Assistant Vice President of Finance - Affinity

Introduction


Overview

The AVP, Finance - Affinity is a key member of the Specialty finance team and is accountable to the CFO and Head of Affinity. The AVP, Finance - Affinity is responsible for all aspects of financial management for the Affinity division. The position supports the development and execution of strategic growth plans, with an eye toward future, sustainable growth. S/he holds responsibility for the adherence to regulatory requirements and reporting of business performance to key stakeholders at the division and corporate level.  

The successful candidate for this position will be adept at building relationships with key stakeholders and internal finance partners. The ability to lead with a forward-looking view, confidence, and maintain independence and objectivity will be critical. Having the ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and decisively will be paramount to this individual’s success. Creativity is welcome, particularly with respect to achieving the broader growth goals of the division. The ability to use data and analytics to drive business decisions and illustrate financial planning scenarios is imperative.

How you'll make an impact

Driving Business Decisions

• Build finance business partnering capabilities and deliver financial analytics to drive strategic and sound business decisions.
• Identify opportunities for revenue expansion, margin enhancement, and expense reduction opportunities.
• Provide insightful data, analytics and KPI measures to optimize financial performance.
• Identify business risks, challenges and opportunities, and provide independent challenge to management views, when necessary, on proposed investments and expense policy.
• Responsible to prepare ad hoc reports and analytics for management and stakeholders, providing information concerning issues through resolution.
• Partner with senior management to understand strategic initiatives and manage monthly, quarterly, and annual performance goals

Leadership

• Manage, develop and recruit, where necessary supporting finance professionals
• Deliver reviews and projects on time, within agreed budget, and in accordance with the expectations of the Global Specialty finance team.
• Forward looking thinker who provides insights into current, emerging and potential opportunities and issues.

Financial Controls

• Accountable for ensuring strong accounting and financial governance controls are in place, in keeping with broader AJG Finance requirements.
• Lead and manage a team of finance professionals responsible for implementation of financial controls, including managing budgets, forecasts and long-range planning.
• Monitoring program spending against approved budgets, identifying variances, and implementing corrective actions
• Ensure regulatory and SOX compliance and adherence to internal Gallagher GAAP accounting and other reporting requirements.
• Responsible for the health and accuracy of Affinity financials including the Profit and Loss statement, Balance Sheet, trade accounting, and ASC 606 revenue recognition accounting 

Critical Competencies for Success

Technical Skills

• Strong technical skills and broad-based knowledge of accounting principles, and in-depth understanding of operations, internal controls and the workings of an insurance carrier including loss ratio assessment to properly record commission economics
• An engaged partner who works with division executives in a collaborative manner, with constructive tension that can identify and illustrate emerging areas of risk or opportunity.
• Thorough knowledge of best practice financial procedures, processes and systems, and GAAP.
• Superior organization and planning skills to ensure the division meets strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Rigorous, analytical thinker who drives insights and seeks problem-solving opportunities, and helps set a broad-based vision for the finance function that further enhances the division’s ability to achieve its business goals.

Strategic Partner

• Strong interpersonal skills to interact effectively with division, finance, and corporate leaders.
• Superior written, verbal and presentation skills to successfully guide outcomes on key issues and present financial facts with authority.
• Open-minded and perceptive to see underlying or hidden problems and patterns.
• Unquestioned integrity and strength of character to maintain objectivity and knowing when to escalate key issues to senior management.
• Open communicator who is comfortable working with people in large groups and one-on-one settings, as well as interacting with senior executives at the highest levels in a diplomatic, yet commanding manner.

Interpersonal and Leadership Skills

• Serve as a role model who is engaged and speaks with authority; is open, honest and candid. Inspires confidence, drives results, takes control, assumes accountability and owns all aspects of the financial status of Affinity.
• Good organizational, planning and project management skills, with the ability to drive multiple projects concurrently and bring simplicity to processes in order to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Strong sense of urgency, with an ability to maintain close attention to detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Creates a culture that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and an environment that encourages career development and continuous learning.
• Ability to assess, upgrade, attract, retain, mentor, coach, train and develop top talent.
• Champion Gallagher’s values and culture by exemplifying the tenets of The Gallagher Way.

About You

Required:

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience.
• 5+ years of management experience.
• FP&A, Investment Banking or Accounting background.
• Strong analytical skills, business acumen, and written and verbal communication skills.
  
  

Preferred:

• Advanced degree preferably in finance, accounting or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience at an insurance carrier.
• Expertise in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Compensation and benefits

At Gallagher, we believe supporting our colleagues goes far beyond the role itself. For more information, visit our Benefits page.

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits programs designed to support your well-being 
• Career development opportunities and ongoing learning 
• A collaborative, people-first culture with accessible leadership 
• The opportunity to do meaningful work with global reach and local impact 

At Gallagher, we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to join our Talent Community to stay connected to additional career opportunities. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles.

Gallagher is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)