Sr. Director, Corporate Accounting

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Role Summary 

The Sr. Director, Corporate Accounting is a key leader within the Controller’s organization responsible for overseeing the Company’s core corporate accounting activities that support accurate, timely, and well-controlled GAAP and statutory financial reporting. 

This role oversees corporate accounting activities including fixed assets, leases, payroll and payroll taxes, accruals, cash accounting and reconciliations, balance sheet account reconciliations, prepaid expenses, expense allocations, intercompany activity, and other non-insurance-related accounting processes. 

A significant focus of the role is leadership and talent development. The Sr. Director establishes clear expectations, strengthens accountability, develops future leaders, and builds a high-performing accounting organization where team members are supported and empowered to make decisions. 

This position currently offers an onsite work schedule, with the expectation that you will be in the office four (4) days per week during onsite core days.  Our current onsite core days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of accounting professionals. 

• Build a high-performing, collaborative team focused on accuracy, accountability, continuous improvement, and strong business partnership. 

• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and development plans. 

• Provide timely, constructive feedback and create meaningful growth opportunities for team members. 

• Develop succession plans and strengthen the leadership capabilities and technical depth of the Corporate Accounting team. 

• Foster an inclusive environment where employees are encouraged to raise questions, identify risks, and recommend improvements. 

• Effectively manage organizational change and communicate the purpose, priorities, and expected outcomes of new initiatives. 

• Oversee accounting and reporting for leases, fixed assets and capitalized projects, payroll tax and associated accruals, general operating and expense accruals, balance sheet account reconciliations, intercompany transactions and expense allocations, and other corporate and non-insurance accounting activities. 

• Ensure transactions are recorded accurately, consistently, and in accordance with GAAP, statutory accounting requirements, Company policies, and applicable tax and regulatory requirements. 

• Support management, external auditors, internal auditors, regulators, and other stakeholders with requested information and accounting explanations. 

• Maintain a strong internal control environment over corporate accounting processes. 

• Support finance transformation initiatives, including ERP implementation, account reconciliation technology, workflow tools, and reporting automation. 

• Drive efficiency through automation and streamlining of accounting processes. 

• All other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
• 16+ years of related experience. 
• CPA strongly preferred. 

• Experience leading and developing accounting professionals. 

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, financial close processes, account reconciliations, internal controls, and financial reporting. 

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment. 

• Ability to work independently within time constraints and reporting deadlines. 

AI Proficiency Expectations: 

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength. 

All applicants are expected to: 

• Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work. 

• Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working. 

• Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content. 

• Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life's AI guiding principles. 

• Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention, and intellectual property. 

• Additional Expectations for AI-Forward Roles 

Core Competencies 

Cultivates Innovation - Fosters innovation by taking calculated risks; Work cooperatively with others to produce innovative solutions. 

Ensures Accountability - Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments and performance goals. 

Directs Work - Provides direction, delegates, and removes obstacles to get work done. 

Demonstrates Emotional Intelligence - Exhibits the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions and how emotions can influence others; Uses a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and opportunities. 

Exhibits Critical and Creative Thinking - Engaging thinking skills that focus on logic and reasoning to make decisions (critical) and innovative solutions to solve problems (creative). 

Leads Change - Facilitates change and transition at the individual and team level; Develops strategic goals for aligning with change. 

Develops Talent - Builds team(s) equipped for the future by applying coaching techniques for developing team members to meet their professional/personal goals and the organizational goals; Listens and responds with empathy; Asks thought provoking questions. 

Inspires Others - Motivates and influences others by creating an environment where teams can do their best work; Partners across the organization to achieve results. 

Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

Base Pay Range.  The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job-related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors.  The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.

Additional Compensation and Benefits. The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life’s discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

Salary Pay Range

$150,000—$220,000 USD

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.

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National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604