Director, Finance Data Analytics

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Role Summary

As part of our journey to modernize and drive efficiencies across the Finance function, the Finance Data and Analytics team within Enterprise Finance plays an important role being responsible for finance data governance, digital management reporting including the effective use of BI tools, the supporting underlying data storage and integrity, and business data models.  

As a member of the Finance Data and Analytics team, reporting to the AVP Finance Data and Analytics, the Director, Finance Data Analytics will be key in bringing Enterprise Finance’s Analytics Strategy to life and further enabling a data insights driven culture.  This role will be crucial in driving consistency, quality and reducing redundancies across Finance, while leveraging tools and technology to automate activities and digitize self serve analytics.

The Director, Finance Data Analytics, will be responsible for leading a team to deliver Finance’s data analytics projects, including workstream management, problem definition and structuring, collaboration, and leadership of cross-functional teams, providing updates, and timely execution of deliverable. They will seek opportunities to gain value from the data and underlying data architecture (post IFRS 17 SunRise project) to advance and improve our use of data towards broader finance insights and analytics.  

What will you do?

• Create alignment with other areas of the global Finance organization on a set of consistent practices, capabilities, and standards in how we gain data insights within Finance.

• Provide input to data strategy and processes, including intake, new data sources, database design and structure and data integrity that enables broad use of data analytics in Finance

• Partner with Technology (DBTS) in supporting the deployment of effective data analytics and data science solutions.

• Establish collaborative relationships with various internal and external partners to implement best practices.

• Oversee, in partnership with Digital Business Technology and Solutions (DBTS), the development, production, and support of Enterprise Finance analytics.

• Identify and prioritize new use cases, including predictive analytics, advanced analytics and GenAI use-cases, in partnership with the Finance stakeholders.

• Work with stakeholders to understand the needs, uses, and data flows in their area.

• Manage and oversee to securely integrate high-quality data and make it accessible to users 

• Collaborate and partner with DBTS to build out technical capabilities and consistent practices

• Work closely with the Finance business areas and product owners to gather requirements and other use cases, and implement solutions that will reduce redundancies, improve transparency, and increase efficiencies

• Leverage Tableau (Business Intelligence (BI) tool) and other technologies to unify multiple data sources, automate and improve operational efficiencies, and drive for the delivery of self-serve rich “blink and think” visuals that can be easily shared and developed

• Adopt an agile development methodology to deliver analytics

• Maintain an understanding of external developments, disseminate to the Finance organization, and identify opportunities for emerging technologies and trends in the data analytics space

• Prepare and present materials for senior management and other key stakeholders with recommendations and progress updates

• Foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement

Team Leadership:

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, specialized in building, implementing and operating data analytics, both direct reports and cross-functional extended team

• Provide professional development and mentorship to data scientists, data engineers and BSAs, ensure engagement and attract talent

What you will need to succeed?

• 7+ years relevant business experience in data science/ advanced analytics, data engineering, strategy, governance, ideally as a practitioner within data and/or analytics

• Expertise in Analytics life-cycle and best practices for developing, testing, rolling out, operating and maintaining a portfolio of data analytics

• Technical expertise with mathematical algorithms, libraries, Python or other coding languages, as well as AWS/ tools enabling prototyping or operating such analytics

• Strong understanding of data architecture, relational databases (MS SQL), MS Office

• Ability to translate business requirements to technology requirements and vice versa

• Knowledge of data privacy and security practices relevant to the Financial Services industry

• Strong results-oriented project management skills – well-organized, with strong attention to detail and quality

• Excellent oral and written communication, and presentation skills, catering to various levels of management and audience with varying degrees of subject matter comprehension

• Excellent negotiation and collaboration skills 

• Proven ability to influence the performance of others to deliver results

• Proactive and self-motivated with strong problem solving, organizational skills and sound decision-making ability

• Technology collaborator, building close partnership with technology teams to deliver solutions

What will be nice to have?

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline

• Experience in financial services, preferably in the Finance and/or Actuarial field 

• Understanding of and experience in operating in an Agile model 

• Knowledge of multi-platform data environments and data architecture

What’s in it for you?

• ​A friendly, collaborative and inclusive culture

• Be part of our continuous improvement journey in developing the next greatest digital enterprise experience.

• Competitive salary and bonus structure influenced by market range data

• The opportunity to move along a variety of career paths with amazing networking potential

• Pension, stock and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security

• Great Place to Work® Certified for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada – 2024 and 2023

• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada – 2024 and 2022

• Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces for Women in Canada - 2023

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted.  It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors.  In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance.  Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results. 

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process or those needing job postings in an alternative format may e-mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

At Sun Life we strive to create a flexible work environment where our employees are empowered to do their best work. Several flexible work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Salary Range:

105,000/105 000 - 175,000/175 000

Job Category:

Advanced Analytics

Posting End Date:

14/07/2024