Finance Transformation Principal

Job Description: Director of Finance Transformation Location: Remote Position Summary Horace Mann is seeking an experienced Director of Finance Transformation. This role is expected to be highly hands-on, working side-by-side with Finance teams to design, implement, and operationalize new processes, systems, and controls—not solely manage projects. Major initiatives span finance process optimization, technology enablement, data, change management, and the integration of governance and control requirements into transformed processes. This role will own execution and outcomes across the transformation portfolio, providing program leadership and direct implementation support, strategic advisory support to the business, and stakeholder coordination. The Director will partner closely with Finance, IT, Risk, Actuarial, Treasury, and business leaders, as well as external service providers, to ensure solutions are practical, adopted and sustainable in day-to-day operations. Key Responsibilities Finance Transformation Leadership • Serve as a key deputy to the VP in leading the Finance Transformation agenda and driving day-to-day execution of the transformation roadmap. • Own and drive the portfolio of major transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment to strategic objectives and enterprise priorities. • Actively define and implement future-state finance processes, governance models, and operating structures, working directly with Finance teams and external advisors. Partner closely with the Director of Finance Governance and AVP – Finance Systems to ensure transformation initiatives are well-controlled, technically feasible, and sustainably implemented. Hands-On Implementation & Solution Delivery • Work side-by-side with Accounting, Finance, and operational teams to design, implement, and operationalize new processes, controls, and system-enabled solutions. • Lead detailed process design, workflow definition, and operating model changes required to move from current-state to future-state. • Directly lead and execute implementation activities, including configuration support, user acceptance testing, cutover planning, issue resolution, and post-implementation stabilization. • Serve as an execution bridge between strategy, system design, and daily Finance operations, ensuring solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned to how teams actually work. Program and Project Management • Own end-to-end program delivery across transformation initiatives, including planning, sequencing, dependency management, risk tracking, and issue escalation while remaining actively engaged in execution and problem solving. • Establish and maintain consistent project management standards, tools, and reporting across the transformation portfolio. • Prepare executive-level materials, dashboards, and status updates for senior leadership and governance forums. • Track initiative-level and program-level performance metrics, including delivery milestones, key risks, and targeted transformation benefits. • Proactively identify and resolve cross-initiative risks, conflicts, or trade-offs, escalating to the VP as needed. Strategic Advisory and Business Partnership • Act as a trusted advisor to Finance and business leaders on transformation impacts, trade-offs, and implementation considerations. • Translate strategic transformation objectives into executable plans and on-the-ground changes that balance innovation, compliance, and operational continuity. • Support leaders in navigating change, identifying risks, and resolving cross-functional challenges. Training, Enablement, and Adoption • Establish a more robust Finance training and enablement program to support new processes, systems, and controls introduced through transformation initiatives. • Partner with Finance leadership and functional teams to develop training materials, job aids, playbooks, and documentation tailored to different user groups. • Ensure effective training delivery and adoption, driving consistent use of new processes and systems post–go-live. Define and implement ongoing onboarding and knowledge-transfer approaches so transformed processes are sustained after implementation teams and external advisors roll off. Stakeholder Coordination and Communication • Drive alignment and execution across Finance, IT, Actuarial, Treasury, Compliance, and other stakeholders. • Serve as the single accountable point of coordination across initiative owners, executive sponsors, Finance Governance, Finance Systems, and external service providers. • Develop communication strategies and reinforce consistent messaging across the organization to support change management efforts. Continuous Improvement and Value Realization • Track and be accountable for realization of transformation benefits, including efficiency gains, control improvements, and enhanced decision support. • Identify and close adoption gaps or operational pain points post-implementation by working with affected teams to address them. • Embed new processes, tools, and ways of working into steady-state operations and continuous improvement cycles. Qualifications Required: • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; CPA or equivalent certification strongly preferred. • 8+ years of experience in Accounting, Finance, Finance IT, and/or Program Management. • Proven operational process improvement experience. • Strong project and program management skills with experience coordinating cross-functional teams. • Excellent communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills. Preferred: • Insurance or financial services industry experience. • Big 4 or large consulting firm experience combined with industry execution roles. • Proven track record in driving process improvement and optimization initiatives. • Experience with common reconciliation and reporting platforms (e.g., BlackLine, Workiva) and ERP systems (e.g., Workday, SAP, Oracle). Familiarity with emerging technologies in finance (e.g., automation, AI, process mining, modern finance data and reporting architecture). • Skills & Competencies • Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities. • Collaborative leader with the ability to influence without direct authority. • Effective communicator, able to engage across Finance, IT, business, and executive leadership. • Ability to translate financial concepts into actionable process and system changes. • Change-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement. Salary Range: $105,200.00 - $147,950.00 Horace Mann was founded in 1945 by two Springfield, Illinois, teachers who saw a need for quality, affordable auto insurance for teachers. Since then, we've broadened our mission to helping all educators protect what they have today and prepare for a successful tomorrow. And with our broadened mission has come corporate growth: We serve more than 4,100 school districts nationwide, we're publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: HMN) and we have more than $12 billion in assets. We're motivated by the fact that educators take care of our children's future, and we believe they deserve someone to look after theirs. We help educators identify their financial goals and develop plans to achieve them. This includes insurance to protect what they have today and financial products to help them prepare for their future. Our tailored offerings include special rates and benefits for educators. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled. 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