Senior Manager - SEC & External Financial Reporting

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid - weekly in-office presence required)
Compensation: $165,000 - 210,000

Publicly traded, multi-billion-dollar insurance and financial services firm is seeking a senior-level SEC reporting leader to join its corporate finance organization in Chicago. This role sits at the center of external reporting for a complex organization operating across multiple insurance platforms and regulatory frameworks.

This is not a stepping-stone role. It is designed for an accounting professional who has already demonstrated mastery in SEC reporting and is prepared to own the process end-to-end in a sophisticated, multi-entity environment.

The Mandate

You will assume ownership of the quarterly and annual SEC reporting cycle and serve as the operational lead across disclosure preparation, cross-functional coordination, executive alignment, and audit interface. The scope includes oversight of multiple accounting frameworks and reporting regimes typical of a diversified insurance organization.

You will manage direct reports and act as a key interface between technical accounting, controllership, investor reporting, and executive leadership.

Core Responsibilities

Direct the preparation and timely filing of Forms 10-Q, 10-K, 8-K, and related SEC submissions
Lead the quarterly close-to-filing reporting workflow, including internal controls coordination
Draft and refine Management's Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) in collaboration with senior leadership
Interface directly with external auditors on review and filing comments
Oversee XBRL/iXBRL tagging and reporting accuracy through Workiva
Partner with Accounting Policy to ensure compliance with evolving GAAP and SEC disclosure standards
Supervise and develop a small team of accounting professionals
Continuously improve reporting processes, automation, and governance controls

Required Profile (Non-Negotiable)

This search is specifically targeted to individuals who meet the following criteria:

7-10+ years of progressive experience in Big 4 public accounting and/or SEC reporting within a publicly traded organization
Current CPA
Demonstrated ownership of full-cycle SEC filings (10-Q / 10-K experience is essential)
Deep working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC disclosure regulations
Experience operating within a large-scale ERP environment
Proven exposure to external audit review processes
Strong technical writing capability (MD&A drafting experience strongly preferred)
Prior leadership or supervisory experience
Experience in insurance or financial services

Preferred but not required:

Familiarity with Workday Financial Management
Advanced proficiency in Workiva and iXBRL

What This Role Is - and Is Not

This role is designed for a technically mature accounting professional who thrives in high-visibility environments and is comfortable operating directly with senior leadership.

It is not suited for:

Professionals without SEC filing experience
Individuals seeking primarily operational accounting or general ledger roles
Applicants lacking experience in public company reporting environments

Environment

The organization operates in a complex, regulated financial services environment with multiple reporting frameworks (including SEC and statutory reporting). The culture rewards accountability, technical rigor, and process ownership. The reporting function is viewed as a strategic finance capability rather than a compliance afterthought.

This position follows a hybrid schedule with required weekly presence in the Chicago office.

Why Consider This Move

High visibility within corporate finance
Direct executive interaction
Ownership of a critical enterprise function
Clear path toward broader controllership or finance leadership roles

If you meet the required criteria and are interested in learning more please apply with the attached link, or email Tyler.cloutier@oliverjames.com

Oliver James Associates

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Senior Manager - SEC & External Financial Reporting