AVP, IT Finance & Partner Management

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Summary

Reporting directly to the head of Technology Finance and Partner Management, this role functions as the Controller for the IT organization, with responsibility for financial management, vendor financial oversight, and contract governance.

1. Oversee IT financials - Responsible for forecasting, spend reporting, and budgeting in a complex environment with spend over $100M. This will entail working closely with colleagues in Finance and all IT departments. Activities might include restructuring of IT’s chart of accounts and allocations to internal customer groups.
2. Manage and negotiate IT contracts - This role is responsible for negotiations and contracting for all technology-related contracts including collaborating with Legal, other departments and executive leadership.
3. Manage and improve supplier governance - This will entail improving the value delivered by suppliers and maturing overall supplier management discipline.  
4. CPA is required for this role,
5. This position is not a remote role, it requires working in the Dallas office. 

Candidates for this role must be self-starters who can operate with a high degree of autonomy, collaborate effectively and consistently show sound business judgment. Candidates should have demonstrated success in managing IT suppliers at large scale (hundreds of personnel), including offshore consultants.  Ideal candidates will have demonstrated success in improving IT supplier management processes and tools. All candidates should be comfortable understanding and helping to negotiate complex, multi-$M, multi-year technology contracts.  Candidates must have financial reporting and accounting experience and have demonstrated success in managing technology financial reporting, and have their CPA certification. Candidates must also have experience directly leading and managing a team.  This role will be the current leader’s successor within the next two years.

MAIN JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The AVP, Technology Finance and Partner Management is responsible for:

Financial Management:

Partner with the CIO and other IT leaders to own $150M+ IT expense and capital budget, forecast financial performance and ensure that spending aligns with business objectives.

• Lead IT’s annual budget preparation process, including budget reviews with senior finance and business executives, drafting communication materials and supporting CIO for executive budget reviews.  
• Oversee all IT direct spend reporting and analysis including automation of monthly reports and coordinating with FMG on monthly, quarterly and annual accruals.
• Lead implementation of IT Financial Management system to improve transparency and granularity of IT cost attribution.  Develop reporting and lead continued analysis of cost drivers and saving opportunities for IT.  Track achievement of savings for forecasting and budgeting purposes.   Lead IT showback reporting for business departments and tracking of action plans for cost reductions.
• Oversee IT discretionary spending, such as Travel and Training.
• Validate forecasts for financial reporting.
• Where appropriate, work with Finance to restructure IT’s chart of accounts and allocation of expenses to consuming customer groups. 

Contract & Risk Management:

• Establish and enforce IT’s contract policy and standards including implementing and managing the process for all technology contract reviews to address key 3rd party risks.
• Lead, provide oversight or assist in terms negotiations, pricing negotiations and service level agreements for multi-million dollar and multi-year technology agreements including MSA’s, SOW’s, outsourcing agreements and software.  Assure alignment with NLG policies and standards, approximately 400 agreements per year
• Partner with Legal, Risk and executive leadership to mitigate third-party, data, AI and regulatory risks.  Lead evaluation of existing contracts for assessing risks and updating terms, particularly AI and data terms.
• Oversee contract lifecycle management tools and processes.

Supplier Management:

• Work closely with stakeholders to run governance forums (QBR’s, MBR’s), manage and improve key supplier metrics to measure supplier performance. This requires taking an active, hands-on role in the day-to-day management of IT suppliers.
• Supporting the National Life IT leadership team by clarifying supplier responsibilities and resolving disputes.  Serve as key point of contact for vendor escalations.
• Manage vendor Quarterly Business reviews and key vendor monthly governance meetings.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders outside IT, including Operations, Legal, Finance and Risk.
• Implement and expand the IT vendor governance program to address vendor performance of key suppliers, including service level agreements and other vendor obligations.
• Manage the operational/execution aspects of NLG’s IT outsourcing contracts. As necessary, assist with the negotiation of these contracts.  Responsible for approval of onboarding contract resources.
• Oversee NLG’s Third Party Risk Management policies, procedures and ongoing vendor risk management including regulatory compliance.
• Optimize IT’s vendor portfolio and improve procedures, standards and processes for working with IT suppliers.
• Maintain and enhance tools used for supplier management, including supplier tracking and performance.

Executive and People Leadership:

• Model NLG values and servant leadership tenants and contribute new ideas and initiatives that align with these principles.
• Partner closely with IT senior leadership team to drive improvements and lead IT initiatives.
• Work closely on a daily/weekly basis with the CIO regarding finances, contracts, vendors and IT improvement initiatives.
• Develop relationships with senior leaders and executives outside the IT organization to drive improvements and help influence direction.
• May lead team within IT Finance and Partner Management, including guidance, coaching, goal setting and performance management.
• May lead cross-functional teams in support of specific projects or goals.

KNOWLEDGE/EDUCATION:

• CPA license is required.
• Minimum of bachelor's degree in a related field and at least 15 year of progressive experience in IT financial management, vendor management and technology operations.
• At least 10 years of experience directly performing accounting function and Finance Controller for a complex IT organization.  Experience with IT Financial Management tools, IT Showbacks and IT Chargebacks.
• At least 6 years of hands-on experience in a vendor management leadership role managing multiple large-scale IT vendors in a highly diverse environment.
• Demonstrated success leading negotiations for complex multi-million dollar technology contracts.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Proven experience in Life/Annuity Insurance will be considered an asset.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES:

• Proven experience working with major global outsourcing suppliers in on-shore and off-shore models.
• Proven experience applying AI within IT financial or vendor analytics environments.
• Experience working in a multi-campus, offshore, nearshore and onshore environment.
• At least 6 years directly managing an internal team and managing outsourced resources.
• Strength in collaborating across business units and teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with common practices in IT financials.
• Familiarity with ITSM/ITIL processes and practices.
• Advanced skill level in Excel.  Proven experience in application of AI within IT functions , and developing in Tableau and Alteryx are a plus.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to details.
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively.
• Positive, can-do attitude with a willingness to learn and improve every day.

 Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.

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National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604