Sr. Director Accounting Premium Payables (Relocation open for Grand Rapids/Chicago)

We are seeking a Sr Director to lead the Premium Payables function to join our growing team. This position will report to the Vice President, GBS Accounting.

The Senior

Director is responsible for end-to-end oversight of the global premium payable function, managing both onshore and offshore teams to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant processes across multiple divisions and business lines. This leader will drive operational efficiency, process standardization, automation, and high service levels, while aligning functional practices with business and regulatory requirements.

The Business Process

Owner (Director) for Premium Payables as well as Senior Manager, Premium Payables are direct reports to this position.

The ideal candidate must be hands-on, have excellent organizational and people management skills, optimized solutions focused, and enjoy working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. We are a relationship-oriented business, and strong relationship and partnering skills are vital to this role. Previous extensive work experience in accounting insurance industry required, and managing global teams in offshore delivery centers in a senior leadership capacity is preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Operations & Process Management :
  • Lead the global premium payable function, overseeing day-to-day operations managed by teams onshore and offshore for NA Retail and Specialty business (supports approximately 60% of revenue).
  • Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant premium payables in accordance with contractual obligations and finance/accounting policies.
  • Drive performance through clear KPIs, SLAs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Support the integration of new Partners into the accounting processes.
  • Strive to ensure all accounting functions within the region/division are operating with excellence for our Partners by continually monitoring and improving operational processes and achieving high levels of performance.
  • Work and collaborate with team to solve problems brought to their attention by the region/division and/or team.
  • Responsible for meeting internal deadlines, outcomes, and results as well as sharing and aligning best practices across divisions.
• Leadership & Strategy:
  • Develop and execute a scalable strategy to support business growth and globalization.
  • Identify and lead opportunities for processing automation, standardization, and cost optimization across regions.
  • Directly manage onshore team consisting of leaders and business process owners ; provide functional leadership to offshore teams within the GDC.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, performance, and service excellence across global teams.
  • Partner with Operational Excellence team to ensure all accounting functions are executed with excellence and issues are resolved with long-term sustainable resolutions, providing operational support as needed.
  • Review and approve process changes/continuous improvement in conjunction with operational excellence, prior to communication to the Partners.
  • Keep performance on track by accurately scoping out projects, identifying priorities, and anticipating problems.
  • Understand and approve staffing needs aligned with the budget, metric targets, and future growth within the region.
  • Promote service excellence within a collaborative high performing team environment while motivating themselves, their peers, and their teams for strong results and quality work.
  • Set the long-term functional vision for assigned function and ensure alignment of accounting operations with enterprise and divisional strategies.
  • Champion change management to ensure smooth adoption of new processes and systems across onshore and offshore teams
• Stakeholder Collaboration:
  • Resolve field and GDC escalations, discrepancies, and complex issues efficiently and effectively.
  • Partner with Operations, Growth, M&A, and Finance leaders to align functional processes and contractual requirements.
  • Drive cross-divisional collaboration to identify and share best practices, ensuring consistency and scalability across four divisions/all lines of business.
  • Manage executive-level escalations from internal and external stakeholders with urgency, transparency, and long-term resolution focus.
• Governance & Compliance:
  • Ensure adherence to internal controls, SOX compliance, audit readiness, contractual obligations, and risk management frameworks.
  • Partner with internal and external auditors for financial audits and reviews.
  • Assist with gathering information required for timely and accurate 1099 filing.