and internal management reporting and external reporting.
• Analyze sales, revenues, loan payments and other financial business drivers, used by business partners and the CFO organization; develop traceability of loan program economics through to the balance sheet and income statement
• Influence, lead and educate on financial-related elements of the strategic and tactical success of the businesses
• Prepare strategic, executive-ready presentation materials that highlight key messages and actionable insights

Model and Analyze:

• Prepare high quality analysis to influence key financial decisions, including developing and employing analytical models. This analysis will be used with both with the business and within CFO for management reporting and external reporting.
• Contribute to the development of driver-based forecasts. Ensure that key forecast business driver assumptions are developed in collaboration with business partners, and incorporated into financial plans and forecasts

Drive and Support Strategic Initiatives:

• Actively participate in driving business financial projects/initiatives. Be a respected thought partner in the development and execution of strategies and initiatives to achieve the enterprise’s strategic aspirations and goals, including active, ongoing involvement in pursuing the Strategic Planning and Delivery revenue enhancement and efficiency goals.
• Review forecast and initiative assumptions and contribute to cost-benefit analyses to support decision making, including prioritization, in order to pursue the most beneficial initiatives and maximize benefits.
• Inspire, lead and execute on CFO transformation initiatives, including data driven financial analysis, automated reporting, advanced analytics, data governance, and talent strategy.

Collaborate, Communicate and Influence:

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships and collaborate with business partners and CFO co-workers to, among other outcomes, continuously improve CFO processes.
• Use business acumen and communication skills to draft and contribute to commentary which enables readers to quickly understand why and how performance is impacting financial results. Communicate complex information and analysis in clear, understandable terms with appropriate context, focused on actionable content.
• Address and drive solutions for financial-related issues and opportunities, including influencing cross-functional actions and collaboration.

The Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree with 5+ years experience in accounting or finance
• Experience using data and information to analyze and communicate (in writing, orally and visually) the implications of business unit activity, leveraging business intelligence applications (Alation, Microstrategy, SQL queries etc.)
• Intellectual curiosity to continue learning and adding breadth and depth to understanding. Ability to partner with and influence business leaders and peers in using financial information and tools to identify options and make decisions
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information in readily understandable terms
• Exceptional relationship building skills; demonstrated ability to effectively challenge and influence peers and at time, senior leaders
• Demonstrated potential to take on expanded responsibilities.

• Due to the nature of this position, as a part of our background check process, candidates must be able to pass a non-registered fingerprint background check to qualify as a fingerprinted person under FINRA.

The Ideal Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in accounting or finance
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP and statutory financial reporting requirements relating to life insurance products a plus
• Successful cross-functional leadership across a matrixed organization
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple deliverables

#LI-LC1

Salary Range:

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair equitable pay, by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component.

Why Join Us.

We’ve been around since 1851. During our history, we’ve learned a few things about making sure our customers are our top priority. In order to meet and exceed their expectations, we must have the best people providing the best thinking, products and services. To accomplish this, we celebrate an inclusive, vibrant and diverse culture that encourages growth, openness and opportunities for everyone. A career with MassMutual means you will be part of a strong, stable and ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits. And your voice will always be heard.

We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company owned by our policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to put customers first. It’s more than our company structure – it’s our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources, and rely on each other when it counts. At MassMutual, we Live Mutual.

MassMutual is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply. Note: Veterans are welcome to apply, regardless of their discharge status.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair, equitable pay by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component. For more information about our extensive benefits offerings please check out our Total Rewards at a Glance.