Senior Finance Business Partner, Accounting bei American Equity

At American Equity we offer leading annuity products that help empower our clients to fulfill their needs and wants in retirement. Our success comes from hiring high-energy individuals who embody the beliefs that drive our unique culture. We currently fund over half a million retirements nationwide, and have been headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, for over twenty-five years with satellite offices in Charlotte, NC and New York, NY.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:   

The Senior Finance Business Partner serves as Finance’s liaison with the Executive Leadership Team and their direct reports to support planning, budgeting, and project efforts, as well as assist the organization in all finance related matters.  The incumbent gathers, analyzes, summarizes financial data and metrics to prepare recommendations regarding operating expense/budget data and operating metrics; and plays a lead role in coordinating operating expense activities, including organizing and recording quarterly expense accruals, preparation of financial projections for all large projects, and recommendations for improvements in current policies/practices. This role is also responsible for the effective communication of expense results to all levels of the organization.

**This position is based out of West Des Moines, IA and will work an on-site hybrid schedule** 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Interacts with senior management to fully understand business initiatives
• Acts as a liaison between Accounting and Department Heads to facilitate understanding of expense data.
• Performs ongoing monitoring of departmental expense activity, reports results and makes recommendations to various levels of management.
• Leads the development and implementation of internal budget preparation and review processes for the organization.
• Analyzes expense data as part of quarterly financial reporting process and reports results to Accounting management for use in financial disclosures and regulatory filings.
• Provides appropriate data interpretations and recommendations to senior and executive management based on financial analysis activities.
• Initiates process improvement opportunities, and approves and implements solutions.
• Participates in defining, interpreting and implementing specific financial analysis parameters, policies and procedures
• Assist in the development of strategic plans to drive functional goals, supports projects that are consistent with the organization’s strategic plan, and supplies project capital expenditures and related amortization for planning processes.
• Partners with several departments to develop project goals, approve plans and define measurable parameters, monitors progress/ROI and provide guidance to ensure timely and impactful deliverables and execution. Supports project prioritization and resource allocation and is accountable for project financial planning and results.
• Engages across various departments across the Finance organization as well as the company.
• Assists in the development and implementation of internal budget reporting tools.
• Collaborate with Accounting Operations team on expense accounting and accruals.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:  

Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university in finance, accounting, economics or related field of study, plus five (5) years of progressively responsible financial analysis and expense management experience in a public or private company environment; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Prior finance and expense management experience in a complex multi-entity entity financial services company is a plus. Experience in annuities/life insurance beneficial.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

None required, but CPA or CPA candidate preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:   

• Demonstrates analytical, interpersonal, communications, and prioritization, time and project management skills.
• Ability to act independently, and in concert with management, to deliver short- and long-term business strategy and goals.
• Proven track record of preparing presentations for Sr. Management with effective present information and respond to questions.
• Ability to lead efforts to establish and revise expense allocations.
• Practiced in contract review and engagement with procurement and risk management.
• Experienced in working with Risk and Audit to implement effective controls.
• Ability to work cooperatively and successfully with employees, across the organization and other outside third parties.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Understanding of GAAP and STAT accounting principles.
• Prior experience with PeopleSoft/Oracle or SAP ledger system, Hyperion, Cognos or other planning and consolidation tools.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to lead projects and understanding of project management principles
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to successfully handle pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
• Experience with agile development techniques beneficial.

This description covers the major purpose and essential functions of the job.  It is not intended to give all details or a step-by-step account of the way each task is to be performed.  Employees may receive other job related instructions and be required to perform other job related work requested by their manager.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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