Finance Specialist (SFIAA)

At Sun Life, we cultivate a High-Performance, Caring Culture that empowers our people to achieve outstanding results, embrace continuous growth, and create meaningful impact. We succeed together by fostering an inclusive environment where wellbeing, collaboration, and accountability are equally valued.

Job Description:

This role reporting to the Senior Finance Manager will support the overall mandate of Strategic Finance Initiatives and Accounting Advisory (SFIAA) namely:

• Be at the forefront of developments around financial reporting and regulatory requirements
• Be a key support to the control structure by ensuring effective Finance policies and guidelines are in place
• Be an effective business partner to Finance and other cross-functional teams to support various activities and process improvements

Responsibilities

• Development and maintenance of Finance policies and operating guidelines
• Establish, strengthen, and reinforce the control structure by developing and maintaining Finance policies and operating guidelines
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that Finance policies are aligned with organizational goals and objectives
• Identify process improvement opportunities on various Finance processes and develop solutions
• Ensure that Finance policies comply with regulatory requirements and Corporate guidelines
• Communicate Finance policies and guidelines to relevant stakeholders and provide training as needed
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of Finance policies and recommend changes or updates as necessary, including completing PAC or similar attestations
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Finance policies and operating guidelines, and provide guidance to stakeholders as needed

• Accounting advisory
• Provide technical accounting guidance to Finance teams on complex accounting issues, propose solutions and develop accounting memo, policies or guidelines
• Lead the impact assessment of newly issued accounting / sustainability standards and interpretations, including developing and executing implementation plans and leading system implementation/enhancements activities, if necessary
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Finance, Actuarial, Operations and others to address accounting issues and implement accounting standards (and amendments thereto, as applicable)
• Review financial statements and disclosures for compliance with accounting guidelines and regulations
• Monitor emerging accounting issues and trends and provide insights or recommendations to stakeholders
• Discuss with External / Internal Auditors on accounting matters, as necessary.

• Other Finance initiatives
• Support the third-party risk management process through performing financial viability assessment of vendors and contracts review of supplier arrangements within agreed turn-around time
• Develop templates and MBCTs to facilitate process improvements within SFIAA's functional areas
• Support Finance Academy activities
• Support Finance teams on other organization strategies and initiatives that requires technical accounting knowledge and know-how on accounting processes, including serving as project lead or subject matter expert for Finance on potential system implementation and enhancements

Preferred skills

• Ability to solve problems with multiple constraints or with minimal pre-existing solutions or industry guidance
• Intellectual agility and strong analytical, innovation and problem solving skills
• Ability to work in an environment with fluctuating deadlines and multiple professional perspectives
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and develop recommendations for process improvements
• Ability to work in a fast paced, deadline driven environment

Qualifications

• CPA designation is a requirement, any Actuarial training or designations are a plus
• At least 4 years of relevant accounting and financial reporting experience
• Exposure on IFRS 17 and 9 implementation for insurance companies is a plus
• Knowledge of Business and Corporate finance and actuarial systems
• Knowledge of insurance industry, products and related accounting issues