Accounting Director - Financial Control
Job Summary
CNA's Financial Control Team within the Corporate Finance Department is comprised of risk management experts who collaborate with business leaders to establish and manage internal controls over financial reporting while educating the company on financial risk. We consult, advise, and provide governance for the control activities of the Company.
This Director role will develop a deep understanding of their supported business areas to ensure key business activities, initiatives and processes are effectively controlled. Through a comprehensive view of the business, this role offers leadership opportunities to make an impact on CNA's financial control environment. This role focuses on working with assigned business areas to influence their business leaders to ensure an appropriate control environment exists, function as a liaison between the business and our auditors, and lead special projects.
The Director role will lead a team of professionals responsible for all aspects of talent management including goal setting, evaluation, coaching and development planning.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Provides strategic direction for the Financial Control organization including objective setting, coaching, and talent resourcing.
- Directs the work activities and has full management responsibility for the performance and development of subordinate staff in accordance with corporate strategic direction.
- Provides consultation for business partners as they execute control responsibilities including design and testing.
- Objectively evaluates control gaps and deficiencies including root cause analysis and identifying corrective actions.
- Serves as subject matter expert for CNA's compliance with SOX and execution of COSO Principles.
- Reports and provides guidance to CNA's Chief Accounting Officer regarding control matters.
- Oversees control reporting to corporate officers and the Audit Committee
- Serves as a key liason and provides oversight for CNA's external auditors
- Directs team to efficiently and effectively triage audit issues
- Identifies and leads special projects and ad hoc assignments.
May perform additional duties as assigned.
Reporting Relationship
AVP or VP
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Highest level knowledge of accounting/finance principles, practices and procedures and industry issues.
- Ability to effectively lead, coach and develop a team while encouraging creativity and innovation.
- Ability to achieve results by taking a proactive long-term view of business goals and objectives.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to interface with departmental staff, internal and external management, customers and other business units.
- Ability to exercise professional judgment and assume responsibility for decisions which have an impact on people and quality of service.
- Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related software systems.
Education & Experience
1. Bachelor's Degree in accounting or finance, CPA preferred.
2. Typically a minimum of nine to twelve years related work experience.
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