MetLife

Position: VP Audit, Enterprise Financial Accounting & Reporting 

Location: 200 Park Avenue (preferred); Bridgewater, NJ; Tampa, FL

Setting: Hybrid 

Reports to: VP Internal Audit - Global Finance

Travel: Up to 25%

The Team You Will Join

Internal Audit is an independent global organization that plays an important role in partnering with the business to ensure that management anticipates, recognizes, and appropriately manages risks. We devote our highly-skilled staff to those activities of the highest risk, taking into account the concerns of management and independent boards. We protect MetLife and our stakeholders through meaningful independent assurance and advice, while advocating for risk management and internal controls.

The Opportunity 

The VP of Audit for Enterprise Financial Accounting & Reporting position reports directly to the Head of Finance Audit and will work closely with key 1st and 2nd line stakeholders and regional and cross-functional audit peers.

The position is responsible for overseeing audit coverage of corporate and enterprise financial accounting and reporting functions, including US GAAP and SEC Financial Reporting, Technical Accounting Policy development and governance, the internal controls department (including the Company’s SOX program), enterprise planning and projections, investor relations, and the corporate controller functions. This includes managing client relationships, establishing the audit plan, and accountability for audit execution in these areas to ensure that all key risks are assessed, monitored, and covered as appropriate to add value to MetLife. The role holder will also partner closely with peers covering SOX, local and regional financial accounting and reporting activities, technology, risk management, and external financial statement audits. The role holder is expected to be an accomplished communicator with deep internal audit expertise, strong critical thinking skills, and a propensity for understanding technical/complex business processes to help promote the value of Internal Audit’s work through interaction and communication with key business stakeholders and participation in other strategic projects as deemed appropriate.   

How You’ll Help Us Build a Confident Future:

• Act as a proactive thought leader by setting strategy, policy, and audit resource allocations in support of business initiatives ensuring audit activities align with enterprise strategies and create sustained shareholder value.
• Effectively manage client relationships to build rapport and understand key and emerging risks and significant initiatives impacting their areas to inform the audit plan.
• Perform risk assessments and planning for appropriate coverage of audit areas via quarterly plans and longer-term outlooks. 
• Respond effectively to management requests for special audit projects and investigations.
• Work collaboratively with 1st and 2nd line stakeholders globally and be accountable to provide appropriate management levels with an objective and independent review of operations and recommendations where improvements are appropriate.
• Influence, lead, and/or support global integrated audit work which may contain regional or local components across the numerous regional and local actuarial and reinsurance operations.
• Ascertain the reliability, effectiveness, and timeliness of management data used in conducting business, and where appropriate, that such data is effectively protected.
• Review and assess compliance with established policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Drive consistency and quality in audit reporting globally within areas of responsibility.
• Proactively report top risks and management’s attention to control health and risk mitigation to
• Internal audit leadership.
• Support Audit Committee reporting as applicable.
• Provide leadership in reporting standardization, ongoing monitoring of performance metrics, and audit budget allocations.
• Act as liaison with appropriate external professional organizations and keep informed on new developments in areas of coverage and/or the field of auditing.
• Manage and coordinate the relationship with external audit teams and consultants to the extent they are performing audit activities.
• Build and maintain an effective and competent audit staff via an efficient organizational structure and provide leadership in a manner that motivates, engages, and develops individuals and teams to successfully execute plans and drive strong results.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications): 

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field is required. 
• Professional certification (CPA, CIA) is required.
• Experience in internal/external audit within Insurance or Financial Services required.
• Thorough knowledge of US GAAP and SEC regulations. 
• Strong knowledge of life insurance business and products.
• 15+ years of experience leading and developing high performance teams.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively both within and across departments to achieve business objectives.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven work environment.
• Ability to influence others, solve problems, and overcome challenges. 
• Strategic mindset with the ability to identify and implement process improvements.
• Strong understanding of business and related concepts

What Will Give You an Edge (Additional Skills)

• Advanced degree (MBA) preferred.
• Experience in public accounting a plus.
• Knowledge of U.S. Statutory and International Financial Reporting Standards a plus.