Head of Finance Transformation

Head of Finance Transformation

Zurich North America is seeking a VP, Finance Transformation Lead to drive the end‑to‑end execution of the organization's Finance Transformation program. This role reports to the Head of Planning & Performance Management and is based at one of our offices in Schaumburg, IL;
Chicago, IL; or New York, NY, following a hybrid work model.

This is a high‑impact enterprise leadership role responsible for reshaping how Finance delivers value—evolving it from a stewardship function into a trusted performance partner that drives profitable growth, sharpens decisions, and powers Zurich’s competitive edge through insight, discipline, and intelligent automation. The role partners closely with the CFO, COO, CIO, CDO, and Business Unit Finance leaders to deliver measurable improvements across processes, technology, data, and operating model design, aligned with the broader Global Finance Transformation.

• Lead Large‑Scale Finance Transformation:
  • Own the Finance Transformation Roadmap end‑to‑end, spanning data accuracy, process simplification, automated booking and billing, forward‑looking FP&A, proactive reserving, and expense optimization.
  • Build and own the transformation business case, quantify benefits, track ROI, and present recommendations to executive leadership.
  • Develop and implement the Finance Target Operating Model aligned with U.S. and Global priorities.
• Drive Program Delivery:
  • Serve as the day‑to‑day program leader across all transformation work streams, coordinating with Finance leaders across accounting, reporting, planning, reserving, reinsurance, and operations.
  • Manage external consulting and technology partnerships, ensuring quality delivery and alignment with transformation objectives.
  • Partner with Technology leadership to define the target‑state architecture for Finance—including core systems (e.g., SAP, Databricks, Anaplan), data infrastructure, and AI/automation capabilities.
  • Champion the adoption of AI, machine learning, and agentic workflows to shift Finance from manual data gathering to exception‑based, insight‑driven work.
  • Drive the creation of a unified Finance data layer as a single source of truth across all Finance verticals.
• Leadership & Change Management:
  • Lead comprehensive change management across the Finance organization, ensuring successful adoption of new processes, systems, and ways of working.
  • Manage and develop a team of transformation professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
  • Establish governance standards for transformation delivery—including milestone tracking, risk management, and executive reporting.

• Bachelor's Degree and 10 or more years of experience in the Financial Planning area AND
• Experience collecting and managing qualitative and quantitative data

• MBA, CPA, or relevant advanced degree
• 7+ years of experience leading large‑scale finance transformation programs, enterprise system implementations, or operating model redesigns
• Proven track record of leading complex, multi‑year, multi‑workstream finance programs from inception through delivery, with measurable outcomes
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cross‑functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders at the C‑suite level
• Strong understanding of insurance or financial services finance operations, including accounting, reporting, planning, and actuarial processes
• Experience managing external consulting or technology partners in a transformation context
• Hands‑on knowledge of SAP S/4
  
  HANA, Databricks, Anaplan, or comparable enterprise finance, data, and planning platforms
• Experience with broader finance technology ecosystems including data warehousing, BI/reporting tools, cloud platforms, and workflow automation
• P&C insurance finance background—familiarity with premium accounting, reserving, reinsurance, and regulatory reporting
• Experience deploying AI/automation in a finance context—including intelligent process automation, agentic AI, or advanced analytics
• Strong knowledge of ICFR, SOX compliance, and internal controls frameworks
• Excellent executive communication skills—ability to influence without…